WHAT IS

“IPHP”
INTRODUCTION TO THE
PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN
PERSON
 Prayer of St. Louise de Marillac
(Thursday)

God our Father, the source and reward of love, through your
own Son who became man, you gave the new commandment of
love to your Church. May we follow the example of St. Louise,
and by practicing your love on earth, may we obtain the
kingdom promised to your servants who are faithful. We ask
this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives with you
and the Holy Spirit one God forever and ever. Amen.
Holistic Point of View
● Looks at all aspects of the given
problem or situation. All aspects are
given importance when making
conclusions All aspects are tied in
together to form a general overview
of the problem or situation.
Example: A teacher listens first to both
stories of her two arguing students before
making any conclusion about the issue.
Partial Point of View
● Looks at only a limited number of
aspects of the given problem or
situation. Conclusions are made
based on considering some, but not
all, sides of the problem or situation.
Example: A teacher scolds Student A
after student B accused him of stealing
her pencil case. However, the teacher
only listed to the story of Student B, and
not to Student A, before deciding to scold
the student.
 Aesthetic

● The study of beauty.

 Ethics
● a study of the nature of moral judgments
● How do we tell good from evil or right from wrong?
● is a branch of philosophy that explores the nature of moral
virtue and evaluates human actions.
Pythagoras
• a mathematician, he was the
first to call himself a
philosopo, a term which means
“ a lover of wisdom.”
• the Pythagorean theorem.
• - His established a community
of devoted learners to the
study of religion and
philosophy.

15
 Western Philosophy

(North America, West

Europe, Central Europe)
Western Philosophy
• it is concerned with uncovering the truth through systematic
argumentation and theory.
• Greater emphasis on the use of reasons than as an individual
led to the development of the scientific and theory-based
approach.

Eastern Philosophy
-consists of schools thought, which are often closely tied with
religious beliefs.
The first philosophers are called Pre-Socratics since they came before the
time of Socrates. After them are the intellectuals known as Sophists, who
taught a way of argumentation called eristic, aiming to win arguments rather
than arrive at the truth. Sophists were excellent public speakers, and they
traveled throughout Greece and taught young people a wide array of subjects
such as grammar, mythology, political virtue, and rhetoric. Their central belief
was that man need not know all things in the world, but one must continue to
inquire and seek to understand and learn about the human condition. Among
the Ancient Greeks, the philosophers became pioneers in various fields of
knowledge such as history, biology, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and
even physics. These philosophers often pondered upon the nature of all
things and the means to live a good life.
Ancient Greek
philosophers:
Thales (624 BCE to 546 BCE)
- The earliest philosopher to inquire
about the world and explain - the
composition of things and the changes
in the physical reality.
- Considered as the:” Father of
Western Philosophy”
- - He believed that all things take
nourishment from water, and he
considered heat as being generated
and maintained by the amount of
moisture in an object.
Anaximander (610 BCE to
546 BCE)
- Student of Thales, he agreed with his teacher
that everything comes from a single basic
material.
- - However, he argued that matter is not
composed of water or any other element.
- -in his view, all things are created and emerged
from an indefinite and boundless realm called
Apeiron. When things decay or are destroyed,
they go back into the Apeiron
Anaximenes (586 BCE to 528
BCE)

-A student of Anaximander who

followed Thales’ view of the matter
being created from a single element.
- He considered air as the source of the
element.
Heraclitus (535 BCE
to 475 BCE)
• He proposed that everything that exists
is based on a higher-order plan, which
he called logos.
• For him, change is a permanent aspect
of the human condition.
Democritus (460 BCE to 370 BCE)

- He devoted himself to studying the causes of

natural phenomena. –
- He was among the first to propose that matter
is composed of tiny particles called atoms.
Diogenes of Sinope (412 BCE to
323 BCE)
-He is an advocate of a simple and virtuous life. One
should not only talk about virtue but should show it in
words and actions.
- His emphasis on austerity and simplicity often went
to the extreme, and he was said to have lived like a
beggar.
- Known to be a vocal critic of well-known philosophers
such as Plato and Aristotle.

- His followers later developed his teachings and views

and influenced the development of Cynicism.
Epicurus (341 BCE to 270 BCE)
- A practical philosopher and believed that
philosophy could enable man to live a life of
happiness.
- He denounced certain pleasures of the body that
were unnatural and stated that continuous
indulgence in bodily pleasure often leads to
dissatisfaction.
- He believes that one should indulge in the needs
and pleasure of the mind instead of the body.
- His views gave rise to Epicureanism- a school of
philosophy which believes that wisdom and simple
living will result in a life free from fear and pain
Socrates (470 BCE to 399 BCE)

- Considered the foremost philosopher of ancient

times and made significant contributions to the field
of ethics.
- - Known as a critic intellectuals during his time, but
he did not claim to be “wise” and merely considered
himself a “midwife.” that helped inquiring minds
achieve wisdom.
- - He also believed that philosophy could enable a
man to live a life of virtue.
- - He formulated the Socratic Method- a means of
examining a topic by devising a series of questions
that lets the learner explore and analyze his
knowledge and views regarding the matter.
Plato (427 BCE to 347 BCE)
-A student of Socrates,
- His teachings and writings are considered as the
foundation of Western Philosophy
- - His most significant ideas or template that can only
be perceived in mind;
- - He also focused on political theory and wrote the
Republic that discusses what he proposed as the ideal
society and ideal form of government ruled by wisdom
and reason.
- - He is also known for his dialectic – a method of inquiry
where two - opposing ideas are discussed in an attempt
to arrive at new knowledge.
- - His lasting contribution to learning was his founding of
the Academy, an institution of higher learning, which
was the first of its kind in the West.
Aristotle ( 384 BCE to 322 BCE)

- Attended at Academy and was a prominent student of Plato.

- - He disagreed with Plato’s theory of forms and took a
different view in interpreting reality. - For him, all ideas and
views are based on perception and our reality is based on
what we can sense and perceived.
- - He was involved in a great variety of disciplines such as
zoology, psychology, ethics, and politics.
- - His studies in logic led to the formulation of a formal
process of analyzing reasoning, which gave rise to deductive
reasoning – a process by which specific statements are
explored to reach a conclusion or generalization.
- - He also founded a school called the Lyceum.
Archimedes (287 BCE to 212
BCE)

- A mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor,

and astronomer.
-His inquiries into mathematics lead to earlier
development which gave rise to modern
calculus.
- He pioneered the use of mathematics to
analyze natural phenomena.
- He is also known for his several inventions
such as the Archimedes screw, a device for
raising water and a method of determining
volume using displacement
 EASTERN
PHILOSOPH
Y
Eastern Philosophy

-consists of schools thought, which are often closely tied with religious
beliefs.

• Eastern philosophies are often described as “wisdom” literature,

where stories, sayings, and texts encourage people to adopt an
ethical and harmonious way of life.
• There is a great emphasis on social relations, and the family and
community are considered a central aspect of life. Its goal is to
achieve a balanced life and find one’s role in society.
• Eastern philosophies are classified according to theistic (based on a
belief in a Supreme Being or deities) and nontheistic philosophies.
• There are also a variety of indigenous philosophies or belief systems
among small indigenous communities through Asia.
School of Thought,
Belief System
(Region or Area)
Judaism
(Israel )

-Belief in one God (monotheism),

who has a role n the ultimate
destiny of mankind; Jewish people
are God’s chosen people.
Hinduism
(India, South Asia)
• Belief in a pantheon of gods,
with three main gods
Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu
• Emphasis on dharma, the
fulfillment of duties and
behavior in accordance with
the established order in the
world; individual actions
contribute to either a good or
bad effect (karma) in a
person’s life
Shinto
(Japan)
An animistic religion
influenced by Japanese myth
and traditions

The material and spiritual

worlds are closely connected;
rituals and traditions are a
way to connect with the
spiritual world. Mankind and
the world are essentially good
and pure.
Harmony and balance are
essential in maintaining
purity.
Jainism
Rejects the idea of a Creator and
considers the universe as eternal
and unceasing; time is a wheel that
goes through cycles of prosperity
and suffering. Wisdom is developed
through the practice of five main
vows: ahimsa (nonviolence), Satya
(truth), asteya (honesty),
brahmacharya (chastity), and
aparigraha (piety).
Meditation, discipline, and respect
for all life are emphasized
Buddhism (South Asia, East
Asia, Southeast Asia)

Describe worldly existence as

imperfect and influenced by earthly
desires and suffering (dukkha); to
rid oneself of desire and achieve
liberation from suffering, one must
follow the Eightfold Path Divided
into two major branches: Theravada
Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism
Confucianism (East Asia)
The contemplation of the order of
things can lead to self-
transformation. Self transformation
can lead to the betterment of the
family and society. Human
relationships are based on mutual
obligations; individuals should
perform their intended roles and
contribute to social order.
Taoism (East Asia)
Emphasis on the unity and harmony
among opposing elements (yin and
yang); individuals must seek to
understand and act in accordance
with the natural order.
Islam
(West Asia)
Belief in one God (Allah);
commitment to faith is shown
through the practice of The Five
Pillars: a testament of faith
(shahada), daily prayers (salat),
alms-giving (zakat), fasting during
the month of Ramadan (sawm), and
pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca
(hajj). Religion and society are
closely intertwined; all Muslims are
a community (ummah) bounded by
faith. Divided into two major
branches: Sunni Islam and Shia
Islam
Sikhism
(India)
God believes to have created the
universe and is present everywhere
and in everything. Man
communicates with God through
meditations and his ultimate destiny
in union with the Divine. Apart from
meditation, believers must devote
themselves to selfless service and
action.
 Why do we
need to study
Philosophy?
WHY DO WE NEED
TO STUDY
PHILOSOPHY?
It is essential to study philosophy for us to make a better decision. It also helps us to
enhance our ability to solve problems, our communication skills, our persuasive
powers, and our writing skills. One of the benefits of studying philosophy is that it
enables us to think carefully and clearly about important issues. We also learn to step
back from our everyday thinking and to explore the more profound, bigger question
which underpins our thought. The focus in the study of philosophy is to learn not what
we believe, but how to think.
 CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord Jesus,/ guide us /in the understanding of your ways/

so that /we may do more/ than proclaim you/ the divine Savior.// Guide
us to manifest to the world/ the goodness of your presence/ in the
mercy we share/ with those around us.// Amen.//
"O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to
thee."
St. Vincent de Paul /and St. Louise de Marillac, /pray for us!//
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, /we trust in You!//