Introduction to the Philosophy of

the Human Person

Ms. Brigie
Subject Facilitator
Doing Philosophy
 Learning Competencies
1. Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point
of view.
2. Recognize human activities that emanate from
deliberate reflection.
3. Realize the value of doing philosophy in obtaining
abroad perspective on life.
4. Do a philosophical reflection on a concrete situation
from a holistic point of view.
Optical Illusions
Philosophy – “philos” love
“sophia” wisdom
Philosophy is the only science that investigate all
things in their ultimate causes, reasons and
principles through reason alone.
Pythagoras
Human Nature According to Greek Philosophers

A. Pre-Socratic Philosophers
1. Thales – ( 624- 546BC)
Water is the urstuff of the universe.
Human Nature According to Greek Philosophers

A. Pre-Socratic Philosophers
2. Anaximenes
Air is the urstuff of the universe.
Human Nature According to Greek Philosophers

A. Pre-Socratic Philosophers
3. Heraclitus
Fire is the urstuff of the universe.
Human Nature According to Greek Philosophers

A. Pre-Socratic Philosophers
4.Protagoras
Man is the measure of all things, of all things
that are that they are, and of all things that
are not that they are not.
Human Nature According to Greek Philosophers

B. Ancient Philosophers
1.Socrates (470-399BC)
Man is a being who thinks and wills.
Know Thyself.
Knowledge is virtue.
Ignorance is a Vice
Human Nature According to Greek Philosophers

B. Ancient Philosophers
2. Plato – (422-347BC)
- founded ( Academy).
- Theory of Forms
-Man is a soul using the
- body.
Academy in Athens
 Human Nature According to Greek Philosophers

B. Ancient Philosophers
3.Aristotle (335-263BC)
- founded Lyceum.
- Man is a rational animal
- Body and soul are in a state of
unity.
Lyceum ( Athens)
Human Nature According to Christian Philosophers

C. Medieval Philosophers
1. St. Augustine of Hippo (354-
430AD)
-Man is responsible for the
existence of evil, not God, for God
cannot will it.
Human Nature According to Christian Philosophers

C. Medieval Philosophers
2. St. Thomas of Aquinas (1224-1274)
- Man is an embodied soul.
Human Nature According to Modern Philosophers

B. Modern Philosophers
1. Rene Descartes (1596-1650)
- I think, therefore I am.
( Cogito, ergo sum)
- Man is a thinking machine.
Western Philosophy
 HISTORICAL SCHOOL OF BELIEF NOTABLE
PERIOD THOUGHT PHILOSOPHER
The Rationalism Reasons and logic considered the Rene Descartes
Enlightenment basis of knowledge and belief; Immanuel Kant
man has innate knowledge that
can be assess though intuition or
deduction.

Empiricism Knowledge is gain through the David Hume

senses and experience; reliance on John Locke
inductive reasoning to arrive at
generalizations.

Social and Discussions on the ideal human Voltaire

Political situation and society, emphasis on Jean Jacques
Philosophy individual rights and liberties. Rousseau
Thomas Hobbes
 Eastern Philosophy
• Eastern philosophy consists of school of
thought which are often closely tied n
religious beliefs. They are often described
“wisdom” literature, where stories, sayings
and texts encourage people to adopt an
ethical and harmonious way of life.
• Abraham, Moses, Torah
Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, Vedas
Four Noble Truths
Eight-fold Path
Historical Period School of Thoughts Main Features, Proponent, Major
Beliefs Text
Ca. 610 CE Islam ( West Asia) Belief in one God Muhammad
( Allah);
commitment to Qu’ran
faith is shown
through the
practice of The Five
Pillars.

Religion and society

are closely
intertwined; all
Muslim are
members of a
community
(ummah) bounded
by faith
Mohammad, Qu’ran
1.
2.
3.
Present your personal reaction to the following :
1.Plato’s argument that the soul exists prior to
the body.
2.Aristotle’s argument that the soul is
substantially united with the body.
3.Which views – Plato’s or Aristotle’s- are
acceptable to you? Why?