INTRODUCTION TO

THE PHILOSOPHY OF
THE HUMAN PERSON
WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
Teacher: Juan, what would you like to
be when you grow up?
Juan: Ma’am, I want to be happy!
Teacher: Juan, you did not understand
my question.
Juan: Ma’am, you do not understand
what life is all about!
THREE LEVELS
OF QUESTION
 Three Levels of Question

1. Simple Question
2. Serious Question
3. Deep Question
SIMPLE
QUESTIONS
These queries may be easily ignored because
of their simplicity, but these indicate a
healthy curiosity and a sense of wonder
which is an important feature of childhood
innocence.
SIMPLE QUESTION

What it this?
What does this do?
Why are trees tall?
Why is the sky so far away?
SERIOUS
QUESTIONS
These questions are influenced by our
experiences and circumstances. These are
the questions that often here in everyday
conversations.
SERIOUS QUESTION
Why do I have to study?
What do I need to do to get better grades?
Why can’t I have more friends?
What should I do to achieve my goals in life?
Why did I fail?
What I can do to do better?
DEEP QUESTIONS

These are questions that make us pause and

think.
DEEP QUESTION
What is love?
Is love worth giving up everything?
Where can one find true happiness?
Does the end justify the means?
Why do good people suffer?
Why is there injustice in this world?
What can we do to make the world a better place? Why do I
have to be a good person?
Generalizatio
nA big part of living is spent pondering many
questions, and our lives become more
meaningful because we search for answers
to these innumerable questions. This is the
essence of philosophy – the search for
answers to life’s questions.
ACTIVITY: BY PAIR
What simple, serious, and deep questions come to mind when
you read them?

- Flash floods in remote village kill a hundred people.

- Abused child kept chained in basement for five years finally
rescued.
- Man sentenced to ten years for stealing milk to feed his baby.
- Lottery winner donates half of winnings to local orphanage.
WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
- comes from Greek words: philos (love) and sophia
(wisdom).
- ancient Greek used this term to refer to “love of
wisdom”
- the study or discipline that uses human reason to
investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and principles
which govern all things.
- PHILOSOPHERS (engaged in philosophy) – lovers of
wisdom.
1. What questions about your life
you are struggling to find answers
to?
2. What other philosophical
questions have you asked yourself?
What led you to ponder those
questions?
Research the following most notable ancient Greek
philosophers and their contribution in Philosophy:
 Pythagoras
 Heraclitus
 Democritus
 Diogenes of Sinope
 Epicurus
 Socrates
 Plato
 Aristotle