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SERVITECH INSTITUTE ASIA

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Introduction to the
Philosophy of the
Human Person

QUARTER ONE
MODULE 6
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Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Grade 11

Lesson 6: Distinguish Opinion from Truth

and Media
and Media
OBJECTIVES: and Media
1. Distinguish opinion from truth
and Media
2. Realize that the methods of philosophy lead to wisdom and truth
3. Evaluate truth from opinions in different situations using the methods of philosophizing

DISCUSSION

 1.It takes me 30 minutes to walk from my home to school.

 2. Living near the school is better because we do not have to spend much for
transportation.
 3. My sister ate the last piece of pizza pie.
 4. My sister is a selfish person because she ate the last piece of pizza pie and did not share
it with me.
 5. The policeman firmly pushed the suspect to his knees and placed him in handcuffs.
 6. The aggressive manner by which the policeman arrested the suspect is an example of the
brutality that characterizes our police force.

Statements 1, 3, and 5 are more factual than statements 2, 4, and 6. Using the philosophical
tools we learned, they fit into the category of facts since they contain ideas or information that are
easily verifiable.

While statements 2, 4, and 6 could be considered as opinions. These statements go beyond

providing facts. It also provided conclusions or perspectives regarding certain situations. Opinions are
also the bases for making arguments and convincing people that a certain claim is a fact.

Fact is something concrete that can be proven. You can find facts in legal records, scientific findings,
encyclopaedias, atlases, etc. In other words, facts are the truth and are accepted as such.

Opinion is less concrete. It's a view formed in the mind of a person about a particular issue. In other
word it is what someone believes or thinks, and is not necessarily the truth. Also, note in the examples
below how facts are the same for everybody, but opinions can differ quite widely.

Examples of an opinion:

 Ann can have the opinion that Italian food tastes best, while Joe has the opinion that French
food is ideal.
 Sue can have the opinion that reading is boring, while Mike can have the opinion that reading
is fun.
 Penny can have the opinion that cold weather is better, while Tim can prefer hot weather.
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 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.

The facts that form the bases of a conclusion may not be disputed but the conclusion itself could
still be contested or questioned. To judge the truthfulness of belief, we must also consider things such
a person’s experiences and views.

Facts are statements that are observed to be real or truthful. Claims are statements that require
further examination to determine their truthfulness. Some arguments may contain fallacies. We must
be aware of the various kinds of fallacies as these affect the validity of arguments. Opinions are often
influenced by bias. We must be aware of bias so that we can objectively and critically examine points
of view.

 Opinion is something intermediary between knowledge and ignorance. While Public opinion
is the intermediate faculty which seizes the things that float between the two extremes (Plato)

 Opinion applies to what, being true or false, may be other than it is: in fact, opinion is the
apprehension of an immediate and unnecessary premise (Aristotle)

 Opinion, founded in the probable, perhaps also the name of knowledge (Leibniz)

 Opinion is a belief that is conscious of being insufficient both subjectively and objectively
(Kant)

An opinion gives for truth something that has been said, although sometimes they are absurd
words, which mean nothing, impossible to understand (Hobbes)

Public opinion is the convergence of the opinions of the greatest number of people in a
community, so that they form a common and dominant feeling, exerting diffuse pressure(Freund).

The following are example of fallacies:

Fallacy Characteristics
Ad Hominem Attacking the person presenting the argument instead of the argument itself.
Appeal to force Using the threat of force or an undesirable event to advance an argument
Appeal to emotion Using emotions such as pity or sympathy
Appeal to the popular He idea is presented as acceptable because a lot of people accept it
Appeal to tradition the idea is acceptable because it has been true for a long time.
Begging the question Assuming the thing or idea to be proven is true; also known as circular
argument.
Cause-and-Effect Assuming “cause-and-effect” relationship between unrelated events
Fallacy of composition Assuming that what is true of a part is true for the who
Fallacy of division Assuming that what is true for the whole is true for its part.
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The following are the examples of biases:

Bias Characteristics
Correspondence bias or Tendency to judge a person’s personality by his or her actions, without
attribution effect regard for the external factors or influence
Confirmation biases Tendency to look for and readily accept information which fits one’s own
beliefs or views and to reject ideas or views that go against it
Framing Focusing on a certain aspect of a problem while ignoring other
aspects
Hindsight The tendency to see past events as predictable, or to ascribe a pattern to
historical event
Conflict of interest A person or group is connected to or has a vested interest in the issue being
discusses.
Cultural biases Analyzing an event or issue based on one’s cultural standards.

Activity 1
Direction: Give a brief answer to the following question. Write your answer in the space provided.

1.Give 5 examples of a factual statements and 5 examples of an opinion.

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