Introduction to

Philosophy
of the Human Person

by: Teacher Denver N. Diocares

3 Classes of People

- Lovers of Gain
- Lovers of Honor
- Lovers of knowledge or
Wisdom

PYTHAGORAS
 PHILOSOPHY
PHILOS SOPHIA
- LOVE - WISDOM

LOVE OF WISDOM
 Philosophy

WISDOM
Correct Application of
Knowledge.

LOVE
Strong desire for a
particular object.
 PHILOSOPHY
Is a Science that studies BEINGS in their
Ultimate causes, reasons and principles
through the aid of Human reason alone.
Who is a Philosopher?
- A Lover of Wisdom
- He/She puts meaning to what is out there.
- Open to changes and discovery
- He/She does not stop knowing, wondering, and asking
questions.
- Hungers for truth, meaning and sense.
- Someone goes beyond the surface of things, experiences,
transendence and possesses a beautiful mind.
Characteristics of PHILOSOPHY

FRAMEWORK

EXAMINATION OF
KNOWLEDGE

DISCIPLINE
1. FRAMEWORK

Is a way of thinking about the world and is

composed of views and beliefs of a
Person.
- Abella 2016
2. EXAMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE

This means that principle of Philosophy can also be use

as an examination of other disciplines or particular
knowledge.

In the long run other areas of specialization may

benefit from the very nature of Philosophy!
3. DISCIPLINE

- Philosophy begins in humans experience

of reality being the most ancient of all
Intellectual disciplines.
PHILOSOPHY is the Mother of the Human and Natural
Sciences
 GREECE

____ _____ ______ ______ _______ ______

- Ancient Greece is located at Southern tip of
the balcons at the crossroads of Europe, Africa
and Asia.

- Greece is the “Birth place of Philosophy” in

the west specifically at the Great City of Miletus.
 THALES OF MILETUS
- Known as the first Greek philosopher and the
Father of Philosophy. (624-546 BCE)

- regarded as the first to engage in the inquiry of

searching for causes and principles of the Natural
world and various phenomena without relying on
supernatural explanation and divine components.

- By observing nature, he believed that the earth floats

on water, while it is considered as the first ultimate
substance.
 BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY

1 Metaphysics 2 Epistemology

3 Logic

Philosophy
4 Ethics 5 Aesthetics
1. METAPHYSICS
• Literally means “After physics.”
• Early Greek Philosophers claimed that it is the study
of the nature of reality.
• Analyzes whether everything is material, and if life,
energy and mind are its different manifestations.
• Study things beyond physical concepts or things
that cannot be experienced.
• Foundation of Philosophy
Example:
Concept of GOD
FREEDOM
SOUL

“Metaphysics is the first Philosophy” -

Aristotle
 Some examples of specific questions that metaphysicians
reflect upon are the following:

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF
LIFE?
DOES GOD EXIST?
 Subdivision of Metaphysics
General
Special
Metaphysics/
Metaphysics
Ontology
- Cosmology
- Psychology
- Anthropology
- Natural Theology/
Theodicy
 1. General Metaphysics/ Ontology
Ontology
Onto Logos
- Being - Knowledge or study

Studies Beings in their ultimate causes, reasons and principles

through the aid of Human reason alone.
 Basic Questions:

What is being?
Why do things exist, rather
notexist at all?
What is the meaning and nature
of reality?
2. Special Metaphysics
Cosmology
Kosmos Logos
- World - Knowledge or study

Studies the world (or universe) including its origin,

dynamics, and characteristics, as well as the laws that
govern its order.
 Basic Questions:

What is the origin of the world?

What is the basic material of
which the world is formed?
How do things arise?
Is the world or universe infinite?
 PSYCHOLOGY
Psyche Logos
- Mind - Knowledge or study

Study of the nature and dynamics of the human person

alone.
- with emphasis on the way the persons mind functions
and the way she behaves.
 Basic Questions:

What is the nature of Human

Person?
Is there such thing as human
nature?
Is there life after death?
 ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropos Logos
- Man - Knowledge or study

Scientific study of humanity concerned with human behavior, human

biology, human culture and tradition in the past and in present times.

“the science of humanity,” which studies human beings in aspects ranging from
the biology and evolutionary history of Homo sapiens to the features of society and
culture that decisively distinguish humans from other animal species.
 Basic Questions:
When, where, and how did
humans evolve?
How do people adapt to different
environments? How have
societies developed and changed
from the ancient past to the
present?
THEODICY or Natural Theology
Theos Logos
- God - Knowledge or study

Study of the nature of God and Religious Beiefs

 Basic Questions:

Is there God?
What and Who is God, If he exist
at all?
How do we prove the existence of
God?
2. EPISTEMOLOGY

• Comes from the Greek word “episteme”

which means “knowledge”.
• Deals with various problems concerning
knowledge.
• Study of the Nature and Scope of knowledge
and justified belief.
 Basic Questions:

WHAT IS KNOWLEDGE?
WHAT DO WE KNOW?
HOW IS KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED?
WHAT MAKES JUSTIFIED BELIEFS JUSTIFIED?
 3. LOGIC

• looks into whether there are rules or principles that govern

reasoning.
• As a study of reasoning, logic incorporates the analysis of the
methods of deduction and induction to provide the rules on how
people ought to think logically.
• Science of correct thinking.
• Study of principles and criteria of a valid argument.
• distinguish sound or good reasoning from unsound or bad
reasoning.
 Basic Questions:

WHAT IS CORRECT REASONING?

WHAT DISTINGUISHES A GOOD ARGUMENT FROM
A BAD ONE?
HOW CAN DETECT A FALLACY IN AN ARGUMENT?
 4. ETHICS

• derived from the Greek term “Ethos” meaning “Moral Philosophy” or

“Custom/habit” is concerned about human conduct and morality of human
actions.
• How human persons ought to act and search for a definition of a right conduct
and good life.

The systematic reflections in ethics will lead to an understanding of the concept

of right and wrong and conceptions about morality which affects one’s actions
toward others. Thus, ethics helps people prioritize their values.
 ETHICS vs MORALITY
Theory of Practice of
right action rightness
and greater and
good. wrongness
of Human
Action.
 Basic Questions:

WHAT IS A RIGHT CONDUCT AS THAT WHICH

CAUSES THE REALIZATION OF THE GREATEST
GOOD?
HOW DO WE DETERMINE A RIGHT CONDUCT?
 5. AESTHETICS

• Comes from the Greek word “aisthetikos” which means

“sensitive” or “perceptive”.
• the Philosopher is concerned with the analysis of aesthetic
experience and the idea of what is beautiful.
• The analysis is directed toward the nature of aesthetic
judgement, standards of beauty, and the objectivity of these
standards is response to the questions raised about the meaning
of aesthetic experience.
In Aesthetics, philosophers analyze whether beauty is
based on utility, experience, form, pleasure, or
expression.

For example, if you look at a painting or any kind of

artwork, what are your bases of judgement to say that
it is beautiful? How does a panel of judges decide who
wins beauty pageant? How paintings priced?
 BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY

1 Metaphysics 2 Epistemology

3 Logic

Philosophy
4 Ethics 5 Aesthetics
 SUMMARY:

The Meaning, origin, characteristics,

and branches of Philosophy
 The word Philosophy comes from the
two Greek words PHILOS, which means
love and SOPHIA which means
wisdom.
 Philosophy can be defined as the
study that uses human reason to
investigate the ultimate causes,
reasons and principles which governs
all things.
In addition, philosophy is divided into
several branches namely: aesthetics,
logic, epistemology, ethics, and
metaphysics.
Philosophy can also be seen as framework,
as an examination of knowledge and as a
discipline.

Philosophy is concerned with the deepest

and biggest questions in life.
 BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY:

“THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE

BEGINNING OF WISDOM”
– Hebrews 13:8