Philosophical Reflection

Based on Science

 Science is widely accepted as a good and reliable source of knowledge, information and
data. Science uses standards in identifying whether a certain discovery is scientific or
not through experimentation and observation.
 Science is empirical as it uses the senses in arriving into a truth and reality called sense
knowledge.
 Science is investigative as it needs to investigate to describe facts and events.
 The method of science in providing data is basically observation coupled with
experimentation and its product is called scientific truth
 While science gives a scientific truth and knowledge, in the principles of philosophy
however, it covers a small part of the world.
 The ideas of science are limited such as proving the existence of God through scientific
method or experimentation as God can never be a specimen and therein lies the truth
to which science cannot explain everything especially in ethical issues. In short, science
looks at reality partially.

According to Gabriel Marcel

 Philosophical reflection is the act of giving time to think about the meaning and purpose
of life.
 Marcel also mentioned there are two types of philosophical reflection namely: Primary
Reflection and Secondary Reflection.
 Primary Reflection – refers to the ability to think logically and evaluate
arguments. This examines things by breaking them down into different or
constituent parts. Primary reflection is largely concerned with definitions,
essences, and technical solutions to problems
  Secondary Reflection – Enables us to look deeper into our experiences and see
the bigger picture of reality as a whole. This reflection integrates various
fragmented and compartmentalized experiences into a home.

Allegory of the Cave

 “On the walls of the cave, only the shadows are the truth.” -Plato
 Allegory on the cave is Plato’s theory that is concerned about human perceptions.
 Plato claimed that knowledge through the senses is no more than an opinion and in
order to have real knowledge, we must gain it through philosophical resume.
 In the allegory of the cave, Plato distinguishes between people who mistake sensory
knowledge for the truth and people who really do see the truth.
 The cave in Plato’s theory represents the people who believe that knowledge comes
from what we see and here in the world empirical evidence. The cave shows that
believers of empirical knowledge are trapped in a cave of misunderstanding.
 The shadows on the other hand represents the perceptions of those who believe in
empirical evidence ensures knowledge. If you believe that what you see should be taken
as truth, then you are merely seeing the shadow of the truth. In Plato’s opinion, you are
a pleb if you believe the aforementioned statement.
 The game represents how people believe that one can be a master when they have
knowledge of the empirical world. Plato demonstrates in this case that the master does
not actually know anything about the truth and suggests that it is ridiculous to admire
someone like that.
 The escaped prisoner represents the philosophers who seeks knowledge outside the
cave and outside what our senses can perceive can perceive.
 The sun then represents the philosophical truth and knowledge whilst the journey
represents the philosopher’s undertaking when finding the truth and wisdom.
 And lastly, the prisoners’ reactions to the escapee returning represents the people who
are scared of knowing philosophical truth and the trust to the philosophers.
  The allegory of the cave represents things on how we observe them and allows us to
discern criticism and invoke opinions of our own in response to the criticism.

Moral Theology

 Moral theology employs STOP as the guidepost of moral decision making and are as
follows:
 S – Search out the facts
 All means should be exhausted to better understand the issue at hand
 T – Think
 Think, reflect, and analyze the facts, what its negative and positive effects
are, and its advantages and disadvantages
 O – How it affects others
 Figure out how it affects others and we should always consider others in
every decision that we make for every action that we take always has a
social dimension as it affects ourselves, others, and the community
where we belong.
 P – Pray
 We are human beings with limitations, if our best efforts are not enough,
then there is no other way but to look up for divine help and God for
enlightenment and guidance.
 Reason is also important in theology and not just faith, whether it is in philosophy,
sociology, or any other sciences for that matter.
 Reflection is very useful in understanding daily experiences to broaden our perspective
of life.