Pantukan National High School

Senior High School

Philosophy Module

Philosophy Essay
Common Essay Questions in Philosophy

• A murderer is sentenced into Death. He must choose between three rooms. The first room
is full of furious flame. The second is full of murderers with loaded guns. And there are
lions in the third room who had not been fed for years. Which room is the safest?

On the third room, there are lions who had not been fed for years, through this statement I
can say that the safest room that the murderer should choose is the third room. Why? If we will
analyze the given situation probably the lions on third room are already dead due to starvation.

• Have you adopted a holistic view in looking at a problem or situation?

How did adopting a holistic view help you make sense of the situation?

Upon solving my problems or looking at a certain situation I was able to adopt a holistic
perspective. This helps me to perceive things considering the whole perspective of the situation
and allows me to see the interconnectedness of components to recognize the fundamental whole
of the situation.

• Explain the significance of philosophy to your daily life.

Philosophy has a great contribution to my day to day life, it allows me to solve my

problems, mundane or abstract, and enables me to make better choices by improving my logical
thinking. It makes me a person who knows how to create balance between situation and be able to
establish my own beliefs considering the ethics of life. It made me able to create a strong
foundation of knowledge on how to perceive things on your own way.

• What are the reasons that compel a person to engage in philosophical thinking?

The reason why a person is compelled to participate in philosophical thought is because he

acquired curiosity. As the old saying goes “Curiosity is the fuel for discovery, inquiry and
learning”, this entails that being curios is something that will help you to gain knowledge and deep
understanding on all the things in this world. Via philosophy, our understanding is extended to
understand that learning is unceasing which address the questions in our minds.

• Based on the characteristics of Philosophy, would it be possible for any person to engage
in philosophical discussion? Why or why not? Explain your answer.
 As philosophy is for all, it is possible for any person to participate in philosophical
discussion. Philosophy does not acquire broad knowledge on the subject, but it acquires deep
understanding upon cultivating your reasoning skills. It is not only for those educated or has
background about philosophy but it is for anyone as long as you have an open mind on perceiving
things and you have the willingness to think about life in order to know its real meaning and live
the best life that you can.

• When you describe someone as “pilosopo” what do you mean?

When I describe someone as Pilosopo what I am trying to point out is that person contradict or
changes the meaning of my statements or opinions making it too literal or even exaggerate. When one’s
answers back or being sarcastic I used the word Pilosopo to describe him/her which for me is very
annoying.

• What are the different attributes of a philosopher?

Philosophers tend to observe or see things beyond what we saw by our naked eyes or to say in another
way philosophers have a keen observing mind. They also think deeply to establish their reasoning skill
upon recognizing the truth in every situation, and by this I can say that philosophers have the broad visions
of evaluating the ethics of life.

• Point out a “pilosopo” character and reason out what makes him a philosopher.
The characters of a Pilosopo are they are observers, deep thinkers, curios and uses their
reasoning skills or logical thinking. What makes them a philosopher is that they know how to
establish reasons easily, they use their mind to create an understanding on a certain situation.

• Explain the negative and the positive connotation of the word “pilosopo”
The term Pilosopo in the Philippines setting has both positive and negative connotation. The
positive connotation of the word Pilosopo is a person who, in the light of natural reason alone,
studies and inquiries into the ultimate sense of experience, its values and origins while the negative
connotation of the word Pilosopo is the person who, having reasons that are typically tautological
in nature and avoids proper reasoning.

• What should we consider when looking at arguments or opinions?

The things that we should consider upon looking at any arguments or opinions is to have a
critical mind which help us to improve our own personal point of view that can guide us in making
decisions and actions when faced with a problem. We should know how to philosophize that can
help us upon determining any sort of ideas whether they are truthful or acceptable. We should
consider understanding opinions and facts when looking at arguments or opinions to improve our
understanding and appreciation of varied views and ideas.
 • What are your limitations as a person? What are the things that you consider as difficult or
hard for you to accomplish or believe in?

I guess, as human we are born to be limitless. But there are some factors that can set
limitations to myself just like my age, my psyche, courage and energy. There are lots of things that
I found hard to accomplish or believe but there is one thing in my mind that I am really eager to
accomplish which is to have time management.

• Describe your feelings after failing to do certain activities that you would
normally do?

Every time I fall or failed on the certain activities I want to accomplish, I felt downfall
within me but these doesn’t stop me to keep going and do some repetitions because I hardly believe
that life without any failure is a life without learning. Failure might be the reason why I always
asked myself, ‘’am I really capable of doing so?’’, ‘’should I keep going or should I stop?’’, and
‘’ is my best not enough?’’, however, every time I fail is the also the time that I learn new things
about myself and my capabilities because as what Barack Obama said "You can’t let your failures
define you. You have to let your failures teach you."

• How can you transcend from your current limitations?

It is always our responsibility to ourselves to put an end to everything we are afraid to

do, to anything the delimits us from doing our wants and needs and surpassing our limitations.
There are lot of solutions to transcend our limitations but for me the best way to do it is through
finding inspirations and goal setting. Having inspirations will give you confidence and eagerness
to accomplish something ang by setting your own goal you can have a mindset that you have
something to aim and you keep on going because have to achieve your target.

• Identify the common elements among the three different approaches/frameworks to

understand the environment. Evaluate which among the three is most helpful today in
responding to your problem in the environment.
The common elements among the three different approaches is that they talk about the
moral relationship between humans and the natural environment or they are models/ approaches
that shows where humans can be related. I think the most helpful approach upon responding on
the problem of our environment today is the approach or model Egocentrism. Egocentrism assigns
considerable significance to ecosystems and biological cultures. This view believes that humanity
is part of a great biological system or culture and that, as stewards or guardians of nature, we have
a significant role. This view supports the belief that stability and beauty are brought about by order
and equilibrium in nature.
 • Explain the main differences among the three approaches; Anthropocentrism, Biocentrism,
Egocentrism, Anthropocentric Model
The main difference among the three approaches is about the moral relationship between
humans and the natural environment. Anthropocentrism Approach is based on the Anthropocentric
model, humans are superior and central to the universe, thus it is human centered. Biocentrism on
the other hand, believes that humans are not only significant species on the planet, and that all
organism have inherent value and should be protected while Egocentrism believes that humankind
is part of a great biological system or community and that we have significant role as stewards or
guardians of nature.

• What are the positive and negative changes in the environment today?

As COVID-19 hits the world, the amount of pollution, especially in the cities, was
decreased. We can see clear blue skies, which before we can hardly see due to the smokes coming
from the factories and vehicles. On the other hand, garbage from area to area in some places
become evident, especially face masks, plastics, and other waste. Thus, we should always be
mindful in our environment since this is only the place, we get to live in. Whatever we put in here
is what will return to us eventually.

• What can you say about the statement below?

“See the false as false, the true as true. Look into your heart, follow your nature”- Buddha

What the quote trying to imply is that we should always consider being right and just upon
looking at every situation. There are lot of things in this world that can influence us, but we should
always follow what our heart beats and tell and on what we truly wanted. We should always
consider the fairness in every situation by following what our heart and mind says.

• Do you think philosophy is important in the age of globalization? Why or why not?

Yes, as we step to age of modern era where there is development on the increasingly
integrated global economy, philosophy plays an important role in the society. Philosophy creates
evolution, the way we keep on philosophizing, the way our mind kept wondering and keep being
curios we can create essential innovations that benefits the world. Through philosophy we can
establish knowledge where we can use to create a globally competent economy.

• What question about your life you are struggling to find answers to?

The question about my life that I am struggling to find answer is the question “Who am
I’’. I know myself, my characteristics, personality and way of thinking. I know what I wants and
my needs but who am I without those things, who am I without the definition of others, who am
I?