Introduction to the Philosophy

of the Human Person

Larry S. Esperas
Instructor
Lesson 1.0

The Meaning and

Method of Doing
Philosophy
 d t o
ne e
d o I
A T ? ? ?
WH kn o w
1. Distinguish a holistic perspective from a
partial point of view;

2. Realize the value of doing philosophy in

obtaining a broad perspective on life; and

3. Do a philosophical reflection on a concrete

situation from a holistic perspective.
 What words come to mind when you
hear the word Philosophy? Why do we
need to study Philosophy?
 Philos Sophia
(L O V E) (WISDOM)

PHILOSOPHY
Love of Wisdom
-Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental questions
about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and
language.

-Philosophy in simple words is a way of thinking about the

world, the universe, and society. It works by asking very basic
questions about the nature of human thought, the nature of
the universe, and the connections between them.

-It is a science and an art.

 ? ? ? ? Wh y ?
H Y ? H Y
WW hy?!
W Why?
WH Y ? ???
?
 Do you know some
GREEK PHILOSOPHERS?
PYTHAGORAS
A mathematician and
scientist, he was credited
with formulating the
Pythagorean theorem.
 He proposed that
everything that exists is
based on a higher
order or plan which he
called logos. “Life is like
a river.”
HIRACLITUS
 DEMOCRITUS

He devoted himself to the

study of the causes of
natural phenomena.
 DIOGENES OF
SINOPE

He was a known
advocate of living a
simple and virtuous life.
EPICURUS

He believed that
philosophy could enable
man to live a life of
happiness.
He was considered the foremost
philosophers of ancient times. He was
credited with formulating the Socratic
method- means of examining a topic by
devising a series of questions that let the
learner examine and analyze his knowledge
and views regarding the topic
SOCRATES
 A student of Socrates, he wrote down his
mentor’s teaching and incorporated some of
his own ideas into them. Plato’s most
significant ideas included his Theory of
Forms, which proposes that everything that
exist is based on an idea or template than
can only be perceived in the mind. Plato is
also known for his dialectic- a method of
inquiry where two opposing ideas are
discussed in an attempt to arrive at new
knowledge. Plato’s lasting contribution to
learning was his founding of the Academy, an
institution of higher learning.
PLATO
 He attended the Academy, and was
the prominent student of Plato. For
him, all ideas and views are based on
perception and our reality is based on
what we can sense and perceive. His
studies in logic led to the formulation
of a formal process of analyzing
reasoning which give rise to deductive
reasoning-the process by which
specific statements are analyzed to
ARISTOTLE reach a conclusion or generalization.
Lesson 1.1

The Difference Between

Holistic Perspective from a
Partial Point of View
Holistic thinking refers to a perspective that considers
large-scale patterns in systems. A holistic perspective requires
an individual to have an open mindset and ability to get the
general sense or impression regarding a situation.

Partial thinking focuses on specific aspects of a situation.

The partial view is an important component of analytical
thinking, as an individual focused on certain areas or aspects
of a problem in order to understand it.
 Partial POV/ Thinking
Looks at only limited number of
aspects of the given problem or
situation.
Conclusions are made based on
considering sone, but not all sides of when making conclusions.
the problem or situation.
Holistic Perspective/
Thinking
Looks at all aspects of the given
problem or situation.
All aspects are given importance
All aspects are tied in together to form
a general overview of the problem or
situation
 What I know.

Give a situation where you How can having a holistic

are adopted a holistic view in view help us become better
looking at a problem or individuals.
situation.
What’s in?
The term "holistic thinking" refers to a big picture mentality in
which a person recognizes the interconnectedness of various
elements that form larger systems, patterns and objects. Thinking
holistically is the opposite of analyzing something, which involves
breaking down a larger system into its details.

In philosophy, point of view describes the perception of an event

or phenomenon and how exactly it is viewed. Point of view often
is shaped by an individual's beliefs or experiences. Though partial
thinking is useful, philosophy utilizes holistic thinking in making
sense of problems and issues related to the human experience.
T WO D I F F E R E N T T Y P ES O F T H I N K I N G
 “When you change the way
you look at things, the things
you look at CHANGE.”

-Wayne Dyer
 Lesson

1.2

The Value of Doing Philosophy in

Obtaining a Broad Perspective on Life
Why do we Philosophize?
 “Wonder is the feeling of a Philosopher and
Philosophy begins in Wonder.”

-Socrates

“To wonder means to realize that there is something strange

behind the things that we ordinarily perceive.”

-Chris John Terry

PLATO wonder

DESCARTES doubt

JASPERS experience

ARISTOTLE love for wisdom

SOCRATES docta ignorantia

 Aesthetics

Philosophy of
Logic
Human Person

BRANCHES
OF Philosophy

PHILOSOPHY
Metaphysics Epistemology

Political
Ethics
Philosophy
CONVO 1

Teacher: Kuya may tanong ako sayo. Pogi ka ba?

Kuya: Di ko po alam Hehehe
Teacher: Bakit di mo po alam?
Kuya: Di ko po alam ahahhaha
Teacher: So dahil di mo masyadong alam patungkol sa itsura mo, dun nalang tayo sa mga bagay
na alam mong alam mo at totoo?
So, sabihin mo nga sa akin ang mga bagay na alam mo at sa tingin mo ay totoo?
Kuya: Ang mundo ay bilog.
T: Anu pa?
A: Maganda si Mommy.
T: Anak nga kita. Hahaha. Anu pa?
A: Malamig sa Baguio.
T: So now, why did you say na totoo ung mga bagay na yun? Yung una?
A: Na-proven na ksi sya.
T: Ok. It’s already a fact. So what we have conversed about is actually related to this branch of
philosophy.
CONVO 2

CONVO:
Kuya: May kinalaman po bas a philosophy ang patungkol sa Diyos, kung totoo bang
may Diyos at kung saan sya nakatira?
Teacher: That’s a very good question.

CONVO3
Teacher: Kuya, may ipapakita ako sayo. Ano ang masasabi mo sa dalawang
pictures?
Kuya: Maganda.
T: Okay sige ipakita natin sa kanila. Bakit sa tingin mo maganda?
K: Kasi nandyan ka Ma.
CONVO 4
T: Now Kuya, I have here a situation. I am sure you can relate to this. After I read the situation, tell me
your opinion about it, okay?
K: (Knods)
T: Dyre loves playing Mobile Legends and he is very good at it. One day, he was asked by his friend to
be his teammate in the said competition because he badly needs some money for their allowance
since his parents have no work as of the moment. Dyre asked his parents consent but he was not
allowed to join because of his risk. Much of his willingness to hep his friend, he secretly agreed and
joined the tournament and his excuse was he had to finish some projects that day in his classmate’s
house. Fortunately, they won and the parents had no idea what he did.
Now, is Dyre’s action right or correct?
K: Dapat pinakinggan nya magulang nya kasi mapupunta sya sa danger.
T: So tam aba o mali?
K: Mali po.
K: That situation is an example of a branch of philosophy which is called ETHICS.
It is a branch of philosophy which deals with the study of rightness and wrongness of action and the
kind of things which are good and desirable and whether actions are praiseworthy or blameworthy.
CONVO 5
K: (He grabbed a magazine in which his mom intriguingly read out loud.)
Teacher: EJ saw a black cat on his way to school. He failed on his exam that day.
Therefore, black cats are bad luck. So, bakit mo pinakita sakin to? Naniniwala ka ba
dito?
K: Hindi.
T: Bakit?
K: Because it is not proven.
T: Did you know that that is also related to another branch of philosophy.
Philosophical Reflection
Philosophical Reflection