ACLC College Tacloban

Philosophy of the Human Person

Ian Kim Campo Alumro, lpt

However, without formal

Every person has the
introduction to the
“Do not confuse the Philosophy is not only for capacity to find the value
discipline, you may not be
forest for the trees” philosophers of philosophy in his or/
aware that you have been
her own life.
engaging in philosophy

Your mother asked you to

go to the market and you
Your mother asked you to Your mother asked you to
Let us find out if you have asked yourself, “Why do
go to the market and you go to the market and you
some idea about people have to buy things
asked her what items you asked how much is the
philosophy. when God created nature
need to buy. budget to take with you.
where these goods came
from for free?”

At some point in your life,
you may have asked
difficult questions though
perhaps you never Philosophical Reflection.
discussed it to anyone.
Philosophical Reflection -
are questions that To think about it compels
The last question is an
doesn’t have any specific us to look at a particular
example of a
or conclusive answer. experience from a wider
-A question that leads to perspective
a series of questions.

To reflect philosophically
We are puzzled mostly
It is not an ordinary is to think about an
about things we cannot Some of the things
question but a truly important question that
fully know or understand human beings ask are:
difficult one. does not have a definite
because we can ask.
or ready answer

“What is the purpose of “Why love when you get

“Why am I here?” “Why was I ever born?”
my existence?” hurt?”
 Such questions usually In social media, we are
“What if there is no life come when we are going made to believe or
“Walang Forever”
after-death?” through a really difficult defend the opposite that
time in our life. nothing last forever.

The thing is, no amount

When you begin to agree, At other times, we get
of research would be able Sometimes, we think we
or disagree, it calls for a distracted and evade the
to provide a definite and have found the answers,
Philosophical thinking question until some
conclusive answer to only to find out ourselves
whether in jest or in a situations bring us back to
some questions that asking the question again.
serious mode. asking it again.
puzzles us.

Difficult questions are

Unless we deal with such
questions that matter to
kind of questions by The answers we find The answers we find
us for they reflect our
engaging in reflection, the directly affect the way we directly affect the way we
desire to understand or at
problem such questions go through life. go through life.
least make sense of our
raise will not go away.
experiences

Philosophy allows us the

When we ponder on a
freedom to ask even
philosophical question,
those questions that Do heaven and hell exist? Why do we have to die?
we are engaged in
others believe to already
philosophy
have a definite answer.

Movies, songs, and For instance, “What is When we ask a

literature are examples of
creative ways of asking a
philosophical questions.
A philosophical question
love?” is often asked philosophical question,
always contains a bigger
implicitly or explicitly in we do not simply inquire
problem.
various art forms about a specific question.

For example: The answer one finds will
determine his/ her
“Why am I here?” choices in life.
The only solution to such
Metaphysics
philosophical questions is
- one of the main
to ask them. The search
branches of philosophy
for answers only begins
and it deals with the so-
the moment we ask a
called “Being of beings”.
philosophical question.
A distinction between the
universal and the
What is the difference of
particular will further
Universal from Particular?
clarify the nature of
philosophical questions.
Philosophical questions
Universal or Particular cannot be taken up in
isolation, that is, separate
“Why am I here?” from the very experiences
from which they arise.
Martin Heidegger
Thus, to philosophize is to
- he is responsible for the
look at life from a holistic
term “Hermeneutics of
perspective, which
Facticity” which simply
include who and what
means that people
questions.
interpret things as they
encounter them in
different ways.
There are things we
Not to ask a philosophical
encounter in this world
question is to go through
that are simply puzzling
life confused and lost.
and settling.
The word has its
etymology in Aristotle’s
book in Greek, ta meta The Universal and the
physika, meaning beyond Particular
(meta) the physical
(physika) things.
Universal or Particular
In dealing with questions
1. Car of the kind cited earlier,
2. Cellphone the universal and the
3. 2 pcs. Chicken thigh particular is dealth with in
4. Red HBW Ballpen a different way.
5. 2 umbrella
Although part of the It will be impossible to
reason why we ask “why proceed to answering it
am I here?” is due to while avoiding other
some challenges or aspects of human
struggles we encounter experience that are
daily relevant to the question.
Such is precisely what
makes philosophy
Heidegger’s essence of
different from science
the human freedom
according to Heidegger.
provides that essence is
For Heidegger, a scientific
that which makes
question is always
something what it is.
confined to the particular,
whereas a philosophical
question leads into the
 Instead, we find that we It is not simply a question
When we ask about the
A philosophical question cannot avoid asking of what man is free to do,
essence of human
becomes a revelation about the essence of or to become but also
freedom, the problem is
about the whole reality man, the essence of the requires that we address
not limited to man and
from past to present. world, and the essence of the question of what he is
freedom,
God. free from.

When we ask
After a philosophical
philosophically about It is no longer a particular
Limits are removed and question is raised, how
freedom, we venture into problem but a universal
the inquiry is broadened. does one proceed to
an inquiry about the one.
finding an answer?
whole.

For now, you have to

understand that every
Philosophy as its own person engaged in a
Answers that sound right Philosophers have taught
methods and criteria of philosophical reflection
or seem right will simply that we can be misled if
proceeding with its must recognize that
not do. we are not careful.
inquiries. possible answers to
philosophical questions
require adequate or

There are numerous

But philosophical Plato has warned us that
sources we go to for
questions as earlier said there are things that
answers such as books, Who is Plato?
do not have ready or deceive, confuse, or
teachers, internet,
definite answers. mislead in this world.
television, among others.

Plato
- is one of the famous
philosophers who ever
S - socrates
lived. To know what is real A person is responsible
P - Plato
- He founded a school in requires much intellectual for what answer he/she
A - Aristotle
Athens known as the effort and rational ability. holds on to.
A – Alexander the great
Academy.
- He wrote Apology and
the Republic

This means we are to
blame in case we are
fooled into believing a
falsehood.
It is the best tool we
attention to our emotions
have that enables us to
deal with problems.
Through this rational
capacity, they arrived at a
technique to resolve
philosophical questions,
which is called Dialectics.
Dialogues illustrates how Errors or inconsistencies
dialectics is an effective
means of examining and
evaluating truth claims
One has to give good
reasons as basis for any recognized sources on his
claim and the claim must
be able to withstand
further scrutiny and
examination.
God did not give us a life
Faculty of reason or
manual but he gifted us
rational capacity allows
So how do we guard with intellect or mind
us to pursue our
against deceptions? (faculty of reason) to
questions so we can
figure things out on our
come nearer to the truth.
own.
Our mind goes beyond
our instincts and pays
Philosophers rely on the
Truth and Dialectics human faculty of reason
so we can effectively
as they philosophize.
pursue meaning and
truth.
Philosophical discovery is
Dialectics is an art of seen as a result of
What is dialectics? refutation that dates back collaborations with
to the ancient Greek. partners in dialogue or
conversation.
Socrates is most
noteworthy in his use of
dialectics. His method of
of a claim are It is not enough to claim
question and answers
demonstrated using something as true.
illustrates how views to
rational abilities
be defended with
consistency and clarity.
Socrates’ life is a puzzle
He left no writings but
because even three
conversed with people
His commitment to
from all walks of life using
life presented differing philosophy was the
question and answer as a
accounts. However, they reason he was
concrete living out of his
agreed that socrates condemned to death.
famous advice – “Know
philosophize in the
thyself”.
marketplace
 We need to welcome
It is when our views are questions that probe into
challenged that we feel The rational way to do it Do we need such hard the core of what we claim
compelled to defend is to give good reasons. questions? because it is the best way
those very views. to reveal what is not
obvious.

In the process, we learn

The dialectics of the
more about our position Our capacity to reason is
An added bonus is that ancients later developed
or view – what it revealed and we may
we also learn more about in the modern era into
assumes, what it truly even gain insight about
ourselves. thesis, antithesis, and
means, and what it who we are at our core.
synthesis.
entails.

The exchange or GWF Hegel claimed that

confrontation between there is a dialectical
Thesis – affirmative Thus, the interplay of
differing positions pattern even in history as
Antithesis – negative opposing views is
culminates to a synthesis, reflected in resolutions of
Synthesis – conclusion necessary for progress.
that is a resolution of contradictions through
opposing views. time.

From bowing to
Confrontations of this Even the collective view oppressors and dwelling
kind must be avoided at of Filipino as a nation may Our views are revised as on sentiments, we can
all. We need this be interpreted as one we experience turning now recognize
exchange of ideas so we that develops through points in history. manipulative appeals
can grow. time dialectically. made to our emotion by
politicians.

When we inquire about

We now demand that our philosophical questions in
leaders be responsible partnership with another,
Dialectics is A development or
and accountable to in some form of debate,
indispensable since it progress in thought thus
people whose interests we learn more because
leads closer to truth. occurs.
they swore to protect and we are challenged to
to promote. think about the question
rigorously and

Debating (confrontation
Philosophy teaches us to without aggression)
be open as we strive to amiably with someone
know better. allows us to discover
many things.
This rational activity
teaches us to hold on
only to those beliefs we
It reveals our beliefs and
can defend, and to
challenges us to defend
remain open so we can
those beliefs.
revise views through time
and in collaboration with
others.

Karl Marx
was trained in philosophy
but later turned to
economics and politics.
He introduced concept of
“historical materialism”
which embodies his
theory that societies rise
and fall as a result of class
struggles.
 LESSON 2

The Philosophical Enterprise

We wonder about so
Human beings want to many things including the
“One thing I know is I Wonder Curiosity
understand the world and working of the universe,
know nothing”
to know the truth for mystery of human
What is the difference
there are so many things experience, and even the
-Socrates between the two?
we have not figured out. existence of the Supreme
being.

Wonder Curiosity
Plato, claimed that Wonder is the beginning
We wonder about things
philosophy begins in for it stimulates us to What is the difference
that puzzle us.
wonder. venture into philosophy. between the two?

It is beyond mere It is beyond mere

We are curious on how a
curiosity as curiosity is curiosity as curiosity is
new gadget works, but
usually directed to a usually directed to a
we may wonder whether Example?
single, fleeting and single, fleeting and
one can live without the
momentary object that momentary object that
new gadget.
captures our interest. captures our interest.

We are beyond the

Our wondering here is information we can Philosophy comes from
Thus we can consider
directed toward analogy readily get about a new Greek term Philo means
philosophers as lovers of
and the relationships of gadget. We are love and Sophia means
wisdom.
the things wondering a more wisdom
enduring question.

What is the difference of They are far above the

knowledge from wisdom? Philosophy, therefore, usual people we
They are engaged in
may be understood as an encounter daily – they
philosophy because their
What is the difference of activity in pursuit of are not swayed by
goal is to become wise
being knowledgeable wisdom popular views and are not
from wise? easily deceived.
For Aristotle, wisdom is of
two kinds Theoretical Wisdom is Politics and ethics are
Practical Wisdom deals
knowing necessary truths concerned with action
with knowledge in the
* Theoretical Wisdom and their logical and so the knowledge
realm of action
consequences proper to this is practical
* Practical wisdom

For this reason, they

Practical Wisdom is
devote their time to
knowing truths that have Philosophers believe that
examining their held
to do with our dealings to be wise is the best we What is intuition?
beliefs and opinions that
with fellow human can be.
are also called intuitions
beings.
to arrive at truth.

Views are scrutinized by Aristotle claimed that our

The answer they seek are This led him to the
the faculty of reason – rational faculty is the best
not dependent on conclusion that the best
that which, according to element is us, a divine
authority or their life for man is one that is
Aristotle, separates us quality that we share with
emotion devoted to philosophy.
from plants and animals. gods.

The discipline itself does

With the exercise of
The proper exercise of not offer definite answers
philosophy, our
our rational faculty allows to philosophical questions
Philosophy is carried out knowledge can be
us to answer our because it is in the nature
through the use of reason improved and our mind
questions and overcome of such questions that
can be freed from narrow
our ignorance they do not have definite
views.
answer.
 - Aristotle -
he surpassed his teacher
by number of works he Philosophy is important
Our attempt to answer It becomes a search for
wrote and the diverse not only for philosophers
philosophical questions knowledge that compels
field he studied. He put but also to all human
provide us with us to seek the truth
up a school called being because the
opportunities to arrive at because it matters to us
Lyceum. He tutored a questions it raises are
good answers. personally.
thirteen year-old boy who human concerns.
came to be known as
Alexander the Great

We have the freedom to

Any person is free to There is no authority that
ask and seek our own
engage in the pursuit of imposes or dictates what The Oracle of Delphi
answers to philosophical
wisdom and knowledge. we ought to think
questions

Arrogance or the belief

When we think about it, it A person does not search
that one has figured out However those in search
is our ignorance that for something that
everything, however, will of truth are conscious of
makes philosophy he/she thinks to have
impede our search for their own ignorance
possible. already found
truth.

We cannot do philosophy
The reason why we We need to examine if we assume that our
In other words, to gain
engage in philosophy is so views, reflects our belief views are correct and if
wisdom, one has to admit
that we can find answers and those presented we do not allow our
that he is not yet wise.
and become wise. information. views to be subjected to
the scrutiny of others.

Philosophy is carried out primarily to acknowledge
because there are many
things in this world that
are uncertain.
To love wisdom, is
We ask questions
precisely because we are
that we do not possess Philosophical Thought in
looking for good answers
the answers to difficult Three Views
– answers that are true or
questions, that we are
at least likely to be true.
not yet wise.
 In the history of man’s
search for answers to Cosmocentric – wonders They wanted to Their desire for truth was
philosophical questions, about the world. The understand the world for reflected in the question
three views are dominant question that concerned they found themselves that may be simply put as
– Cosmocentric, them was the origin of ignorant about the “Where did all things
Theocentric, and the universe workings of the universe come from”
Anthropocentric

Cosmology is a branch of

astronomy that involves
the origin and evolution
of the universe, from His observations of There is no available
It is said that the first
the Big Bang to today nature and his account of his basis or
among those who
and on into the future. philosophical reflections reasons for choosing
wondered about the
According to NASA the led him to the view that water but come to think
origin of the universe was
definition of cosmology is water is the underlying of it, everything that has
Thales.
"the scientific study of principle of all things. life need water.
the large scale properties
of the universe as a
whole.

Anaximander thought A group of philosophers

that water could not Anaximenes said that the known as Pythagoreans,
Philosophers started to simply explain the hot, fundamental principle identified numbers as the
come to think the same the cold, and the dry so must be air because it can first principle because
question. he claimed that the better account for change they observed how the
answer must be the and for life. world is governed by
‘boundless’ mathematical ratio.

In the medieval period Avicenna, the first Muslim

Atomists, speculated that during which the church philosophers argued that
there must be tiny, sustained man’s intellect, in this world, the
Thus, these gave birth to
indivisible entities, the world become existence of beings can
Theocentrism
invisible to the naked eye secondary to God, and be traced to another
that make up everything. Christianity greatly being responsible for its
influenced philosophy existence
 St. Thomas Aquinas’
“Essence”
Summa Theologica is The modern period in
it is a philosophical term
most remarkable for its “What kind of thing is it” philosophy is
that is often used in a
exhaustive explanation of it is the whatness of characterized by
non-philosophical way.
the Christian faith. It is things you are concerned subjectivity and
Aristotle believes that all
also the source of famous about. individualism, hence
things that exist have an
“five ways” of proving the centered on man.
unchanging ‘nature;
existence of God.

Anthropocentric view Rationalism is committed

Anthropocentric view was
shed light on the to the view that
a result of both the rise of Knowledge for all
philosophies knowledge is acquired
modern science and rationalist is based on
characterized in this through reason
diminished authority of ideas or concepts.
period – rationalism and independent of sense
the church
empiricism experience.

John Locke, an empiricist,

Empiricism holds that
Clear and distinct ideas
knowledge is ultimately
cannot be doubted unlike
derived from sense
the data of the senses.
experience
claimed that human mind
The dialectics between
at birth is like a blank
these views continue to0
sheet of paper that is
this time.
latter filled through sense
experience.

The inquiries we make

are always fruitful
because they produce
various perspectives that
enrich our understanding
of the complexities of this
world.