Philosophy of a Human Person PDF

Philosophy of a Human Person In a broad sense, philosophy is an activity people undertake when they seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world in which they live, and their relationships to the world and to each other. Philosophy has two...

Philosophy of a Human Person In a broad sense, philosophy is an activity people undertake when they seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world in which they live, and their relationships to the world and to each other. Philosophy has two-fold meaning from the Greek words philo and sophia “philosophia” philo = love sophia = wisdom sophist = wise man or one who knows Philosopher = lover of wisdom ultimately, the goal of philosophy is “love of wisdom” A philosophical system may develop independently but usually is a response to religion; when religion fails to fully answer a people's questions or address their needs, the people turn to philosophy. Approach is systematic; It is an ordered body of learning as any other sciences.  Philosophy uses one’s natural capacity to think or observe the world and people. Sets the distinction between philosophy and other sciences Other sciences investigates particular object - philosophy multidimensional or holistic Through Natural Light of Reason, philosophy examines the original grounds or the essential principles of all things thus, it studies the first cause and highest principle since everything in the world and every situation has an origin.  A thing, idea, or person always has a name, concept, and characteristics for that thing to exist.  Denies that a thing can be and not be at the same time.  Everything must be either be or not be: there in no middle ground conceivable.  Nothings happens without a sufficient reason A need for emptying - suspending judgement and conclusion about a matter; exploring the pros and cons, characteristics, and purpose.  What is reality, why does reality exist. and does it exist? Enlighten us in terms of what we identify is real Reality here is referred as True Reality - the fundamental source and basis of all reality  Assumes that the reality we see with our eyes is just a temporary cover of true reality that exists beyond what our sense can perceive EX: Thales, a Greek thinker claims everything is water - he believed that the principle beyond all existence and reality could be explained in terms of water According to Plato, nothing we experience in the physical world with our 5 senses is real - reality in fact, is just the opposite. Reality is an invisible but concrete true representation of all physical reality that eye can see - being, existence, purpose, causality, relation, space etc.  How do we distinguish good from evil or right from wrong? Explore the nature of moral virtue and evaluates the morality and virtue of human actions. Questions concerning honor, happiness and meaning of life. NATURAL LAW or DIVINE COOMMAND what principles guide humanity toward happiness and ultimate destiny? God created the world, including human beings, and thus something is good or right when it causes human beings to flourish. On the other hand, Divine Command Theory says that our moral obligations come from God’s commands. TELEOLOGICAL THEORY what are the consequences that emphasizes pleasure? What is good for the greatest number of people is the best and moral choice? EX: If killing is cow is the only way to save seven children from starvation, killing the cow is moral. DEONTOLOGICAL ETHICS (Duty of Ethics or Kantianism) Immanuel Kant what is my moral duty? person is bound to duty and does not focus on what a person thinks or feels about a situation. Ex: when a person sees Hitler drowning, he/she must save him because letting a person die without helping is wrong. That act of saving is a moral RELATIVISM what does my culture or society think is acceptable. Ex: “When in Rome, do as Romans do” actions are morally right within a particular society. VIRTUE ETHICS what does it mean to live a good life beyond material want? proponents of this theory are Socrates, Plato, Aristotle. It ignores consequences, duties and social contract instead it focus on character development of individuals and their acquisition of good virtue ethics How do we acquire reliable knowledge? deals with nature, sources, limitations, and validity of knowledge. Epistemological questions explains how we explain philosophical inquiries - moral values. EMPIRICISM - view that knowledge can be attained only through sense experience - based on facts and evidence that we can see and perceive in the world. DEDUCTION - finding a general law according to which particular facts can be understood or judged.  what is correct reasoning? as reasoning is the concern of of the logician. The term “logic” comes from Greek word “logike” (Zeno the Stoic) means treatise on matters pertaining to the human thought. Logic does not provide us knowledge directly instead it is interested in what we know regarding certain subjects - concerns about the truth or validity of our arguments regarding such objects.  what is beauty? the science of the beautiful in its various manifestations - sublime, comic, tragic, pathetic, and ugly. “aesthetics" derives from the Greek "aisthetikos", meaning "of sense perception".  It vitalizes our knowledge It helps us to live more genuinely and completely It brings us in touch with our culture