Lesson 4:

Philosophical
Reflection
Ms. Aila Marie Mandawe

Credits to: Mr. Edward B. Noda Jr.

Do you reflect?
How often?
Where? Why?

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 4€/5€CT70‡
◗ Reflection is an activity that requires a person
to examine his or her thoughts, feelings and
actions and learn from experience.
◗ Its trajectory is to see the bigger picture about
everything. This process is called philosophical
reflection.
◗ According to Gabriel Marcel, philosophical
reflection is the act of giving time to think
about the meaning and purpose of life.

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◗ It requires a person to be willing to examine one’s
thoughts, feelings, and actions and to learn more
about one’s life and experiences .
◗ One can reflect on almost any subject. For instance,
the moment you wake up you can already reflect
upon the things that you plan to do for the day. This
will enable you to set your daily goals and set you on
the path of thinking of ways to achieve them.

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❑ Philosophical Reflection allows us to have opportunities
to think more deeply about our action, our motivations
for doing such action, and even its possible
consequences.
❑ Philosophical Reflection is vital in ensuring that our
actions and decisions are well thought out and are done
with due regard for their implications and consequences
on ourselves, others, and our surroundings.

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❑ Philosophical Reflection helps us understand ourselves
and our actions better. When we reflect, we can judge
whether our actions or decisions are reasonable or not.

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 Two Types of Reflection

Primary Reflection
❖ The ability to think logically.
❖ The ability of the mind to construct and evaluate
arguments.
❖ It examines its object by abstraction, by analytically
breaking it down into its constituent parts.
❖ It is concerned with definitions, essences and
technical solutions to problems.

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 Two Types of Reflection
Secondary reflection.
❖ This type of reflection enables us to look deeper into
our experiences and see the bigger picture of reality.
❖ It integrates the fragmented and
compartmentalized experience into a whole.
❖ It is the idea that various systems (e.g. physical,
biological, social) should be viewed as wholes, not
merely as a collection of parts.

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 Primary VS. Secondary Reflection
Primary Secondary
Reflection
LIFE Reflection

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◗ Reflection is not exclusive for philosophy in fact it is
employed in any endeavor, research or disciplines.
◗ Moral theology employs the STOP sign as guidepost of
moral decision making.
S= Search out the facts. (It is necessary that all
means should be exhausted to better
understand the issue.)
T=Think, reflect and analyze the facts, its negative or
positive effects, advantages or disadvantages.
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O= How it affects Others. We should always consider
others in every decision that we make. Every action
that we take has always a social dimension. It affects
ourselves, others and community where we belong.
P=stands for Pray. We are human beings with
limitations. If our best effort are not enough, then
there is no way but look up for divine or God for
enlightenment and guidance.

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 Synthesis
Reflection

Marcelian Moral
Way Theology

Primary Secondary
Reflection Reflection STOP

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