Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person

Table of Specifications Overview

• This table details the course structure for Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person for the 1st quarter of the academic year 2024-2025.
• It outlines various learning competencies categorized under different philosophical topics, along with the expected number of days and items for assessment.

Doing Philosophy

• Emphasizes a holistic perspective versus a partial viewpoint with tasks including distinguishing between the two.
• Encourages recognition of human activities derived from deliberate reflection to enhance understanding of motivations in human behavior.
• Highlights the importance of philosophy in gaining a broad perspective on life, promoting philosophical reflections on real-life situations.
• Activities include performing reflections that observe scenarios from a holistic viewpoint.

Methods of Philosophizing

• Differentiates opinion from truth, encouraging critical analysis of differing perspectives.
• Includes examination of scenarios to clarify the distinctions between subjective beliefs and objective realities.
• Discusses how employing philosophical methods can guide individuals towards wisdom and truth.
• Involves evaluating various opinions to understand their validity and implications critically.

The Human Person as an Embodied Spirit

• Recognizes personal limitations while exploring potential possibilities for personal growth and transcendence.
• Evaluates these limitations in depth, seeking pathways for overcoming them.
• Discusses how the human body restricts and allows for transcendent experiences, fostering deeper self-awareness.
• Encourages distinguishing between constraints and opportunities inherent in the human condition.

The Human Person in Their Environment

• Observes and addresses disorder within environments, fostering a sense of responsibility and awareness.
• Illustrates how environmental care is crucial for promoting overall health, well-being, and sustainable development.
• Encourages an integration of ethical considerations regarding the environment and its impact on human life.

Assessment Distribution

• Total of 50 items distributed across various competencies, spanning remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating.
• Days allocated across topics underscore the importance of combined reflection and analysis in fostering a deep understanding of philosophical concepts.

Objectives of Philosophy

• Recognizes human activities stemming from deliberate reflection.
• Provides a broad perspective on life, enriching understanding.
• Involves philosophical reflection on concrete situations.

Meaning of Philosophy

• Derived from Greek: "Philo" (to love) and "Sophia" (wisdom).
• Defined as the science studying the first causes or highest principles of all things using natural light of reason.
• Distinct from other sciences due to its holistic and multi-dimensional approach.

Principles of Philosophy

• Principle of Identity: Each entity is identical to itself; non-being is not being.
• Principle of Non-Contradiction: A thing cannot simultaneously be and not be.
• Principle of Excluded Middle: A thing is either one state or another, without a middle ground.
• Principle of Sufficient Reason: Existence is contingent upon having a sufficient reason for being.

Core Branches of Philosophy

• Epistemology: Studies the nature and scope of knowledge, justified beliefs, and differentiates truth from falsehood.
  • Common inquiries include: What is knowledge? How is it acquired?
  • Induction: General conclusions derived from specific observations (associated with empiricism).
  • Deduction: Specific conclusions drawn from general premises (associated with rationalism).
• Metaphysics: Investigates basic principles governing reality, differentiating between appearance and reality.
• Ethics: Explores moral virtues, human actions, and the foundations of moral judgments.
  • Subfields include metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics.
• Aesthetics: Studies beauty, taste, and the nature of art.

Philosophical Methods

• Socratic Method: Engages learners in critical questioning to explore knowledge and perspectives.
• Plato's Theory of Forms: Reality based on eternal, unchanging ideas perceived in the mind.
• Aristotle’s Empiricism: Reality is grounded in sensory experience and perception.

Philosophical Inquiry

• Addresses the necessity of philosophizing through concepts like wonder (Plato) and doubt (Descartes).
• Highlights experiences of helplessness and existential confrontations (Jaspers).

Perspectives in Philosophy

• Partial Perspective: Focuses on specific elements, neglecting the whole.
• Holistic Perspective: Encourages seeing connections among parts to grasp the broader picture, requiring an open mindset.

Importance of Critical Thinking

• Involves systematic, reflective approaches to understanding issues.
• Attributes include seeking evidence, adjusting opinions, examining problems, and rejecting irrelevant information.
• Emphasizes a continual process of self-assessment and willingness to embrace uncertainty.

Class Activity Insights

• Importance of sharing concepts about philosophy through discussion and analysis.

This quiz covers the key concepts from the first quarter of the Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person course. It focuses on distinguishing between holistic and partial perspectives, recognizing human activities resulting from deliberate reflection, and evaluating the value of philosophical inquiry. Test your understanding and application of these fundamental ideas.