ORIENTAL

MEANING OF
PHILOSOPHY
 WHAT IS THE FILIPINO MEANING OF
PHILOSOPHY?
*EMERITA S. QUITO- In her book, “Oriental of
Occidental Philosophy”, she defined
PHILOSOPHY AS THE SEARCH FOR MEANING.
*She was a female professor of philosophy who became a
leading figure in the development of Filipino philosophy.
*She believed that in the age of fake news,
 social media-fueled vanities and a populist demagogue ruling
the country, Quito’s uncompromising belief in critical thinking and independent
action may just be the sobering tonic Filipinos need today.
 PICTURE INFERENCE
(WHAT CAN YOU SEE IN THE PICTURE?)

Describe what you can see in the pictures above.

 PHILOSOPHY
“SEARCH FOR MEANING”

• Analogy on the two connotations of the word “SEARCH”.

SECOND SITUATION. My mother went to a trip. She
FIRST SITUATION. I have lost my ballpen during
rode an airplane in order to go to her destination.
our discussion in your classroom. I have
Unfortunately, I have received a news that the plane
SEARCHED or looked for it after our class
where my mother was on crashed. And right now, my
session. In this situation we can see the meaning of
mother is one of the missing passengers of the plane. We
search as looking into or finding something. Now,
immediately went to the crash site in order to search and
after ten minutes of looking for my lost ballpen, I
look for my mother. Days, months and years have passed,
felt tired so I just left your room even if I have not
but we are still in search for my missing mother. I will not
yet found my ballpen. I thought that I will just buy
stop until I find my mother.
another ballpen as a replacement for the lost one.
 THINK THINK THINK
• Direction. dIFFERENTIATE the two connotations of the word search BASED FROM
THE TWO GIVEN SITUATIONS. Write your answer on the space below.
 LET’S SEE WHAT YOU’VE GOT
Let’s compare your answer to the explanation given below.

Emerita S. Quito’s Idea

The meaning of the word search in the

In the first situation, the word search
definition of philosophy as the search
is taken to mean a simple looking into
for meaning, must not be taken in a
or finding something. It does not
superficial (mababaw) level. It is a kind
require much effort so if you fail to
of search where you will exert all your
find what you are looking for, you can
energy and effort until you find what
easily give up without any issues. Just
you are looking for. In the effort of
like losing a ballpen, the thing that
finding something, you will be
you are looking for is something of
consumed and committed until you
not much importance to you.
were able to come up with an answer.
 PHYLOSOPHY AS THE SEARCH FOR
MEANING
• Philosophy is engaged in considering questions that affect an individual and is
something of importance to a person. People do not just look for material things, but
rather, each individual has issues within himself that he wants to settle like the
questions about life, goodness, justice, spirituality and morality.
• Have you ever experienced being lost in your own thoughts that you are not paying
attention to anything else but the idea inside your mind?
• Philosophy involves deep thinking. An activity where you will stop everything else
that you are doing and focus on your own thoughts in trying to arrive at an answer to a
specific question.
 HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED THIS?
“THE FEELING OF BEING LOST IN YOUR THOUGHTS”
 LET US DIG DEEPER
Try to answer the following questions.
1. Is God real?
2. Is lying morally justifiable?
3. Should same sex marriage be legally tolerated?
4. What do heaven and hell look like?
5. Do humans have souls?
 CONTINUATION OF DISCUSSION
• Philosophy tries to find answers to questions that are not often thought of by man. But
these questions are essential since they describe the type of person an individual is.
• Philosophy requires us to arrive at an answer. However, these answers may be imperfect
and temporary. Such answers may still change through time since we still experience a
lot of things in life. But the important thing is that once we ask questions, we try to give
an answer to such questions or else they will always bother us.
• Because of this, Philosophy starts with a SENSE OF WONDER. When we start to
become curious that we start to think and analyze things.
JAPANESE PHILOSOPHY
NISHI AMANE- is a Japanese Philosopher who defined philosophy as
ZHE XUE.
 ZHE XUE consists of the emblem or symbol of the mouth and the hand.

 Try to explain what this symbolism mean.

The emblem of the mouth and hand is directly related to the saying,
“Practice what you preach.”
Philosophy as zhe xue requires a person to be true to what he says. A
person should act in according to what he says.
Zhe xue also means, “learning to become a wise and knowledgeable
person”. Knowledge should not stop in the mind. It must be
translated into action. Therefore knowledge must have actual
application.
The purpose of philosophy is primarily to serve as an ethical and
practical guide.
 DO IT YOURSELF ACTIVITY

• Direction. Make a comparison between the Filipino and Japanese definition of

philosophy.

FILIPINO PHILOSOPHY CHINESE PHILOSOPHY