Introduction to

PHILOSOPHY
of the Human Person
 The use of the term philosophy is attributed to
Pythagoras, when he differentiated the three
classes of people who attend the ancient Olympic
Game as:

1. Lovers of gain

2. Lovers of honor

3. Lovers of knowledge or wisdom

 The word philosophy is derived from
philosophia which is a combination of
the Greek terms philos (love) and
sophia (wisdom). Thus, philosophy
means “love of wisdom”.
The Subject Matter of Philosophy

In the book of Three Concepts of Philosophy,

Armando Bonifacio explained that
characterizing philosophy can begin with the
common conceptions about it.

“The fundamental values or some basic

assumptions about things, persons,
institutions, and others which form
presuppositions that influence one’s beliefs,
decisions, and actions.”
The Subject Matter of Philosophy

Another conception is that, the activity of

reflecting on and analyzing one’s beliefs or
reasons for actions or decisions could be a kind
of philosophy as well.

Lastly, philosophy could also be a

reconstructed belief or a value system which
shows a universal and comprehensive
character as a result of reflection and
analysis in a more comprehensive and
systematic manner.
The Subject Matter of Philosophy

Philosophy is also viewed as a study of

subjects that can be understood as how they are
talked about.

In other words, philosophical understanding

is not making some discovery about the
world, but deciding on how to talk.
 Talking about subjects means:

1. Investigating the meaning of concepts or

proposals of new terms in order to advance
some area of philosophical inquiry;

2. Critiquing the use of these terms;

3. A combination of both. “What subjects can

be talked about?”
Two differences between philosophical and
nonphilosophical subjects.

• The first is the fundamental importance of

philosophical subjects to a reflective person,
matters that a reflective person believes and
counts as real and matters that he or she
thinks that shape his or her life are
considered.

• The second is the lack of general

agreement on how the subjects of concern
may be defined.
 What is knowledge?

What is the nature of the self?

Does God exist?

What is the standard of beauty?

Is there a universal morality?

 Reflect Upon

1. Why do you think human beings have so much

desire to know about many things?, like how the world
came to be, are we (humans) really free, why do we
need to die, and the like?

2. What do you think about the way philosophy frames

questions like what were mentioned in the discussion?

3. Do you agree that there are so many ways on how

a subject/topic/issue may be talked about? Explain.
 What have I learned so
far?

1. What are the three kinds of people according to

Pythagoras? Compare the class of philosophers from
the class of nonphilosophers.

2. What are the differences between philosophical and

nonphilosophical subjects?

3. What does “talking about subjects” to philosophy

means?