HANDOUTS IN INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF A HUMAN PERSON

CHAPTER 2: THE METHODS OF PHILOSOPHY

 3 PHILOSOPHICAL METHODS

1. SPECULATION/SPECULATIVE THINKING
-derived from specula- watch tower
-mode of philosophical inquiry that helps people explore and take in a variety of perspectives about
the human person through personal contemplation while at the same time having an experience of
the world.
-allows you to expand your perspective by encouraging you to see the bigger picture by participating
in the world and using your experience as source of ideas.

2. CRITICAL THINKING/ANALYSIS
 Questions, judges, and evaluates any and all principles and premises that may be gained
through speculation.
 Mode of critical analysis are:
a. Logical
-philosophical problem is solved through a careful analysis of the logical structure of the
philosophical assertions.
-a statement is analyzed in its simplest from called Elementary Sentence
b. Linguistic
-meanings of words are analyzed for their clarity and consistency.

3. REFLECTIVE INQUIRY
 A kind of thought where the grounds for the belief is deliberately sought and the adequacy to
support the belief examined.
 Meaning-making process where the learner deliberately seeks the adequate grounds for his/her
beliefs through understanding the connections between one experience with another
experience and ideas with a progression of gaining a deeper understanding.

PRACTICAL USES OF PHILOSOPHY

1. Philosophy enables a person to engage in critical analysis and interpretation of concepts,
definitions, arguments, and problems.
2. Philosophy also improves problem-solving and decision making.
3. A philosopher is a good communicator who can clearly and adequately present his or her ideas.
4. Knowledge of philosophy can contribute to self-development.

 THE VALUE OF TRUTH

DISTINGUISH OPINION FROM TRUTH
SCENARIO A:
Maria is generous and kind because she give me food.
SCENARIO B:
Maria give me food.
OPINION
-truth that we do not clearly or distinctly perceive.
-based on feelings
TRUTH
-factual, undisputed, objective, universal, exact and constant are manifestations of truth. It implies that
it can be proven as true.
-based on truth
CONCEPTS RELATED TO TRUTH AND OPINION:

 BELIEF
-is the acceptance that something is true- firmly held conviction- and as St. Augustine claimed, “to think
with assent”.
Ex: I believe that God exist.

 PROPOSITIONS
- statements about the world or reality.
-usually stated as short statements or sentences.
Ex: Grass is green.
Propositions or statements which are observed to be real or truthful are considered FACTS.

 EXPLANATIONS
-are statements that assume the claim to be true and provide reasons why the statement is true.

 ARGUMENTS
- Are a series of statements that provide reasons to convince the reader or listener that a claim or
opinion is truthful.
How do we know if something is true?

EXAMPLES:
REVISE THE STATEMENT:
I am alive. Am I alive?
I have a body. Do I have a body?
I can breathe. Can I breathe?

Revising the statement will make us think if it is true. If you have answered YES, then we can conclude
that the statement is true.

Figure out the answer to these questions example:

Do you have a pulse?
Can you feel your heartbeat?
Do you have arms, legs, feet and head?
Try to take a deep breath, then exhale.
Were you able to do it?

If yes, then the statement is TRUE.

  PERSPECTIVE ON TRUTH
1. A belief is TRUE if it can be justified or proven through the use of one’s SENSES.
2. A belief or statement is true if it is based on FACTS.
3. Getting a consensus or having people agree on a common belief.

THEORIES OF TRUTH

1. CORRESPONDENCE THEORY OF TRUTH

 ”What is that it is and what is not that it is not”
-states that the key to truth is the relation (or correspondence) between propositions and the world.
This means that a belief is true if there exists an appropriate entity- a fact- to which it corresponds. If
there is no such entity, the belief is false.”
EXAMPLE:
The cat is on the mat.
You look. There exists a cat. There exists a mat. The cat is in an “on” relation with the mat.
Therefore, the statement “corresponds” to the state of the world, and is therefore true.

2. COHERENCE THEORY OF TRUTH

-states that the truth of any (true ) propositions consists in its coherence with some specified set of
propositions (or significant wholes). This means that the truth conditions of a proposition are based on
other propositions.
EXAMPLE: use of mathematical formula for a certain mathematical problem or law/principle in Science.
 Correspondence and coherence are somewhat similar since both evaluates statement based on
their agreement with reality. The difference lies in the method where the former involves in the
larger system while the latter relies on a single evidence of fact.

3. PRAGMATIC THEORY OF TRUTH

- William James
-holds that a proposition is true if is is useful to believe. Thus, utility is the essential mark of truth.
For example:
Is it helpful to us that we all agree on the colours of street lights as being green, yellow and red, such
that we can agree on the rules at intersections for everyone’s benefit? If so, then we can say it’s “true”
that the light is green, and it’s “true” that green means go.

REMEMBER:
 We can know if statements/beliefs are true if we look at each statement/belief and determine if
they correspond to facts, cohere with the rules of the system and result into useful application.
FALLACIES
 Arguments that take the form of statement that are either claims of facts and are phrased in
such a way that they seem reasonable, however, a number of arguments may be based on
faulty reasoning.
TYPES OF FALLACIES: