INTRODUCTION TO
PHILOSOPHY OF
HUMAN PERSON
Don Alro
WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
Philosophy is the science of all
things by their ultimate causes and
principles as known by the natural
reason alone.
Key points to Remember
1. Philosophy is a science because it is a unique
realm for investigating things.
2. Philosophy is not an exclusive science.
3. Philosophy investigates things inside and outside
of the phenomena.
4. Philosophy uses the mind by necessity.
What Philosophy is
1. Philosophy is like a candlelight in a dark room.
2. Philosophy is like a child.
3. Philosophy is like a bird – a free being flying over
places and seeing things from the horizon.
What Philosophy is Not
[Link] is not a monster to be feared.
[Link] is not a broken glass
[Link] is not uninteresting
WESTERN AND EASTERN PHILOSOPHIES
(DIFFERENCES)
WESTERN PHILOSOPHY EASTERN PHILOSOPHY
Based mainly from Greek Based mainly from Chinese
Philosophy Philosophy
Takes its root from ROME and Takes its root from
CHRISTIANITY specifically Judeo- CONFUCIANISM, MAHAYANA
Christianity BUDDHISM and TAOISM.
Upholds that there are laws that The natural world does not follow
govern the behavior of the universe. laws, it simply “is”.
Individualism Collectivism
WESTERN AND EASTERN PHILOSOPHIES
(DIFFERENCES cont.)
WESTERN PHILOSOPHY EASTERN PHILOSOPHY
Based on self-dedication to be of Cosmological Unity is main
service to others. principle
Life is service to God, money, Life is round and the recurrence
community and so on… with everything around it is
important.
Due to its Christian influence, there
has to be a beginning and end to Ethics is based on behavior.
find meaning.
To be liberated inner self must be
Logical, scientific, and rational freed first.
WESTERN AND EASTERN PHILOSOPHIES
(DIFFERENCES cont.)
WESTERN PHILOSOPHY EASTERN PHILOSOPHY
Focuses on ethics (do what is Thrives also in virtues – selfless
supposed to be done approach to life
More of a hands-on style More on the “spiritual”
“I”. “WE”
WESTERN AND EASTERN PHILOSOPHIES
(SIMILARITIES)
WESTERN PHILOSOPHY EASTERN PHILOSOPHY
DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF REALITY DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF REALITY
IS POSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE
Believe in the concept of GOD Believe in the concept of GOD
SUMMARY
Western philosophy is mainly used in the Western parts
of the world, such as in the European countries, while
the Eastern philosophy is prevalent in Asian countries.
Western philosophy deals with Individualism while
Eastern Philosophy is related to Collectivism.
Both philosophies center on virtues.
Eastern philosophy takes more of a spiritual approach
while Western philosophy is more hands-on.
HAVING PHILOSOPHIES
Having a general guideline in life UNDERSTOOD ONLY
IN TERMS OF PURPOSE
Having a guide for how to live life
APPLICABLE ALSO TO
Having a personal code or point of view INSTITUTIONS
Could also mean
Having a general guideline about a specific activity
BUSINESS, GAME,, COOK
BEING PHILOSOPHICAL
Being Philosophical means being able to think carefully.
Being Philosophical is to deliberately examine WHAT we think about
certain things.
Being Philosophical is to deliberately examine WHY we think about certain
things in a particular way..
Make the question yours.
Examine your own point of view and
investigate the reasons for it.
BEING PHILOSOPHICAL
• Being Philosophical involves asking questions.
• Being Philosophical also means that we are asking the reasons why we
think of things this way rather than any other way.
• Being Philosophical is not simply a matter of asking all sorts of questions.
• Being Philosophical means asking questions that pertain to
fundamental causes and principles.
PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS ARE BIG AND
DEEP QUESTIONS
BEING PHILOSOPHICAL
PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS ARE BIG AND
DEEP QUESTIONS
What sort of thing is a number, if they need
For example, numerals to represent them?
Do we invent or do we discover mathematical
We know our multiplication table principles
We know that we come from our
parents, Where did our parents come from. Where did their
we know that mitochondria is the parents come from? Is there an unending series of
powerhouse of the cell parents?
Am I only a collection of cell? If my cells die and
get replenished, do I also die and get renewed?
BEING PHILOSOPHICAL
PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS ARE NOT LIKE SOME MATHEMATICAL
SCIENTIFIC OR FACTUAL QUESTIONS.
PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS DO NOT HAVE ONE OR AT LEAST A
STANDARD ANSWER.
BEING PHILOSOPHICAL
Philosophical Reflection IS the process of actively
thinking about our experiences and
questions questioning ourselves what they mean.
involve Reflection gets us from experience to
understanding.
philosophical
Reflection helps to provide deeper
reflection. learning.
THE ACTIVITY IF PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy is an activity
Philosophy requires skills
Requires training to hone philosophical skills
SKILLS REQUIRED
THE SKILLL OF CONSIDERING MANY POINTS OF VIEW
ALWAYS CONSIDER MANY POINTS OF VIEW WHETHER
SIMILAR, CONTRARY TO OR EVEN DIFFERENT FROM
ONE ANOTHER
In a nut shell
All of us have philosophies of our own.
When we ask questions and again ask why we are asking
that question, why we believe in the things that we
believe in and how others might view issues in the
question
- WE ARE BEING PHILOSOPHICAL
We do not have to be a philosopher to be philosophical
In a nut shell cont.
Philosophy CAN refer to
ordinary sense of guideline or code
an academic discipline
The activity of disciplined and critical reflection of
things.
In a nut shell cont.
Having philosophy is having a general guideline for life.
Being philosophical means being able to think carefully.
Philosophy as a discipline involves discipline.
Philosophy requires reflection
Philosophical reflection involves different point of views
PHILOSOPHIZING REQUIRES THE SKILL OF SEEING
FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND THUS BEING
OPEN TO QUESTIONS AND UNCERTAINTIES
EXERCISE IN REFLECTION 1
IF A TREE FALLS IN A FOREST AND THERE IS NO ONE
THERE TO HEAR IT, IS THERE A SOUND?
“THE UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING.”
SOCRATES
THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU DON’T KNOW.
SOCRATES
Exercise in REFLECTION 2
In a certain mythical community, all politicians never tell the
truth and all non-politicians never tell lies. One day a
stranger visited the place and met three natives of the
community. The stranger asked the first native ‘ are you a
politician?’ . The first native answered. The second native
said that the first native denied being a politician. The third
native said that the first native is a politician.
How many among these natives are
politicians?
