THE PHILOSOPHICAL

METHODS
 “THE BEGINNING OF
WISDOM IS TO DESIRE
FOR IT”
SOLOMON IBN GABIROL
 SOCRATIC METHOD
PHENOMENOLOGICAL METHOD
METHODIC DOUBT
ANALYTICAL METHOD
SOCRATIC METHOD
Socrates engaged in a
DIDACTIC DIALOGUE
questioning, that is
expressed in the critical
examination and cross-
examination of the positions
of every participant to the
conversation.
Socrates method is neither
rhetoric (art of persuasion)
nor a debate but rather
working to each other to
arrive at the truth.
MAIEUTIC OR INTELLECTUAL
MIDWIFERY- the participants
in the dialogue, DO NOT
FORCE-FIT THEIR OWN
BELIEFS TO OTHERS.
“KNOWLEDGE BEGINS THE MOMENT
ONE ADMITS HIS IGNORANCE”
SOCRATES
STEPS IN SOCRATIC METHOD

1. Given an initial definition of a thing or

concept.

2. Look for characteristics not captured in the

initial definition

3. Give a new definition

Ex. 1
1. A table is four-legged

2. Is the table a cow?

3. A table is a four-legged furniture, made up of wood,

and has a flat surface.
A table is a four-legged furniture, made up of
wood, has a flat surface, rectangular in shape, and is
used primarily for dining or putting things on it.
Ex. 2
1. Freedom is the ability of the human person to do
whatever she wants to do.

2. Am I really free to kill my enemy simply because I

hate him?

3. No, we cannot just simply kill anybody we want to

kill, because there are rules to follow in a civilized
society.
 THE
PHENOMENOLOGICAL
METHOD
EDWARD HURSSEL
• Comes from the Greek word
phainomenon means,
appearance while logos
means reasons or study
therefore it is the study of
phenomenon.
• It is the study of our
conscious experience.
PHENOMENOLOGY IS THE
DISCIPLINE THAT ATTEMPTS TO
DESCRIBE WHAT IS GIVEN TO US IN
THE EXPERIENCE WITHOUT
INSERTING PRECONCEPTIONS OR
HYPOTHETICAL SPECULATIONS.
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF
PHENOMENOLOGICAL METHOD
EPOCHÉ- Bracketing or suspending all of our natural attitudes. (e.g
boy, girl, course, life) natural attitudes mean our advance concepts
like prejudices and judgment.

Ex. You see a man with a tattoo for the first time. You tend to judge that man is ex-
convict, naughty, irresponsible and dirty
EIDETIC REDUCTION- “eidos” means an image, shape or
form. This is the second method, you are reducing an object to
the level of mind. It is analyzing essences: what makes the thing
you are contemplating what it is.

Ex. Upon looking at this man you analyze him as an individual, a man, a
person, a friend to someone, and a family member. Who is this person free
from prejudice? Why does he have a tattoo?
TRANSCENDENTAL REDUCTION- reduces the object
to the mere activity itself of one’s own consciousness.

Ex. So I don’t care what you have in mind. You judge him as a bad person,
irresponsible, naughty or whatever. But based on what I experienced about
this guy, he is not.
“I EXIST AND THAT THE I EXIST IS
ESSENTIALLY A THINKING I”
RENE DESCARTES
THE METHODIC
DOUBT
Rene Descartes- Father
or Modern Philosophy

To achieve the truth, we

must doubt our senses
since our sense are fallible
and unreliable, that is, we
must avoid our perceptual
illusion.
THE ANALYTIC
METHOD

This method is directed upon

solving or decimating the
problems of philosophy in
general. It tends to provide an
accurate presentation of the
nature of language to solve the
problems set by the
philosophy.
Analytical method should The statement must be
not be ambiguous like this true in definition

What is orange?
■ Bachelors are unmarried men.
■ A. color
■ Salmon are fish
■ B. Juice
■ Triangles have three sides
■ C. Fruit
What have you learned?