INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN
PERSON
PHILOSOPHY
• comes from two Greek words, Philo, meaning “to love”
and sophia meaning “wisdom”
• It is originally meant “love of wisdom” and in a broad
sense, wisdom is still the goal of philosophy
• It is the study of general and fundamental problems
such as existence, knowledge, values, language and
etc.
• Attempts to answer big questions in life
• It’s all about questions
• It’s about examining ourselves and our beliefs
Synthesis – putting idea together or event of the same
characteristic.
Antithesis- remove from or put it out, removing ideas.
Criticism- is a process of commenting or giving a judgement,
even if it’s positive or negative.
Interpretation- demonstration of ideas.
Speculation- being satisfied.
History of Philosophy
Pythagoras (570 BCE to 495 BCE)- A mathematician and
scientist, he was credited with formulating the
Pythagorean theorem.
Democritus (460 BCE to 370 BCE)- He devoted himself to the
study of the causes of natural phenomena .
Socrates (470 BCE to 399 BCE)- He was considered the
foremost philosophers of ancient times. He was
credited with formulating the Socratic method-
means of examining a topic by devising a series
of questions that let the learner examine and
analyze his knowledge and views regarding the
topic.
Plato (427 BCE to 347 BCE)- A student of Socrates, he wrote
down his mentor’s teaching and incorporated
some of his own ideas into them. Plato’s most
significant ideas included his Theory of Forms,
which proposes that everything that exist is
based on an idea or template than can only be
perceived in the mind. Plato is also known for
his dialectic- a method of inquiry where two
opposing ideas are discussed in an attempt to
arrive at new knowledge. Plato’s lasting
contribution to learning was his founding of the
Academy, an institution of higher learning.
Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE)- He attended the Academy,
and was the prominent student of Plato. For
him, all ideas and views are based on
perception and our reality is based on what we
can sense and perceive. His studies in logic led
to the formulation of a formal process of
analyzing reasoning which give rise to
deductive reasoning-the process by which
specific statements are analysed to reach a
conclusion or generalization.
 Holistic thinking refers to a perspective that considers
large-scale patterns in systems. A holistic perspective
requires an individual to have an open mindset and
ability to get the general sense or impression
regarding a situation.
 Partial thinking 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.
The Branches of Philosophy
A. Metaphysics
 Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy responsible
for the study of existence. It is the foundation of a
worldview. It answers the question "What is?" It
encompasses everything that exists, as well as the
nature of existence itself. It says whether the world is
real, or merely an illusion. It is a fundamental view of
the world around us.
B. Ethics
• How do we tell good from evil or right from wrong?
• It is the branch of philosophy that explores the nature
of moral virtue and evaluates human actions.
• Generally, it is a study of the nature of moral
judgements.
• Philosophical ethics attempts to provide an account of
our fundamental ethical ideas.
C. Epistemology
• Epistemology is the study of
the nature and scope of knowledge and justified belief.
It analyzes the nature of knowledge and how it relates
to similar notions such as truth, belief and justification.
It also deals with the means of production of
knowledge, as well as skepticism about different
knowledge claims.
• Deals with the nature, sources, limitations and validity
of knowledge
D. LOGIC
 This is known as the science of correct thinking and
reasoning(the concern of the logician)
 This traces the consequential relationship between
statements to come up with another statement.
E. Aesthetics
• Aesthetics is the science of the beautiful in its various
manifestations-including the sublime, comic, tragic,
pathetic and ugly.To experience aesthetics, therefore,
means whatever experience be that of the creative
artist or of appreciation.
F. Politics
 Studies governments and deals with questions of
justice, power and the rights and obligations of
citizens.
Truth and Opinion
Fact - is something concrete that can be proven. You can find
facts in legal records, scientific findings, encyclopedias,
atlases, etc. In other words, facts are the truth and are
accepted as such.
- something that is indisputable, based on research and
quantifiable measures. Facts go beyond theories. They’re
proven through calculation and experience, or they are
something that definitely occurred in the past.
- it is something that exists in the real form.
Opinion- is less concrete. It's a view formed in the mind of a
person about a particular issue. In other words it is what
someone believes or thinks, and is not necessarily the truth.
Truth
- it may include fact, it may also include belief.
- is the state of a particular thing or a matter like
person, place, animal or thing.
Opinions are statement that go beyond providing facts.
A conclusion is a judgment based on certain facts.
Beliefs are statements that expresses convictions that are not
easily and clearly explained by facts.
Explanations are statements that assume the claim to be true
and provide reasons why the statement is true.
Arguments are series of statements that provide reasons to
convince the reader or listener that a claim or opinion is
truthful.
Fallacies are arguments based on faulty reasoning.
Bias is disproportionate weight in favor of or against an idea or
thing, usually in a way that is closed-minded, prejudicial, or
unfair
Domains of Truth
1. SOCIAL DOMAIN-
-The truths in a social domain are mostly products of
an “agreement” in society that has been established
over time.
-It is in this way that norms or values appear as truths.
-Nevertheless, we have to be constantly aware that
these truths are created or constructed by people. As
such they can be changed through a critical
examination and deliberation among the members of
a community
2. Objective Domain
-It covers scientific truth.
-refers to the abstracted theoretical knowledge one
can attain about the world.
-Natural world that maintains a relative independence
from the perspective and attitude of human beings
that perceive them.
3. PERSONAL DOMAIN
-Truth is analogous with sincerity
-When you say to another person, “I am telling the
truth”, what you usually mean by that statement is that
our statements are consistent with our inner thought
and intentions.
-This is precarious domain of truth because no one
can have access to our minds and out thoughts
except ourselves.
OPINION
 A statement of judgement of a person about
something in the world.
• A personal belief or judgment that is not founded on
proof or certainty
• Some opinions weakly made while some are very
strongly put that people unquestioningly take them as
true.
• Statements of judgement that are in need for further
justification
Argument is a group of statements that serve to support a
conclusion. An argument is composed of a claim(conclusion of
an argument) and premises( the reasons used to support the
conclusion)
Fallacies-fake arguments
COMMON FALLACIES
1. Argumentum ad Hominem (Argument against the
Person)
- This is a fallacy used when people convince
others that someone’s argument should be
rejected because of the person’s personal
background-his history, nationality, race,
socio-economic status, family, associations,
religion and other circumstances.
2. Argumentum and Baculum (Appeal to Force)
- This is an argument used by people who want
to win a conflict by issuing threats to their
opponents.
3. Argumentum ad Misericordiam (Appeal to pity)
- This fallacy is also called appeal to emotion. It
is an argument used by people who want to
win people over by manipulating their
emotions.
4. Argumentum ad Populum (Bandwagon Fallacy)
- This fallacious argument is a favorite
marketing strategy by advertising agencies. It
is used by appealing to the popular sentiment
of the public. If they want their product to sell,
they will get the most popular personalities to
model their product. This results to fans and
avid followers of those personalities buying
the product.