LESSON 1

THE MEANING AND METHOD OF DOING

PHILOSOPHY

PHILOSOPHY
Philos (love) Sophia (wisdom)

Philosopher- lover of wisdom

-people who engage
in philosophy
PHILOSOPHY

•Is the study of general and

fundamental questions
about existence,
knowledge, values, reason,
mind, and language.
 THE MOST NOTABLE ANCIENT GREEK
PHILOSOPHERS

PYTHAGORAS (570 BCE to 495 BCE)

HERACLITUS (535 BCE to 475 BCE)
 He proposed that
everything that exist
is based on a higher
order plan which he
calls logos.
 DEMOCRITUS (460 BCE to 370 BCE
He devoted
himself to the
study of the
causes of
natural
phenomena.
DIOGENES OF SINOPE (421 BCE to 323 BCE)

•He was known

advocate of
living a simple
and virtuous in
life
EPICURUS (341 BCE to 270 BCE

He believed that

Philosophy
could enable
man to live a life
of happiness.
SOCRATES (470 BCE To 399 BCE)
PLATO ( 427 BCE to 347 BCE
ARISTOTLE (384 to 322 BCE
• Greek philosopher who made important
contributions by systemizing deductive logic
and wrote on physical subjects. His
philosophy had a long-lasting influence on
the development of all Western
philosophical theories.
LESSON 1.1

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE FROM
A PARTIAL POINT OF VIEW
HOLISTIC THINGKING

• Refers to a perspective that

considers large-scale patterns in
system. A holistic perspective
requires an individual to have an
open mindset and ability to get the
general sense or impression
regarding a situation.
PARTIAL THINGKING
•Focuses on 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.
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
according to situation 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 using a partial of view may
lead to illogical or incorrect conclusions.
Plato
Greek philosopher
• 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.
Rene Descartes
• French philosopher
• 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.
Karl Jaspers
• Swiss-German Philosopher
• 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 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
Aesthetics deals with beauty and what makes things
“beautiful”.
Logic deals with correct reasoning.
Epistemology discuss the nature of knowledge and knowing.
Ethics 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 deals with questions regarding reality and
existence.
Philosophy of the Human Person is an area in philosophy
that understand the human person from philosophical
perspective.
 Doing a Philosophical Reflection on
a Situation from Holistic Perspective
• Reflection – requires a person to be willing to examine one’s
thoughts, feelings, 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 development of
beneficial skills that individuals can apply in everyday situations