INTRODUCTION TO THE

PHILOSOPHY OF THE
HUMAN PERSON
(The Meaning and Method of
Doing Philosophy)
What words come into your mind when
you hear the word PHILOSOPHY?

Why do we need to study

PHILOSOPHY?
The word Philosophy comes from two
Greek words: philos (love) and sophia
(wisdom). The ancient Greeks used this
term to refer to “love of wisdom” and
they soon applied it to the study or
discipline that uses human reason to
investigate the ultimate causes, reasons,
and principles which govern all things.
 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 connection between them. The ideas
in philosophy are often general and
abstract.
 Philosophy is the study of
humans and the world by
thinking and asking questions. It
is a science and art. Philosophy
tries to answer important
questions by coming up with
answers about real things and
asking “why?”
 Do you know of some Greek
Philosophers?

(Philosophers – are people who

engage in philosophy)
 The most notable ancient Greek
Philosophers are:

Pythagoras (570 BCE to 495 BCE)

A mathematician and scientist, he was
credited with formulating the
Pythagorean theorem.
 Heraclitus (535 BCE to 475 BCE)
He proposed that everything that exists
is based on higher order or plan which
he called logos.
 Democritus (460 BCE to 370 BCE)
He devoted himself to the study of the
causes of natural phenomena.
 Epicurus (341 to 270 BCE)
He believed that philosophy could
enable man to live a life of happiness.
 Socrates (470 BCE to 347 BCE)
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.
 Plato (427 BCE to 347 BCE)
A student of Socrates, he wrote down his
mentor’s teaching and incorporated some
of his own ideas into them. His significant
ideas included his Theory of Forms,
which proposes that everything that exist
is based on an idea or template that can
only be perceived in the mind. He was
founding an Academy, an institution of
higher learning.
 Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE)
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 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.
 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.
 Holistic medicine is a prominent
example of holistic thinking. A medical
professional who believes in holistic care
considers the relationship between the
mind, body and spirit.

For example: Holistic Doctors don’t just

provide patients with medications.
Instead, they look at ways to improve life
balance and eradicate health problems
from their root source, such as high stress
or bad nutrition.
Partial Thinking – focuses on a specific
aspects of a situation. The partial view
is an important component of analytical
thinking, as an individual focuses on
certain areas or aspects of a problem in
order to understand it.
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.
 People tend to apply an analytical
perspective when looking at problems
or situations. A holistic view gives rise
to a more appreciative perspective
about life, as we are able to look at life
in its totality.
Lesson 1.2 – The Value of Doing
philosophy in Obtaining a Broad
Perspective on Life
 Why do we philosophize?
We all have the potential to
philosophize since we have the
tendency to wonder and doubt.
A philosopher is a good
communicator who can clearly and
adequately present his or her ideas.
 Doing philosophy can be applied in
day-to-day activities and life perspectives.
Because it involves an evaluative process,
doing philosophy allows a person to
make better decisions and act accordingly
to situations with the help of various
philosophical skills. On life perspectives,
philosophy enables reflective thinking
which greatly influences a person’s view
of life, challenges, and relationships.
 In doing philosophy, a holistic
perspective on the subject is always
required. Failure to do so or only using
a partial point of view may lead to
illogical or incorrect conclusions.
 Plato traced man’s need to
philosophize to his sense of wonder.
Whenever we are confronted with an
experience, we always wonder how it
came about.
 French philosopher Rene Descartes
traced the need to philosophize to
doubt. In life, we will be faced with
several ideas and arguments which
present themselves as “truths”. A
critical and questioning perspective is
necessary to determine if indeed these
ideas or views are correct or true.
 Swiss-German philosopher Karl
Jaspers saw the need to philosophize
because of experience. These
experiences limit situation, philosophy
provides us a means to understand
adverse or challenging conditions, and
to rise above them and gain new
knowledge and perspective.
 The need to philosophize is driven by
the love for wisdom. To love wisdom is
to have an insatiable desire for truth.

Philosophy itself is a distinct area of

knowledge with its own goals,
concerns, and ways of doing things.
Branches of Philosophy that deals with
a particular aspect of life phenomena.

Aesthetics – is the branch of

philosophy which deals with beauty
and what makes things “beautiful”.

Logic – is branch of philosophy which

deals with correct reasoning.
Epistemology – discusses the nature of
knowledge and knowing.

Ethics – is the branch which deals with

moral questions and dilemmas.

Political Philosophy – studies

governments and deals with questions
of justice, power and the rights and
obligations of citizens.
Metaphysics – is a branch of
philosophy which deals with questions
regarding reality and existence.

Philosophy of the Human Person – is

an area in philosophy that understand
the human person from a philosophical
perspective.
 Lesson 1. 3 Doing a Philosophical
Reflection on a Situation from Holistic
Perspective
Reflection – requires a person to be
willing to examine one’s thoughts,
feelings, and action and to learn more
about one’s life and experiences.

Human self-reflection – is the capacity

of humans to exercise introspection and
to attempt to learn more about their
fundamental nature and essence.
Philosophy – has an important place in
our daily lives. Engaging in
philosophical reflection leads to the
development of beneficial skills that
individuals can apply in everyday
situations.
 Reflection is vital in ensuring that our
actions and decisions are well thought
out and are done with due regard for
their implications and consequences on
ourselves, others, and our
surroundings.
 When we reflect, we can judge
whether our actions or decisions are
reasonable or not. Doing Philosophy
enables a person to engage in critical
analysis and interpretation of concepts,
definitions, arguments, and problems.
 Doing philosophy also improves
problem-solving and decision making.
The ability to analyze a problem or
dilemma., identify the significant
aspects, and come up with alternative
solutions is an important skill learned
through philosophy.
 In the process of doing philosophy, it
is critical to have a holistic point of
view – the perception of looking at all
aspects of a situation first before
making a conclusion.
 Wisdom as it refers to a person’s
ability to apply knowledge to daily life
particularly in making sound choices
and judgment is the intended product
of philosophizing.

Finally, knowledge of Philosophy can

contribute to self-development.
Examples of activities that emanated
from a deliberate reflection

- Learning from your previous mistakes

and not repeating them again.
- Evaluating and knowing the best
choice from a set of options.
- Gaining a holistic point of view before
making any conclusion.
Thank you…