Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person PDF

The function of Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person philosophy in the...

The function of Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person philosophy in the society is to change or develop while it is used for the anticipation of Etymology of Philosophy the future Philosophy o It comes from the Greek words – Philo and Sophia (Philo means love, while Sophia means wisdom). o The Love of Wisdom Wisdom – making sound o A set of standards judgments and wise o “Philosophy is Science” decisions, quick decision- ▪ a systematic study of anything using “human reason” making First Universities like Plato’s Academy and its rival Aristotle’s Lyceum considered: Knowledge – “simply 1. Math knowing” 2. Biology 3. Physics 4. Poetry 5. Political Science 6. Astronomy as a part of Philosophy Thales o A Greek Philosopher o “Everything is Water”. He claims that everything we experience is water which we call “reality” everything else is “appearance”. Anaximenes o He equated the first material principles with the divine, so that effectively “Air is God” both being infinite and eternal. Pythagoras o a Greek philosopher who made important developments in mathematics, astronomy, and the theory of music. o The theorem is now known as Pythagoras theorem which Babylonians knew 1000 years earlier but he may have been the one who proved it. Protagoras o Known primarily for the three claims, (1) “that man is a measure of all things”, (2) “that he could make the worse argument appear the better”, (3) “that one could not tell if the gods existed or not”. Socrates (470 BCE to 399 BCE) o “The unexamined life is not worth living”. o He was considered as the foremost philosopher of ancient times. o Great contribution to the field of ethics. o He was credited with formulating the Socratic method or Elenchus. ▪ Elenchus is a means of examining a topic by devising a series of questions  Plato (427 BCE to 347 BCE) o Plato’s writings reflects the teaching methods of Socrates o Possibly dualistic because of his perception of life o He believed that life is nothing more than the imprisonment of the soul in a physical body. o Dualistic Nature- body-material, ergo: mutable, and destructible. o Soul – immaterial, ergo: immutable and indestructible. o Three Components of Soul: a) Rational Soul – mind, and intellect b) Spirited Soul – will and volition c) Appetitive Soul – emotion or desire Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE) o “man is a political animal” Apparently Aristotle founded a o no dichotomy between body and soul traveling school or academy base o body and soul are in a state of unity from the word peripatetic o Plato’s best student o Known as a peripatetic philosopher o Founded the school of logical theory o Human beings are philosophic because they wonder about the world o Accused of Impiety Stoics o He believed that perception is the basis of true knowledge. o The soul is the matter with seven parts ▪ Five senses ▪ The power of speech ▪ The power of reproduction o Another stoic view is that human nature is part of the determined universe. o “Man must be the subject of the will of God and to the law of the nature”. 3 MAIN BRANCH OF PHILOSOPHY o Metaphysics ▪ Studies the nature of reality Ontology o The nature of existence Cosmology o Studies the nature of the world Theology o Study of God Psychology o Study of Man’s Nature o Epistemology ▪ Studies the Nature of Knowledge o Value Theory ▪ Ethics Evaluate human conduct ▪ Aesthetics What is beauty?  Logic o What makes an argument valid or invalid? o Concerned with the truth and validity of reasons Philosophy of Man o Concerned on the nature of man o “An endless inquiry in his attempt to understand himself and the world he lives in”. Purpose of Philosophy o One may find satisfaction and delight in philosophical thinking or reasoning when he/she is able to: ▪ Discover his/her inner self ▪ Recognize his/her otherness ▪ Understand himself/herself ▪ Accept self as part of nature of the world ▪ Understand eschatology of human life; and ▪ With the help of reasons, believe in the existence of infinite wisdom who is God. Doing Philosophy o To ask questions, to reflect, and to formulate and evaluate arguments. o It involves asking the right questions, critically examining the work of previous philosophers, truly understanding the works and the reasoning behind the works, and possibly building on the works of previous philosophers by expanding or testing this methodology. Philosophical Reflection o It is the tool in doing philosophy which is the act of giving time to think about meaning and purpose of life. o It could be done through debate, discussions, essays, and other activities. o Two Types of Philosophical Reflection: ▪ Primary Reflection Fragmented and compartmentalized thinking “selfish way of thinking” For me para siyang partial POV ▪ Secondary Reflection Integrates the fragment and compartmentalizes experience into a coherent whole. Like holistic POV o Partial Point-of-View ▪ One’s perception is limited by other factors or based on a single factor. o Holistic Point-of-View ▪ Having a view where we understand both the whole and the parts of something, and we understand the parts when we bring it up together as a whole. METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING Knowledge and Truth o According to philosophy, if you want to know the truth, you have to use your mind in thinking, not emotions. Epistemology o Science devoted to the discovery of the proper method of acquiring and validating knowledge (Rand, 1990). What is Knowledge? o “mental grasp of reality reached by perceptual observation or by process of observation” (Rand) o Knowledge is a retained form of awareness (Binswanger, 2014) o It involves facts about reality as well as cognitive changes. o Knowledge, as defined by Oxford Dictionary, is: ▪ What is known in a particular field ▪ Awareness gained by experience of fact and situation ▪ The theoretical and practical understanding of a subject Methods of Acquiring Knowledge o Empiricism ▪ Acquiring knowledge through senses. o Prominent Empiricists in History ▪ John Locke one of the first great defenses of modern empiricism and concerns itself with determining the limits of human understanding in respect to a wide spectrum of topics. all knowledge comes from experience and that there are no innate ideas that are with us when we are born. ▪ George Berkley Berkeley claimed that abstract ideas are the source of all philosophical perplexity and illusion. In his Introduction to the Principles of Human Knowledge, he argued that, as Locke described abstract ideas (Berkeley considered Locke’s the best account of abstraction), o (1) they cannot, in fact, be formed, o (2) they are not needed for communication or knowledge, and; o (3) they are inconsistent and therefore inconceivable. ▪ David Hume His empiricism is naturalistic in that it refuses to countenance any appeal to the supernatural in the explanation of human nature. As a naturalist, he aims to account for the way our minds work in a manner that is consistent with a Newtonian picture of the world. Hume’s distinctive brand of empiricism is often identified with his commitment to the Copy Principle, his use of the principle’s reverse in his account of definition is perhaps the more innovative element of his system.  o Rationalism ▪ Acquire knowledge through thinking using our minds. o Prominent Rationalist in History ▪ Rene Descartes the first of the modern rationalists. He thought that only knowledge of eternal truths (including the truths of mathematics and the foundations of the sciences) could be attained by reason alone, while the knowledge of physics required experience of the world, aided by the scientific method. the father of modern philosophy ▪ Baruch Spinoza Spinoza is a rationalist, and as a rationalist, he holds that everything is, in principle, explainable or intelligible. This is to say that everything that exists and everything that occurs have a reason to be or to happen, and that this reason can be known and understood. ▪ Gottfried Wilhelm Liebniz the theory of monads which are individual self-contained and immaterial substances that constitute the basic building blocks of reality. o Other Methods 1. Appeal to Authority 2. Appeal to Tradition 3. Appeal to Sense 4. Inductive and Deductive Methods 5. Appeal to Experiences 6. Intuition 7. Concentration and Meditation 8. Observation and Related Processes THE HUMAN PERSON AS AN EMBODIED SPIRIT Just Scan This Definitions o Man ▪ It is generally and commonly defined to represent the entire human race. o Human ▪ used to refer to various classifications and species. For a living man, a human is under the classification of Mamalia. o Human Being ▪ A term used to separate man from other Human Classifications like animals. o Person ▪ Refers to an individual who possesses self-awareness, self- determination, a rational mind, and the capacity to interact with others and with himself/herself.  o Personhood ▪ general term refers to the state of being a person with unique, sacred, and ethical status within him/herself. o Human Nature ▪ A general term refers to the deepest and natural behaviour of a person that distinguish human from animals. What is a Human Person? (note I summarized it based from my understanding) o A Human Person is dynamic – always learning and adapting to different situations. An example of this is our human ancestors wherein from Hominid they evolved into Homo Sapiens or a modern man learning the concept of power, economics, and politics. o A human person is typically with a body which is tangible and has a three components composed of SOUL, MIND, and SPIRIT o There are two general kinds to distinguish a human person: ▪ The Cognitive Self Something within and cannot be physically seen is the essential components of a human persons that deals with the WHAT OF A PERSON which includes human person’s belief, desire, dreams, and intentions. ▪ The Physical Self Something that can be seen in his/her physical appearance Which deals with the essential features of the human way of life or THE WHO OF A PERSON which includes his/her body type, strength and appearance. What is Embodied Spirit? o An animating core living within each of us. o It is know to be the driving force behind what we actually think, do and say. o In the context and views of Christian philosophy, the embodiment of the spirit particularly refers to the inseparable union of human body and soul. Inseparable which also means the body and soul work together at all times. What is Human Person as Embodied Spirit? (ignore this part tbh) o As an embodied spirit human beings demonstrate these following qualities (Abella, 2016) 1. “Self- awareness refers to person having a clear perception of oneself, including his or her thoughts, emotions, identity, and actions (Abella, 2016).” It is the ability of one’s consciousness to look inward thus discovering the presence of a self. 2. A human person is able to connect and interact with another person, an animal or an inanimate object. We call this externality. So even though human beings have interiority they are not trapped inside their heads. They are able to go beyond their limited selves and embrace others. 3. We are not determined by others. Because we have interiority; we can direct the course of our own life. This is what we call self-determination which is “the capability of persons to make choices and decisions based on their own preferences, monitor and regulate their actions, and be goal  oriented and self-directed” (Abella 2016) Thus human beings are free. However since our actions are based on our decisions we have to realized that every decision has a consequence(s). There are some actions that are good because they lead to good consequences and some actions are bad because they lead to bad consequences. The result of our freedom is morality which is “the goodness or badness of an act” (Abella 2016). 4. Finally, a human person has an inherent value and importance. This is what we call dignity. That is why no amount of money can equal the value of a human life. This is also the reason why individual rights are absolute (Rand 1964). The American Founding Fathers called rights as “inalienable” because it cannot be separated from our humanity. If we are stripped off of our rights we are stripped of our humanity. That is why slaves (who have no rights) are not being treated as human. Human Transcendence o This power is your ability to surpass your limits. This is the definition of Transcendence. You are able to transcend your limit through your physical and mental abilities. (Abella, 2016). o Religion and philosophy teaches human beings to overcome our limits. In technological parlance, humans can upgrade themselves. Take for example, Buddhism. Buddha realized that all people suffers. Maybe in your case you just accept your own suffering as part of life but not for Buddha. He left his royal life in search for the truth and enlightenment, he spent 6 years of his life and found the answer: The Four Noble Truth and Eightfold Paths. o THE EIGHTFOLD PATH: ▪ Right view- a correct understanding of the nature of things, specifically the Four Noble Truths; ▪ Right intention, eliminating thoughts of attachment, detestation, and harmful intent, ▪ Right speech, abstaining from verbal offenses such as lying, divisive speech, unforgiving speech, and irrational speech, ▪ Right action, refraining from physical offenses such as murdering, thieving, and sexual misbehavior, ▪ Right livelihood, evading trades that directly or indirectly damage others, such as trading slaves, weapons, animals for butchery, intoxicants, or poisons, ▪ Right effort, forsaking undesirable states of mind that have already arisen, preventing undesirable states that have yet to arise, and sustaining positive states that have already arisen. ▪ Right concentration, single-mindedness. ▪ Right mindfulness, consciousness of body, feelings, thought, and phenomena The Human Person in the Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY o Environment philosophy is the discipline that studies the moral relationship of human beings with the environment and its non- human contents. o Philosophers believe that the human person has the ability to change the environment to suit his purposes. o This means that as human person, we interact not only with our fellow human beings, but also with other living and non-living elements in our environment. o Humankind is a part of the world, and we significantly affect our environment in the same way that changes in our environment affect us (Ramos, 2015). Three Views of Philosophical Environment o Anthropocentrism ▪ focuses on the significant role of humankind in the world ▪ This view believes that humans are the most important species on the planet and they are free to transform nature and use its resources. o Biocentrism ▪ believes that humans are not the only significant species on the planet, and that all other organisms have inherent value and should be protected. This view advocates ethical treatment of animals. o Ecocentrism ▪ places great value on ecosystems and biological communities. ▪ This view believes that humankind is a part of a greater biological system or community and that we have a significant role as stewards or guardians of nature. ▪ This view promotes the idea that order and balance in nature brings about stability and beauty. ENVIRONMENTAL AESTHETICS o A philosophical view that believes in maintaining order in the environment will bring out the natural beauty of surroundings and contribute to the well-being of the people and other organisms living in it (Endriga, 2017). o ANCIENT THINKERS (Mabaquiao, 2016) ▪ Anaximander According to his “Creation-Destruction”, the sketch of the genesis of the world (cosmology), the evolution of the world begins with the generation of opposites in a certain region Nature. Nature is in determinate boundless in the sense that no boundaries between the warm and or the moist and dry regions are originally present within.  ▪Pythagoras He described the universe as living embodiment of nature’s order, harmony, and beauty. He sees our relationship with the universe involving biophilia (love of other living things) and cosmophilia (love of other living beings). o MODERN THINKERS (Wang, 2017) ▪ Immanuel Kant “The orderliness of nature and the harmony of nature with our faculties guide us toward a deeper religious perspective” ▪ Herbert Marcuse “Human have power over nature.” ▪ George Herbert Mead “Man have duties and responsibilities in nature” SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT o According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, sustainable development defines as: “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” o To put it simply, the idea of sustainable development is any environmental, economic and social advances can be realized within the carrying capacity of earth’s natural resources. (Sioco & Vinzons, 2016) o Sustainable development upholds on the following principles: ▪ Environmental Integrity means that any human activities or economic advances should not unduly disrupt the environment and human communities located in the area. The environment should not be drastically impacted by human activities (Abella, 2016). ▪ Economic Efficiency this is to ensure that there is minimum to zero waste in using our natural resources (Abella, 2016). ▪ Equity it refers to conserving our natural resources so that the future generations will still be able to use it (Abella, 2016). THEORIES IN RADICAL ECOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHY o Deep ecology ▪ Arne Naess, proponent of Deep ecology, assumes that all living things possess equal value and intrinsic worth regardless of their usefulness or utility to other beings.  ▪ It highlights the shifting away of approaches to environment from anthropocentrism to ecocentrism (Sioco and Vinzons, 2016) o Social Ecology ▪ Murray Bookchin, proponent of social ecology, believes that ecological problems can be traced to social problems. Societies that are structured around hierarchies as well as economic classes use their authority to dominate natural resources and exploit the environment for profit and self- interest. (Sioco and Vinzons, 2016). o Ecofeminism ▪ It assumes that male-centered view of nature is the root cause of ecological problems. To address environmental problems humanity has to remove the superior vs. inferior in human relations. ▪ Ecofeminism also believes that a society that tolerates the oppression of women is directly linked with its tendency to tolerate the abuse of the environment and the degradation of nature. ▪ It also features the existing patriarchal and capitalist systems in our society ▪ This theory benefits the social and political agenda of both female and nature. (Sioco and Vinzons, 2016). PRUDENCE AND FRUGALITY o Prudence ▪ the capacity to direct and discipline one’s activities and behavior using reason. ▪ It is the behavior that is cautious and, as much as possible, keeps away from any risks. ▪ Prudence is considered as the first and most vital among the four cardinal virtues, which include justice, fortitude, and temperance. o Frugality ▪ the quality of being thrifty. ▪ It is the careful supervision of one’s resources. ▪ another fundamental value that can help us develop a sense of right and wrong and attain whatever we want in life. GOOD LUCK TO Y’ALL