Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
REVIEWER- QUARTER 1 S.Y. 2022-2023
ETYMOLOGICAL DEFINITION OF PHILOSOPHY
 Philia/Philo means love; Sophia means wisdom.
Philosophy means love of wisdom.
 PHILOSOPHY is a strong desire of the human person to
possess knowledge and apply it correctly.
 We can also say that Philosophy is a path towards
attainment of wisdom.
 Philosophers love to seek wisdom- the truth. Any
person is free to engage in the pursuit of wisdom and
knowledge.
 Remember, knowledge is different from wisdom. Do
you know the difference between knowledge and
wisdom?
 What is knowledge? How do we gain knowledge?
 Analyze the following quote to better understand the
difference:
 “Knowledge is knowing that tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is
knowing not to put it in a fruit salad”
- Miles Kington
 The quote may seem funny, however, it clearly conveys
what knowledge and wisdom mean.
 Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge.
LOGIC
 The art and science of correct thinking.
 The study of truths based completely on the meanings
of the terms they contain."
 The foundation of a logical reasoning is its proposition,
or statement.
 The proposition is either accurate (true) or not (false).
 Premises are the propositions used to build the
argument.
 The argument is then built on premises.
 Then an interference is made from the premises.
 Finally, a conclusion is drawn.
EXISTENTIALISM
 it teaches one enjoy freedom but with due
responsibility on what is wrong and is right.
 You can discover more sets of truth without limitations.
 a philosophical view that assert the individuality of any
human person making him free to make choices of what
he is and what he can become.
 As a man who has freedom you must put to mind that
you are accountable of your choices and decision in life.
 This means that you students are unique and would
most likely have a future that is true to your own person
and not what is being dictated by your parent nor your
friends
 "Freedom is the identity of man." -Jean-Paul Sartre
ANALYTIC PHILOSOPHY
 assumption of truth only becomes true after it shall
have gone through validation, experimentation or any
scientific approach for that matter.
 For example, there are questions teachers ask that may
elicit different responses, but there is only one definite
correct answer and this answer is usually supported by a
concept or a theory which is a product of scientific
process.
 Analytic Philosophy teaches you that it's not how you
see things and how you perceive them, but how they
are processed through rigorous and valid methods
 Hence, exact truth is seen in the lens of due scientific
process.
 Truth is accompanied with process.
PHENOMENOLOGY
 brings varied perceptions over a thing to a common end
that certain things no matter how different the
perspective of people towards it due to their
experiences would receive justification to its being
 This image you may look at it as half full, some look at it
as half empty.
 This thing may appear in different perspectives.
 Applying Phenomenology, its original meaning that is
simply a glass of water.
 Things may appear to you in different ways. Yet, what is
important is to see its essence.
 This phenomenological way brings you to the essence of
anything.
 Hence, also see the importance of the things that you
encounter for there is always essential meaning why
things exist.
LOGICAL TOOL
3 Types of Reasoning
DEDUCTIVE
There are usually complex thoughts we encounter, and it
takes a hard time to understand what is expressed in it.
But, with the help of deductive reasoning we can chunk the
entire thought into smaller units to arrive at a simpler
presentation.
Examples:
Premise 1: All teachers are smart people.
Premise 2: Some smart people are studious.
Conclusion: Some smart people are teachers.
Premise 1: All students are kind.
Premise 2: Pedro is a student.
Conclusion: Pedro is kind.
INDUCTIVE
There are presentations of statements or ideas wherein its
specific details come first before generalizations are being
laid.
In this case, use bottom up approach in trying to
understand the concept. "Bottom up", meaning that it
takes specific information and makes a broad generalization
that is considered probable, allowing for the fact that the
conclusion may not be accurate.
Examples:
Premise 1: Sean is alcoholic.
Premise 2: John is one of the brothers of Sean.
Conclusion: In this case, you could use inductive reasoning
to offer an opinion that it was probably John, and his
brothers; Nico and Bridj are also alcoholics.
The probability of your assumption may not necessarily be
true for John and his brothers might have different priority
in terms of habits.
Opinions
 Pandemic has not been penetrated our country if the
government stop the incoming flights immediately.
 The Bigbang will not happen because the people
learned their lessons with the previous Earthquake.
 Learners of TNHS will now be coming better because it
is back to normal face to face.
 Christmas celebration would be happier this year
because no more quarantines and restrictions.
 I would definitely get scholarship in college once I
studied so well.
Truths
 Salaries in US is way higher than Philippines thats why
some of our resources go there.
 Anna got an average grade of 93, thus she is qualified to
be an academic awardee.
 BBM is trusted by most of the Filipinos because 31
Million voted him.
HUMSS is the biggest strand in TNHS in terms of
population.
Social Media has been playing an important role in the
socialization of most youths.
Arguments
In philosophy and logic, an argument is a series of
statements typically used to persuade someone of
something or to present reasons for accepting a conclusion
Argument is a central concept for philosophy. Philosophers
rely heavily on arguments to justify claims, and these
practices have been motivating reflections on what
arguments and argumentation are for
Types of Arguments
Depending on the information available and the strength of
the statements being made, one of three kinds of logic will
be used to evaluate it. The three types of argument in logic
are deductive, inductive, and abductive. Regardless of the
kind of logic being used, each argument will have the same
components of a logical argument, namely premises and a
conclusion. Deductive logic is for arguments where the goal
of the argument is to prove the conclusion with certainty.
Inductive logic is used in statistical arguments where the
conclusion is probable. Finally, abductive logic is used for
more modest arguments where the conclusion is what fits
best with information known.
Fallacies
Logical fallacies are flawed, deceptive, or false arguments
that can be proven wrong with reasoning. These are the
most common fallacies you should know about.
Arguments and debates are an important part of college
and academic discourse. But not every argument is perfect.
Some can be picked apart because they have errors in
reasoning and rhetoric. These are called "logical fallacies,"
and they're very common.
You'll hear logical fallacies in the classroom, during
televised debates, and in arguments with your friends. It
can even be challenging to avoid using them yourself.
There are two main types of fallacies:
A formal fallacy is an argument with a premise and
conclusion that doesn't hold up to scrutiny.
An informal fallacy is an error in the form, content, or
context of the argument.
Ad Hominem
An ad hominem fallacy uses personal attacks rather than
logic. This fallacy occurs when someone rejects or criticizes
another point of view based on the personal characteristics,
ethnic background, physical appearance, or other non-
relevant traits of the person who holds it.
Ad hominem arguments are often used in politics, where
they are often called "mudslinging." They are considered
unethical because politicians can use them to manipulate
voters' opinions against an opponent without addressing
core issues.
Straw Man
A straw man argument attacks a different subject rather
than the topic being discussed — often a more extreme
version of the counter argument. The purpose of this
misdirection is to make one's position look stronger than it
actually is.
The straw man argument is appropriately named after a
harmless, lifeless scarecrow. Instead of contending with the
actual argument, they attack the equivalent of a lifeless
bundle of straw — an easily defeated puppet that the
opponent was never arguing for in the first place.
Appeal to Ignorance
An appeal to ignorance (also known as an "argument from
ignorance") argues that a proposition must be true because
it has not been proven false or there is no evidence against
it.
The argument can be used to bolster multiple contradictory
conclusions at once, such as the following two claims:
"No one has ever been able to prove that extraterrestrials
exist, so they must not be real."
"No one has ever been able to prove that extraterrestrials
do not exist, so they must be real."
An appeal to ignorance doesn't prove anything. Instead, it
shifts the need for proof away from the person making a
claim.
False Dilemma/False Dichotomy
A false dilemma or false dichotomy presents limited options
— typically by focusing on two extremes — when in fact
more possibilities exist. The phrase "America: Love it or
leave it" is an example of a false dilemma.
The false dilemma fallacy is a manipulative tool designed to
polarize the audience, promoting one side and demonizing
another. It's common in political discourse as a way of
strong-arming the public into supporting controversial
legislation or policies.
Slippery Slope
A slippery slope argument assumes that a certain course of
action will necessarily lead to a chain of future events. The
slippery slope fallacy takes a benign premise or starting
point and suggests that it will lead to unlikely or ridiculous
outcomes with no supporting evidence.
You may have used this fallacy on your parents as a
teenager: "But you have to let me go to the party! If I don't
go to the party, I'll be a loser with no friends. Next thing
you know, I'll end up alone and jobless, living in your
basement when I'm 30!"
Circular Argument
Circular arguments occur when a person's argument
repeats what they already assumed before without arriving
at a new conclusion. For example, if someone says,
"According to my brain, my brain is reliable," that's a
circular argument.
Circular arguments often use a claim as both a premise and
a conclusion. This fallacy only appears to be an argument
when in fact it's just restating one's assumptions.
Hasty Generalization
A hasty generalization is a claim based on a few examples
rather than substantial proof. Arguments based on hasty
generalizations often don't hold up due to a lack of
supporting evidence: The claim might be true in one case,
but that doesn't mean it's always true.
Hasty generalizations are common in arguments because
there's a wide range of what's acceptable for "sufficient"
evidence. The rules for evidence can change based on the
claim you're making and the environment where you are
making it — whether it's rooted in philosophy, the sciences,
a political debate, or discussing house rules for using the
kitchen.
Red Herring
A red herring is an argument that uses confusion or
distraction to shift attention away from a topic and toward
a false conclusion. Red herrings usually contain an
unimportant fact, idea, or event that has little relevance to
the real issue.
Red herrings are a common diversionary tactic when
someone wants to shift the focus of an argument to
something easier or safer to address. But red herrings can
also be unintentional.
Appeal to Hypocrisy
An appeal to hypocrisy — also known as the tu quoque
fallacy — focuses on the hypocrisy of an opponent. The tu
quoque fallacy deflects criticism away from oneself by
accusing the other person of the same problem or
something comparable.
The tu quoque fallacy is an attempt to divert blame. The
fallacy usually occurs when the arguer uses apparent
hypocrisy to neutralize criticism and distract from the issue.
Causal Fallacy
Causal fallacies are informal fallacies that occur when an
argument incorrectly concludes that a cause is related to an
effect. Think of the causal fallacy as a parent category for
other fallacies about unproven causes.
One example is the false cause fallacy, which is when you
draw a conclusion about what the cause was without
enough evidence to do so. Another is the post hoc fallacy,
which is when you mistake something for the cause
because it came first — not because it actually caused the
effect.
Sunk Cost
A sunk cost fallacy is when someone continues doing
something because of the effort they already put in it,
regardless of whether the additional costs outweigh the
potential benefits. "Sunk cost" is an economic term for any
past expenses that can no longer be recovered.
For example: Imagine that after watching the first six
episodes of a TV show, you decide the show isn't for you.
Those six episodes are your "sunk cost." A sunk cost fallacy
would be deciding to finish watching anyway because
you've already invested roughly six hours of your life in it.
Appeal to Authority
Appeal to authority is the misuse of an authority's opinion
to support an argument. While an authority's opinion can
represent evidence and data, it becomes a fallacy if their
expertise or authority is overstated, illegitimate, or
irrelevant to the topic.

For example, citing a foot doctor when trying to prove

something related to psychiatry would be an appeal to
authority fallacy.

Equivocation
Equivocation happens when a word, phrase, or sentence is
used deliberately to confuse, deceive, or mislead. In other
words, saying one thing but meaning another.

When it's poetic or comical, we call this a "play on words."

BODY
But when it's done in a political speech, an ethics debate, or
It is by our body that we function. It’s comprised of organs
an economics report — and it's designed to make the
and cells which consists of protein carbohydrates and fats.
audience think you're saying something you're not — that's
Our body contains our nervous system with nerves and the
when it becomes a fallacy.
brain. It’s through our bodies that we connect to the
physical world with our five senses.
Appeal to Pity
An appeal to pity relies on provoking your emotions to win
SOUL
an argument rather than factual evidence. Appealing to pity
Our soul is what gives us our personality and it’s through
attempts to pull on an audience's heartstrings, distract
our soul that we live out our relationship with God, with
them, and support their point of view.
other people and with our self. Our soul likely has three
major components — our mind, will and emotions.
Someone accused of a crime using a cane or walker to
appear more feeble in front of a jury is one example of
Our mind has a conscious part and a subconscious part. The
appeal to pity. The appearance of disability isn't an
conscious mind is where we do our thinking and reasoning.
argument on the merits of the case, but it's intended to
The sub-conscious mind is where we hold our deep beliefs
sway the jury's opinion anyway.
and our attitudes. It’s also where we have our feeling, our
emotions and retain our memories. Our will is what gives us
Bandwagon Fallacy
the ability to make choices. Through a very complex way,
The bandwagon fallacy assumes something is true (or right
our mind, our will and our emotions are connected to the
or good) because others agree with it. In other words, the
body through our endocrine, nervous and immune systems.
fallacy argues that if everyone thinks a certain way, then
you should, too.
“The mind and body communicate constantly. What the
mind thinks, perceives, and experiences is sent from our
One problem with this kind of reasoning is that the broad
brain to the rest of the body.” Herbert Benson, M.D.
acceptance of a claim or action doesn't mean that it's
factually justified. People can be mistaken, confused,
SPIRIT
deceived, or even willfully irrational in their opinions, so
It’s in our spirit that we have meaning and purpose in life.
using them to make an argument is flawed.
At the deepest level our spirit gives us meaning and
purpose and our spirit enables us to love one another, our
self and God. It’s through our spirit that we have
communion and fellowship with God. Our spirit gives us
intuition between right and wrong.

The Interaction Between Body, Soul, & Spirit

Many of us are affected by how we handle the stress that
life brings us. If chronic stress is left unchecked, over a
period of time our bodies will take a toll. A strong faith can
help us to cope with the stress that we experience in our
life and enable the impact of that stress to be less
significant. Without a strong personal faith we must resort
to our own resources to cope with the stress present in our
life.

Often we attempt to cope with this stress through

addictions and other methods of escape. This behavior can
further exacerbate the effect of stress on our physical
health. A strong personal faith can be a resource that helps
to manage stress.
How the Human Person Body Imposes Limits and
Possibilities for Transcendence
HINDUISM
BUDDHISM
Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and happiness, like
heaven. In Hinduism and Buddhism, nirvana is the highest
state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment,
meaning a person's individual desires and suffering go
away.
CHRISTIANISM
St. Augustine and St. Aquinas: Will and Love
Physically we are not free, yet morally bound to obey the
law. The eternal law is God Himself. According to this law,
humanity must do well and avoid evil, hence, the existence
of moral obligation in every human being.
CONCEPTS ON THE LIMITATIONS OF THE HUMAN BODY
The Concept of Dread. Man is simple thrown into the
world and is left alone to face what he can do because he
did not will for it.
The Concept of Being-Others-Related. He has to establish
relationship with others in the world. One cannot live
without the help of others.
The Concept of Concern. Human person’s relatedness to
entities is basically things which he encounters in the world.
He always “together” with others.
The Concept of Guilt-Feeling. In philosophy, guilt-feeling is
something that is lacking or missing in a person. As such,
human person is a guilty creature.
The Concept of Conscience. Conscience plays a primary
role in recovering from being “lost or fallen” in the world.
The Concept of Resoluteness. Resoluteness is man’s
readiness to be called by conscience.
The Concept of Temporality. Temporality imposes limits to
one’s human body.
The Concept of Death. The human person’s temporal
existence will find its end on death.
*From a biological and physical standpoint, it can be
recognized that the human body, although it can perform
many functions, also has limitations. Limit in the
environment, demographics, and society may also hinder a
person from reaching transcendence.
Points to remember when going beyond your limits
You are connected to the external or eternal world.
Challenges are learning opportunities.
Think outside the box.
Recognize that everyone has fears.
Limitations of the Human Persons
Human persons are biologically deficient beings. This means
that we not equipped with the best physical attributes
among all the beings in the world.

Human beings do not have the ability to fly.
 Human beings do not have the ability to breathe under
water without the aid of a breathing apparatus
Possibility is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as:
 A chance that something might exists, happen, or be true.
 The state or fact of being possible.
 Something that might be done or might happen.
 Something that is possible
 Abilities or qualities that could make someone or
something better inthe future
Transcendence
Exceeding usual limits or surpassing;
 Extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary
experiences;
 In Kantian philosophy: being beyond the limits of all
possible experience and knowledge
The Human Person as Embodied Spirit
 As an embodied spirit, it provides us numerous
opportunities to explore everything around us and even
within us. Though we enjoy a number of advantages
compared to other beings, still there are a number of things
that we naturally cannot do.
 Despite these natural limitations, we have used our
intellect to devise means to achieve several feats. We now
use airplanes to fly, employ scuba gear to swim underwater
for extended periods, and invented tools and machines to
lift gear weights and perform other feats well beyond our
physical capabilities.
 The ability to surpass is called transcendence. Our mind is
an important tool that allows us to go beyond many of our
physical limits. As persons, we are able to exercise our
imagination and reflection to go beyond our thoughts and
experiences.
 Although we have physical limitations, we can transcend
them because of our spiritual dimensions. Being physically
limited in our abilities does not prevent us from hoping for
or aspiring to greater things.
 Transcendence also means overcoming oneself of being in
control even if the body reminds us of certain tendencies.
Although these tendencies are felt, the person can govern
them and ensure that they are exercised within the bounds
of reason.
It is proper to evaluate our human limitations and how can
we transcend them.
Many of us would experience any of the following; for
emerging from deep within and felt a sense of being in tune
with the mystery of our own being, and with the mystery of
life that transcends us.
Situations where you can transcend. (Edwards 1983).
A. Forgiveness
When we forgive. We are freed from our anger and
bitterness because of the actions and/or words of another.
On the other hand, the hardness of our heart is reinforced
by whole series of rational arguments.
B. The Beauty of Nature
There is perfection in every single flower; this is what the
three philosophies believed. For a hug, for every sunrise
and sunset, to eat together as a family, are our miracles.
These kinds of experiences can be truly moments of grace.
They touch as deeply and the human heart is
spontaneously lifted.
C. Vulnerability
To be invulnerable is somehow inhuman. To be vulnerable
is to be human. We need to acknowledge the help of other
people in our lives. Such moments of poverty and
dependence on others are not sign of weakness but being
true with ourselves.
D. Failure
Our failures force us to confront our weakness and
limitations.
When a relationship fails, when a student fails a subject,
when our immediate desires are not met, we are
confronted with the possibility of our plans, and yet we are
forced to surrender to a mystery or look upon a bigger
world.
Such acceptance of our failures makes us hope and trust
that all can be brought into good. Even if we have sinned,
as Saint Augustine had, there is hope and forgiveness.
E. Loneliness
Our loneliness can be rooted from our sense of vulnerability
and fear of death. However, it is our choice to live in an
impossible world where we are always “happy” or to accept
a life where solitude and companionship have a part. With
our loneliness, we can realize that our dependence on
other people or gadgets is a possessiveness that we can be
free from.
F. Love
To love is to experience richness, positivity and
transcendence. Whether in times of ecstatic moments or
struggles the love for a friend, between family members
or a significant person, can open in us something in the
other which takes us beyond ourselves. Life is full of risks,
fears and commitment, pain and sacrificing and giving up
thing/s we want for the sake of the one we love.
You and the Environment
Environment philosophy
The discipline that studies the moral relationship of human
beings with the environment and its non-human contents.
Philosophers believe that the human person has the ability
to change the environment to suit his purposes.
It is in an orderly environment where human persons thrive
best.
Environmental Beliefs
Anthropocentrism
 This view believes that humans are the most important
species on the planet and they are free to transform
nature and use its resources.
 It focuses on the significant role of humankind in the
world and considers nature as the means by which
humans are able to meet their needs and survive.
 Human person has the ability to change the environment
to suit his purposes.
Biocentrism
This believes that humans are not the only significant
species on the planet, and that all other organisms have
inherent value and should be protected.
This view advocates ethical treatment of animals.
Ecocentrism
It places great value on ecosystems and biological
communities.
This view believes that humankind is a part of a greater
biological system or community and that we have a
significant role as stewards or guardians of nature.
This view promotes the idea that order and balance in
nature brings about
The influence of humanity on the environment can be best
understood if we consider the individual person as a
dynamic source of change within his particular
environment.
Human-Environment Interaction
Human Activity
Humans adapt and modify the environment to sustain their
needs and meet their goals: clearing land for agriculture,
creating dams for storing and diverting water, and more.
The Environment
The environment can affect us in many ways. Pollution
sways our decisions to stay in certain places; climate
change may affect disease patterns and prompt us to take
heightened precautionary health measures, to name a few.
We must make wise decisions regarding the use of natural
resources to ensure that there is still enough left for future
use.
The misuse of resources often means that other people do
not get to benefit from it.
PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLITY
Environmental integrity
refers to maintaining the state of the environment.
this means that human activities should not unduly disrupt
the ecosystems and human communities located in the
area.
Economic efficiency
refers to prudence in decision-making regarding the use of
resources to ensure that there is minimum to zero waste.
Equity
demands that we use our natural resources in such a
manner that these are conserved so that the next
generation will be able to use them.
Prudence is the ability to regulate one’s actions and
behaviour.
Frugality is being thrifty with the use of one’s resources.
Generalization
As human persons, it is our responsibility to treat with
respect not only our fellow humans, but also everything in
our world. Upholding environmentalism and sustainability
will enable us to take the first steps in addressing
environmental issues and contribute to solving the greater
environmental challenge of climate change.
Psychologist Erich Fromm proposed a new society that
should encourage the emergence of a new being that will
foster the virtues of prudence in all activities and
moderation or frugality toward environmental issues.
VIRTUES are behaviors showing high standards.
The word FRUGALITY is usually used in money, also food
and other resources; a thriftiness or a quality of being
economical with money. If this term is applied towards
the environment, this simply means that you have to
conserve, save as well as protect the environment. And
frugality coupled with the word PRUDENCE which simply
means intelligent, creates a better livable environment. You
will act, use and harness all available resources possible in
our environment conservatively and intelligently, and
of course, with all due respect to the society and human life
as well with no hidden environmental costs.
ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS are costs connected with the
actual or potential deterioration of natural resources/assets
due to economic activities.
Below are the few functions of Erich Fromm’s envisioned
society. It can be summarized in two virtues: Prudence and
Frugality
1. Trying to reduce greed, hate, and illusions as much as
one is capable
2. Making the full growth if oneself and of one’s fellow
beings as the supreme goal of living
3. Not deceiving others, but also not being deceived by
others; one may be called innocent, but not naïve
4. Freedom that is not arbitrariness but the possibility to be
oneself, not as a bundle of greedy desires, but as a
delicately balanced structure that at any moment is
confronted with the alternatives of growth or decay, life or
death
5. Joy comes from giving and sharing, not from hoarding
and exploiting
6. Developing one’s capacity for love, together with one’s
capacity for critical unsentimental thought.
A Wise and good decision making is called prudent. A
prudent person does not overestimate the amount of
revenues recognized nor underestimate the amount of
expenses.
A frugal person always finds a way to minimize the
monetary cost of their action while trying to keep it lower
than their useful needs.
Example 1: The person decides to buy rice and eggs, he
buys it in bulk to minimize the cost and at the same time he
gains nutrition. The level of consumption of a frugal person
is lower than that of a typical consumer. Thus the person is
less
subjected in worsening the natural resources or
environment.
Example 2: There is an Ilocano man working as an
employee in Manila City Hall.
His friends known him to be a “Kuripot”. He has a car but
takes the bus going to work. This person is a Kuripot
(thrifty/frugal) but helps save the environment by not
contributing pollution from his car. He is prudent by using
carpooling system.
Carpooling offers many benefits. Not only will you be
saving, but you will also help reduce the costs we all pay
towards the construction of new roads, road maintenance
and air pollution related health costs. Having fewer cars on
the road
means reduced Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and
improved air quality.