Self-Learning Activity for Introduction to the Philosophy of

the Human Person

The Process of Doing Philosophy
Read the story, “The Blind Men and Elephant” by American poet John
Godfrey Saxe and answer the questions below. Write your answer in your notebook.

The Blind Men and the Elephant

(John Godfrey Saxe)

Once upon a time there were six blind men. They lived in a town in India. They
thought they were very clever. One day an elephant came to their town.
The blind men did not know what an elephant looked like but they could smell it and they
could hear it. “What is this animal like?” they said. Each man touched a different part of
the elephant.
The first man touched the elephant's body. It felt hard, big and wide. “An
elephant is like a wall”, he said.
The second man touched one of the elephant's tusks. It felt smooth, hard, and
sharp. “An elephant is like a spear,” he said.
The third man touched the elephant's trunk. It felt long, thin, and wiggly. “An
elephant is like a snake,” he said.
The fourth man touched one of the legs. It felt thick, rough, hard and
round. “An elephant is like a tree,” he said.
The fifth man touched one of the elephant's ears. It felt thin and it moved. “An
elephant is like a fan,” he said.
The sixth man touched the elephant's tail. It felt long, thin, and strong. “An
elephant is like a rope,” he said.
The men argued. It's like a wall! No, it isn't! It's like a spear! No it isn't! It's like a
snake! They did not agree.
The king had been watching and listening to the men.
“'You are not very clever. You only touched part of the elephant. You did not feel
the whole animal. An elephant is not like a wall or a spear or a snake, or a tree or a fan
or a rope.”
The men left the town still arguing. A little girl heard them and said “Each of you
is right but you are all wrong … but I know what you are talking about!”

1
 Guided Questions:
1. What happens in the story when each blind man "sees" the elephant? Why were there
six different ideas about the elephant? Were any of the men right about the elephant?
Were any of them completely wrong?
2. What did the blind men learn from the king? What does the storyteller want us to
learn from this tale?
3. Do problems like this happen in real life? Think of the times when arguments or
misunderstandings have occurred because people saw situations from different points
of view. Describe what happened.
4. How does it feel when another person doesn't "see" something the way you do? How
can you address those differences in perceptions?
5. What if the men in this story were not blind? Would they still have different
perceptions about elephants? Why or why not?
6. Does the story give you any ideas about how these problems can be solved? What are
some steps you can take to understand why another person doesn't see things the way
you do?

WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
Philosophy, is coined from the Greek word “philein” which means love,
and “Sophia”, which means to love. It is mainly defined as the science of beings in their
ultimate reasons, causes and principles, acquired by the aid of human reason alone.
During your Junior High School years, you may have encountered this word quite a few
times. And without you even knowing it, you may have also applied it in your day to day
lives unknowingly.

HOLISTIC AND PARTIAL THINKING IN PHILOSOPHY

In general, there are two types of thinking that is used in Philosophy, Holistic
and Partial Thinking.
Holistic thinking refers to a perspective that considers large-scale patterns in
systems. This is often described as looking at the “big picture” when describing and
analyzing a situation or problem. A holistic perspective requires an individual to have an
open mindset and an ability to get the general sense or impression regarding a situation. A
holistic view also means that one does not confine one’s understanding of the world to one’s
own perspective, but also includes the perspective of others. The view also enables a
person to better appreciate his or her experiences as vital
components that give meaning to life. Partial thinking, on the other hand, focuses on
specific aspects of a situation. The partial view is an important component of analytical
thinking, as an individual focuses on certain areas or aspects of a problem in order to
understand it. Though partial thinking is useful, philosophy utilizes holistic thinking in
making sense of problems and issues related to the human experience.

2
 Reflection requires a person to be willing to examine one’s thoughts, feelings, and
actions and to learn more about one’s life and experiences. One can reflect on almost any
subject. For instance, the moment you wake up, you can already reflect upon the things that
you plan to do for the day. This will enable you to set your daily goals and set you on the path
of thinking of ways to achieve them. Seemingly simple or mundane actions take a whole new
meaning when one engages in reflection. When buying clothes, for example, think of the
questions that you ask yourself as you consider buying the t-shirt or blouse you are holding.
You may start with the simple questions: “Will this fit me?” “Do I look good in this color?”
these are the usual questions any buyer would ask for himself or herself.
But since we are in a reflective and philosophizing mood, let us now try and think of
“deeper” questions and reflect on the situation. You may find yourself asking the following
questions: “Do I even have to buy a new t-shirt today?” “Am I better off spending my money
on other things?” “Do I see myself wearing this shirt often or am I just going to wear it
once?”. Notice the difference when you engage in reflection. The simple task of buying a
shirt becomes something much more. If you concentrate only on simple questions, you will
just buy that shirt immediately. But reflection allows you an opportunity to think more deeply
about your action, your motivation for doing such an action, and even its possible
consequences. Reflection also helps us understand ourselves and our actions better. When we
reflect, we can judge whether our actions or decisions are reasonable or not. Taking time to
analyze your decision and actions is one vital skill that will greatly help you as you encounter
more challenges in life.

Complete the table below.

Discussion: Answer the question below:

1. How will you relate/connect the story of THE TEN BLIND MEN to holistic and partial thinking?

3
 Discuss your answer.

4
5
6