11

Introduction to
the Philosophy of
the Human Person
2st Quarter: WEEK 1
PRUDENTIA

https://www.google.com/search?q=prudence+virtue&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwilu97du-vsAhUKdZQKHZVLA7AQ2-

Marlon Q. Tiña
Rogelio DG. Burce

Module Writers

Philo. Q2. Wk.1 Rogelio DG. Burce

 11
Introduction to
the Philosophy of
the Human Person
Quarter 2 – WEEK 1
PRUDENTIA

This instructional material was collaboratively developed and reviewed

by educators from public and private schools, colleges, and or/universities.
We encourage teachers and other education stakeholders to email their
feedback, comments, and recommendations to the Department of Education
at action@deped.gov.ph.

We value your feedback and recommendations.

Philo. Q2. Wk.1 Rogelio DG. Burce

I.OBJECTIVE:

A. Content Standards:

The learner understands the human person’s freedom.

B. Performance Standards:

The learner shows situations that demonstrate freedom of choice and the
consequences of choices.
C. Most Essential Learning Competency:
Evaluate and exercise prudence in choices.
D. Learning Objectives:
At the end of this module the students will be able to:

1. Define prudence.
2. Identify some decision-making fallacies.
3. Apply the virtue of prudence in life.

EXPECTATION

This module will equip you with the necessary content knowledge, skills, and
competencies about the freedom of the human person that can be applied in
understanding and analyzing, proposing solutions, decision-making, alternatives, and
is actively engaged in doing philosophy in all aspects of your life.
You read and understand carefully each part of the module so that you can be
able to answers various activities that will help you develop your potentials in
understanding the lesson.
In this module, you will be able to encounter terminologies such as prudence
and its elements like Latin words solertia, memoria and docilitas. You are expected to
understand and avoid some traps in decision-making to ensure prudence in life. At
the end of this, you will be also expected to apply this in all aspects of your life such
as marriage, education and others.

There are various activities prepared by the writer/s that will help you
understand human freedom. It is hoped that you will learn to value the knowledge and
wisdom of this module.

PRE-TEST

Direction: Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct answer. Shade the circle
on the right side which corresponds to your answer.
1. According to him prudence is the knowledge of how we should act in accord with
our true nature. a b c d
a. Socrates c. Hegel
b. Aristotle d. Plato
2. It is a clear-sighted, “perfected ability” to discern the difference between right and
wrong. a b c d
a. docilitas c. solertia
b. memoria d. ploretia

Philo. Q2. Wk.1 Rogelio DG. Burce

3. It is originally meant “far seeing, conscious, with eyes open. a b c d
a. docilitas c. solertia
b. memoria d. ploretia
4. The accurate remembering of what’s essential in ethical actions. a b c d
a. docilitas c. solertia
b. memoria d. ploreti
5. It is known as the most conventional approach in decision making. a b c d
a. cart approach c. carver matrix
b. pros and cons d. cause and effect
6. It is known as the most critical decision-making approach. a b c d
a. cart approach c. carver matrix
b. pros and cons d. cause and effect
7. He is the U.S founding fathers who invented the Pros a b c d
and Cons approach.
a. Benjamin Franklin c. Abraham Lincoln
b. George Washington d. John Adam
8. The most critical decision making approach was first used in ______. a b c d
a. education c. politics
b. economics d. military
9. It was the original language where the word ‘prudence’ came from. a b c d
a. Spanish c. Greek
b. Aramaic d. Latin
10. It is known as the most ancient treatise on ethics. a b c d
a. Academy c. Republic
b. Nichomachean d. Dialogues

LOOKING BACK

Write EP if it shows Environmental Protection and ED, if to Environmental

Degradation

__________ 1. Proper solid waste management is being promoted in every barangay

in the Philippines.

__________ 2. Unregulated logging and mining in some provinces in Visayas are still
practiced in spite of protest by most civic group organization.

__________ 3. Industrial pollution from developed countries are still the major cause
of high carbon emissions.

__________ 4. Economic efficiency refers to prudence in decision-making regarding

the use of resources to ensure that there is a minimum to zero waste.

__________ 5. Sustainability focuses on reconciling human activities and economic

development with the protection of the environment.

INTRODUCTION OF THE LESSON

Prudence is the preeminent virtue. Without it ethical pursuits will fall. It is the
measure of justice, of fortitude, of temperance. A prudent person humbly opens his or
her mind to the truth of God disclosed in all that’s real.

Philo. Q2. Wk.1 Rogelio DG. Burce

 What is it?

Lesson: Prudentia
I. Histofinition: Historical Definition
Definition like language usually evolved through times which has never lessen
but instead heightened its impact to the speed of virtue highways where there are
many moral accidents done by reckless drivers seated in their political and religious
car. Prudence according to Aristotle is practical wisdom, the knowledge of how we
should act in accord with our true nature. (Nichomachean Ethics, p.209)

II. Elements of Prudence

Gerald Reed, a professor of Philosophy and religion at Point Loma Nazarene
University in San Diego gives us the important elements of prudence in his book, C.S.
Lewis –Explores Vice and Virtue.
1. MEMORIA - The accurate remembering of what’s essential in ethical actions.
Even the Gentiles have “Natural law written in the hearts” the Bible said it (Romans
1). When we are reasonable, we have prudence, the ability to see the truth and act
rightly.
2. DOCILITAS - As with many other ethical terms, this word has its roots in Latin,
prudens, which originally meant “far seeing, conscious, with eyes open.” Prudent
persons are open-minded, anxious to understand the Truth, willing to obey what
Truth requires. They want to discover truth rather than constructs theories that
soothe their consciences. This is the nature of contemplative thought.
3. SOLERTIA- Prudence demands solertia – a clear-sighted, “perfected ability” to
discern the difference between right and wrong. The noun prudential described
foresight, but more commonly circumspection, discretion, and sound judgment.
III. Major Decision-Making Approaches
1. Conventional Decision-making Approach: The Pros and Cons
One of the founding fathers of America, Benjamin Franklin, invented perhaps
the most famous method for making decisions. Simply lists all the positive (pro) and
negative (con) points for each option. Seeing them written down helps you to sort out
their relative importance.
2. Critical Decision-making Approach: The Carver Matrix
It was originally designed and used to help a military force assess which of a
range of enemy targets it would best to aim for. However, you can employ the
technique for everyday purposes, to help choose which of the several options might be
best one to pursue.

Philo. Q2. Wk.1 Rogelio DG. Burce

 CARVER APPROACH Question to answer
C-riticality How vital is it to pursue this goal?
A-ccessibility How easy is it to reach the goal?
R-ecognizability How easy will it be for you to obtain information on how to achieve
the goal and to recognize when on the target to achieve it?
V-ulnerability Is your target easy to hit? The less force or energy it would take to
overcome this challenge, the greater its vulnerability.
E-ffect How much of an effect on your life, overall, would accomplishing this
goal have?
R-ecuperability If you fall to reach your goal, how much of a setback would the lost
time and energy represent?

Problem: Richard has reached a crossroads in his career and needs to decide which
three options to pursue: to take early retirement, to change companies or to go after
his boss’s job. His matrix end s up looking like this. (Scoring rate from -7 to +7)

Decision Options C A R V E R Totals

1. Retire -4 5 7 5 -1 3 15

2. Change job 5 2 3 2 7 -5 14
3. Boss’s Job 4 -1 6 3 6 -2 16

Solution: According to the matrix, going for the boss’s job, with a total of 16, is the
best decision for Richard to pursue

IV. Decision Making Fallacies

There are some decision-making fallacies which we need to avoid to maintain
sound decision-making in our daily life. According to Darren Bridger and David Lewis,
“It’s easy to believe that we always approach issues logically. Yet in fact our reasoning
is often fallible: we may fall into traps, or “thought wells,” from which we cannot
escape.

Decision-making Fallacies Example Escape Route

(Thought Wells)

1. Denial or Avoidance You’re sinking into a debt, yet Deal with the truth that scares you.
you deny there’s any problem Remind yourself however bad it may
Refusing to deal with
– or, while accepting that the feel to face reality, denial and
unpleasant facts, either by
problem exists, you avoid avoidance are likely to cause you
denying that there’s a problem
practical steps to sort out even greater pain. Make the task less
or by avoiding the action
finances. disagreeable by rewarding yourself
needed to manage the problem.
with small treats after tackling it.

2. Yes, but …
Coming up with a variety of
reasons, however spurious, why
a new idea won’t work, instead
of exploring its possibilities.
3. Group Think
Automatically accepting the
opinions of others –society,
Friends invite you on a skiing
holiday that you know you’d
enjoy, yet your mind brings
up objections. Who’ll feed my
cat? “Suppose I make a fool
of myself on the slopes!”
Almost any statement
beginning with something like
“Everyone knows that …”,
“All right-minded people
Use PIN approach. List everything
Positive about the idea. Then, Identify
Interesting. Even if not especially
positive. Finally consider any Negative
aspects or consequences.
Assume nothing, question everything.
Ask, “How do I really know? rather
accepting things without hesitation.
Consider evidence in front of you

Philo. Q2. Wk.1 Rogelio DG. Burce

friends, family, and colleagues – agree …”, “It’s common before rely on other people’s view
without first checking whether or knowledge that ….” about “how things really are.”
not their assumptions are
correct.

4. Selective Vision
Trying to make the facts of a
situation conform to your
previously reached conclusions.
You see someone you love To bring some objectivity to your
or admire through rose- tinted judgments, try actively looking for
spectacles, and therefore aspects that contradict the view you
everything they do is right. hold.

5. A One-Track Mind Denial by US motor Regularly reappraise all key

manufacturers that assumptions. Never take anything for
Refusal to recognize any need Americans ever willing to buy granted. Be willing to consider
for new thinking. People tend to compact cars. reversing decisions if necessary. This
find it difficult to reverse a is a sign not of weakness, but of
decision once made, or adaptability.
abandon a course of action
they’ve begun, even if they
come to realize it was a
mistake.

6. Overcomplicating Mat
ters
Ignoring the simplest
explanation or solution in favor
of an overly complex or less
likely one.
You can’t find an item in your
house and you assume that a
neighbor has stolen it rather
than considering that you’ve
simply misplaced it.
Employ the principle of Occam’s
Razor – the rule that states: “All things
being equal, the simplest solution is
the best one.”

7. Not My Idea!
Dismissing an idea just because
someone else thought of it.
Your children refuse to do
something they usually
wouldn’t mind doing, simply
because you suggested it!
Suggest actions in a way that lets the
other person believe they thought of it
first, or allows them to adopt the
suggestion as their own. Or try
adapting the idea by adding your own
twist to it, so that it feels more like
your own.

What’s More (Activity)

Activity 1: Best Decision to Make
Using the CARVER approach try to determine your best decision to make in
the particular problem
Problem: You are the eldest in the family and supposed to graduate in the coming
school year in college and your father has lost his job. You have four youngest
brothers and two sisters. It was suggested by your parents to temporarily stop in your
study to find a particular job to help them. On that time your long-time boyfriend has
given you his last chance to marry him after almost five failed attempts.

What would be your best decision using the CARVER approach? Fill up the
table below which will show how you come up with the best decision in your life.
(Scoring scale from -7 to +7)

Philo. Q2. Wk.1 Rogelio DG. Burce

Choices C A R V E R TOTALS

1. marriage

2. employment

3. studies

Solution based on the total score: _________________________

Guide Question:
1. What you have chosen? Explain
2. How you come up with your best decision?
3. What makes your decision difficult?

The Pros and Cons

Activity 2- Let’s Estimate!
Give some of the positive side (PROS) and negative side (CONS) in every
important decision making issues.

Decision Issues PROS (positive side) CONS (negative side)

1. Working Abroad 1. 1.

2.

2. Use of Natural medicine like 1. 1.

herbs and nutrition
2. 2.

3. Marrying a foreigner 1. 1.

2. 2.

Activity 3: Life’s Most Difficult Decisions

Interview your parents or any older person to find what they considered as the
‘Top Three’ most difficult decisions they have made in their lives. Explain

Difficult Areas in their Life Explanation

Decision
Ex. Marriage

Top 1

Top 2

Top 3

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

What I CAN Do?
What do you think are some of the most significant decisions to make in these
different periods of one’s life?
1. Childhood 2. Youth 3. Adult

Philo. Q2. Wk.1 Rogelio DG. Burce

 POST TEST

I. Identify the type of Decision-making fallacies shown in the situations.

______ 1. You never vote for the second option in your class meeting simply because it
is not your own suggestion.
______ 2. Most of your relatives have seen in many instances that your boyfriend has
another woman but you’re afraid to lose him, thus you always avoid discussing about
it.
______ 3. To make things less complicated, most students just always said, Yes! When
teachers asked them if they understand their lessons.
______ 4. Some Atheists who never believe in God just continue to insist their beliefs
even though there are less evidences to prove it.
______ 5. You know that the other candidate is much better than your first choice but
you simply reasoned out, ‘He never gave me some favor, he is not my relatives!’
______ 6. After proving his errors by his intelligent student, a teacher still insist that
he is right because that was his old views on it.
______ 7. People tend to believe that something is true when it was posted and share
by most of his friends.
______ 8. Expertism is a distorted notion commonly committed by some field experts
who think that they are not prone to any mistakes.
______ 9. ‘Mother Knows Best’ mentality makes some young people very dependent to
the ideas of their mother or parents.
______ 10. Unfortunately, some people with cancer tend to be afraid to accept their real
condition and make necessary steps to face it.
B. Match column A on the significant decision-making quote with column B on
its use in most applicable period of life.

Column A Column B

11. It is better to wait than to fall unto the wrong person. a. retirement

12. Do not put all your eggs in one basket. b. health

13. Age doesn’t matter! c. business

14. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail! d. education

15. Not all which are permissible are also beneficial e. marriage

Philo. Q2. Wk.1 Rogelio DG. Burce

 ENRICHMENT

Congratulations! You are almost done becoming a good politically oriented

person. Kindly answer the following questions based in your own political
understanding.
1. As student, why is it always important to come up have right decision in life?
2. How can you avoid to makes any bad decisions in your life?

Philo. Q2. Wk.1 Rogelio DG. Burce