INTRODUCTION TO

THE PHILOSOPHY
OF THE HUMAN
PERSON
WHAT IS
PHILOSOPHY?
philos [Gk] (love)
sophia [Gk] (wisdom)
love of wisdom
lover of wisdom
LOVE-strong desire for a
particular object
WISDOM- correct
application of knowledge
-The study or the discipline
that uses human reason to
investigate the ultimate
causes, reasons, and principles
which govern all things.
- Science that studies beings in
their ultimate causes, reasons
and principles through the aid
of human reason alone.
BEING/BEINGS - all things
that exist: material or
immaterial
Material- stone, trees, people,
cars
BASIC QUESTIONS IN PHILOSOPHY:

- What is the origin of the world, of everything that exists?

- Why do these things exist rather than not exist at all?
- Is there God? If so, how can we justify the goodness of
God in the face of evil?

“Questions are more important than answers because

answers themselves will in turn become questions!” – KARL
JASPERS
What words come to
your mind when you
hear the word
Philosophy?
Philosophy
What does it mean to be
a lover of wisdom?
What characteristics
should a philosopher
possess?
 SINCE ANCIENT
TIMES,

?
PHILOSOPHERS
HAVE BEEN
PONDERING SOME
OF THE MOST
WHAT IS REAL? ARE WE ABLE
TO PERCEIVE AND
UNDERSTAND REALITY AND
EVERYTHING IN IT?
HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT
WE KNOW? ARE THE
THINGS THAT WE KNOW
 NOTABLE
ANCIENT GREEK
PHILOSOPHERS
HERACLITUS
PROPOSED THAT
EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS IS
BASED ON A HIGHER ORDER
CALLED LOGOS. CHANGE IS A
PERMANENT ASPECT OF THE
HUMAN CONDITION.
SOCRATES
PHILOSOPHY COULD
ENABLE A MAN TO LIVE A
LIFE OF VIRTUE.
PLATO
PROPOSES THAT
EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS
IS BASED ON AN IDEA OR
TEMPLATE THAT CAN ONLY
BE PERCIEVED IN THE MIND.
ARISTOTLE
ALL IDEAS AND VIEWS ARE
BASED ON PERCEPTIONS AND
OUR REALITY IS BASED ON
WHAT WE CAN SENSE AND
PERCIEVE.
WHY IS THERE A
NEED TO
PHILOSOPHIZE?
1. MAN’S OVERBOUNDING
CURIOUSITY DRIVES HIM TO
ASK QUESTIONS, SOME OF
WHICH HAVE NO DEFINITE
ANSWERS. THIS DRIVES THE
NEED OF A PHILOSOPHERTO
QUESTION, EXAMINE, AND
2. RENE DESCARTES TRACED
THE NEED TO PHILOSOPHIZE
TO DOUBT. A CRITICAL AND
QUESTIONING PERSPECTIVE
IS NECESSARY TO
DETERMINE IF INDEED IDEAS
OR VIEWS ARE CORRECT OR
3. KARL JASPERS SAW THE NEED
TO PHILOSOPHIZE BECAUSE OF
EXPERIENCE. PHILOSOPHY
PROVIDES US A MEANS TO
UNDERSTAND ADVERSE OR
CHALLENGING CONDITIONS,
AND TO RISE ABOVE THEM AND
4. THE NEED TO PHILOSOPHIZE
IS DRIVEN BY THE LOVE FOR
WISDOM. A PHILOSOPHER DOES
NOT SEEK KNOWLEDGE TO
CLAIM OWNERSHIP OF IT. HE
SEEKS TO CONTINUE TO
QUESTION, TO PROBE, AND TO
DISCUSS IN ORDER TO GET TO