Quipper Study Guide - Humanity and Personhood (PDF)

UNIT # 2:​ ​Humanity and Personhood Table of Contents Introduction 2 Lesson # 1: The Bigger Picture Starting Out 4 Learn about It!...

UNIT # 2:​ ​Humanity and Personhood Table of Contents Introduction 2 Lesson # 1: The Bigger Picture Starting Out 4 Learn about It! 4 Check Your Understanding 7 Philosophy Applied 7 Who’s That Philosopher? 8 Lesson # 2: The Picture Within Starting Out 9 Learn about It! 9 Check Your Understanding 11 Philosophy Applied 12 Who’s That Philosopher? 12 Be the Philosopher! 13 Philosophy and I: Check and Reflect 14 Wrap Up 15 Bibliography 16 Answers to Check your Understanding 16 Glossary 17 1 ​ GRADE 11/12 | Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person UNIT # 2 Humanity and Personhood Most philosophical questions one would encounter in this subject would revolve on man’s being – questions like, “What is the meaning of life?”. As thinking creatures, only human beings can make reflections about their lives, how it affects the world, and vice versa. Since the dawn of civilization, a great number of philosophers have asked a myriad of questions which they all attempted to answer in order to make sense of man’s life and personhood. In this lesson, we shall tackle some of these attempts to answer the most puzzling questions of man, and how these contribute to our daily existence. Philosophy in Our World Gary would be graduating from high school in a few months. Gary is still quite uncertain as to which specialization he would take in college. His mom wants him to take a course in Nursing and eventually go to medical school while his dad prefers that he takes a course in Economics and later on, go to law school. Some of his relatives have also given him advice. So, Gary is becoming quite confused. He knows that whatever his decision is, it will change his life. 2 ​ A few months or years from now, you might find yourself to be in Gary’s situation. You will graduate from high school and proceed to college. ​Eventually, you will have to work, earn, and build your own life in your own terms. This is a situation one must think of very carefully. This would affect your life, the society where you belong, and most importantly, the world you live in. This is a picture of a person being in a crossroad of choices which requires a significant time of philosophical reflection. Learning Targets In this unit, you should be able to: understand the significance of the philosophical methods; use these methods in examining your life and role in the world; and develop your own views and decisions. 3 ​  Lesson 1: The Bigger Picture In learning Philosophy, one would realize that it encompasses all aspects of life. But why does it matter at all? Our main concern is how philosophizing can make us better thinkers, so we can make better choices that will determine the way we live. Starting Out How does Philosophy affect my life? ​Learn about It! Most philosophers and students of Philosophy have asked a lot of complex, even seemingly absurd questions that both shook and shaped the world. These are the questions that we do not encounter everyday, and when we are presented with these questions, we find ourselves taking time to think of an answer. Some even dismiss these questions as irrelevant and daft. But, if we look again and more closely, if we give these questions a second chance, we would, perhaps, find them to be making sense. Philosophy originated from two Greek words​: philo which means love, and ​sophia which means wisdom. Etymologically, the word philosophy means “love of wisdom”. If philosophy translates to love of wisdom, this means that a philosopher is a ​lover of wisdom​. But what does it mean to love wisdom? Wisdom is generally referred to as an insight, skill or intelligence. This is the state of having an experience, knowledge and good judgment. In Philosophy, we define wisdom as the right application of knowledge. Most importantly, wisdom requires the element of human experience because 4 ​ this is where we gain knowledge and start questioning and seeking for answers, thus, Philosophy. While the term Philosophy was coined by Pythagoras, it is usually attributed to the ancient philosopher, Socrates. He was regarded as a true philosopher – a true lover of wisdom. During his time, he would proceed to the marketplace of Athens, where most people could be found, and ask them questions about almost anything – what is justice, knowledge, truth, etc. Socrates had his own ways of provoking the people of Athens to think. He would ask them questions and when answered comes up with another question. He did this not to be famous nor to look superior but he wanted to leave them with curiosity, wonder, and a thirst for the Truth. He believes that every person possesses wisdom that needs to be triggered so he thought that he should help the people to get them to questioning and reflecting. However, some did not appreciate Socrates’ work which led him imprisoned and be sentenced to death. Socrates’ method of asking questions, providing an answer, asking further questions, and so on is known as the Socratic method or the ​Socratic Dialogue​. The Socratic Dialogue, which is considered as a form of ​dialectics​, is a two-way process that works between two parties discussing a central idea. It is an active process that allows people to exchange their views, beliefs, and arguments to arrive at the truth they would believe. The Socratic Dialogue also allows people to hear each other’s opinion and perspective to put them into consideration and eventually make decisions that takes big questions into account. Eventually, the Socratic Dialogue makes us rethink of the concepts and ideas we think we already know. It is a careful examination of our own minds and thoughts. Sometimes, we feel so certain of our decisions only to prove ourselves wrong. To avoid this, we could use the Socratic Dialogue to see a point of view other than our own. Let us take an example. Here is a dialogue between two people who are trying to define the word “chair”. Let’s say that one of these people is Socrates himself. Socrates: What is a “chair”? Person 2: A chair is a furniture on which one can sit on. Socrates: So, because I can sit on the table, does it mean it’s also a chair? Person 2: No, a chair is created to be sat upon. Whereas a table is not. It is defined by its purpose. Socrates: I see. If I use a chair as a tool to elevate my body and reach the ceiling, does it mean it is no longer a chair because it is not serving its purpose? 5 ​ This situation may prove to be both awkward and irritating to Person 2. However, it would also make him realize that he may need to reexamine his idea of a chair, and of other ideas that may be significant to the way he lives his life. During the Modern period, the German idealist, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel presented another form of a dialectical method similar to the Socratic Dialogue, and is continuously developing. He presented it in three levels – a thesis, an antithesis, and a synthesis. The ​thesis is one’s prevailing idea or situation. It is our current perception of the world and all its aspects that affect us. It is a proposition that claims to be true. The ​antithesis is the idea that opposes the thesis. These are the problems we encounter in the situations we find ourselves in. Through a constant dialogue, the problems (antithesis) are resolved which results to synthesis. The ​synthesis is the product of struggle between the thesis and antithesis. Eventually, the synthesis becomes the new thesis which would find itself an antithesis and produce a synthesis. It is a cycle that is in constant flux and is continuously evolving. For example, during the Medieval period, it was a widely accepted fact that the Earth is flat and that the Sun revolves around it. Eventually, scientists and discoverers opposed the idea by proclaiming that the Earth is not flat, and the Sun does not revolve around it. Through countless debates, rigorous research, and study of the universe, it has been proven that the Earth is round, that it revolves around the Sun, and rotates in its own axis. Let us determine the thesis, antithesis, and synthesis here. Thesis: The Earth is flat and the Sun revolves around it. (Prevailing idea) Antithesis: The Earth is not flat and the Sun does not revolve around it. (Opposing idea) Synthesis: The Earth is round, revolves around the Sun, and rotates in its own axis. (New thesis) The synthesis is now the new thesis, which would find itself to have an antithesis and a synthesis as the history of the world progresses. These two methods – the Socratic dialogue, and the Hegelian dialectics – have been used not only by students of Philosophy, but also by scholars who have made some of the biggest decisions in the world. This method can be used both in simple situations and concepts, and in the immense problems the world finds itself to be in. These methods allow us to reevaluate 6 ​  our decisions that would impact our lives and the world we live in. Philosophizing can be both daunting and annoying. Hence, the general perception is that it is an irrelevant, impractical pursuit. However as thinking creatures contained in a finite amount of time in this world, the least we can do is pause, reflect, and make it more meaningful by asking ourselves questions we have never asked before. Check Your Understanding Give the corresponding antithesis to the theses provided in each number. 1. A vaccine shot prevents a child from getting sick. 2. Genetically Modified Organisms are harmful to the body. 3. Men are better drivers than women. 4. Philosophy is boring and unimportant. 5. Teenagers are impulsive and irresponsible. Philosophy Applied Children are considered as the best philosophers of all time. They have these innocent questions about themselves, about the world, without the hidden agenda. They are like the Socrates in our lives. Imagine yourself being stuck in a room with a five or six-year old child. It could be your little brother or sister, it could be your niece or nephew, or your godchild. He/she asks you intriguing questions like, “Where do babies come from?” or “What’s up there in the sky?”, “Why are leaves green, and not red or blue or anything?”, “Why is grandma’s hair white?”, “Why are you becoming a doctor, instead of being a teacher?”. These are the kinds of questions about our ordinary live. We may have already taken them for 7 ​ granted, but if someone were to ask you these, would you be able to answer him/her? How would you formulate your answer? What method/s would you use when you are faced with these questions? 8 ​  Lesson 2: The Picture Within After learning the method and significance of Philosophizing, we can also apply it in situations we find ourselves in. How can Philosophy bring us to a better understanding of ourselves? Many people, including you, may have experienced asking questions about the meaning of life and the life you lead. In this lesson, a discussion about the significance of self-reflection will be analyzed so we can live making better decisions. Starting Out How do I find the meaning of my life? ​Learn about It! Socrates was highly credited for introducing the dialogue as a method of philosophical analysis. His question-answer-question process brought thinkers to a wide accomplishment. Not only with his method, Socrates was also concerned about the topics of his questions. He asked questions about the society, justice and righteousness, but he also focused on questions that encourage self-reflection. Introspection​, or the examination of oneself through the analysis of the meaning of one’s life, was given emphasis on his philosophy. According to Socrates, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”. He prompted people to think about things that matter most in life – courage, love, the soul, etc. During the Medieval period, Christianity was at its peak. It provided answers to questions the ancient philosophers have started. Questions about the meaning of life, death, purpose, and how one should lead his life have been answered through the revelation of God’s word. Many have turned to religion to find their life’s meaning. It starts with the idea that there exists an 9 ​ all-knowing (omniscient), an all-powerful (omnipotent) and an all-present (omnipresent) Supreme Being who created the world and all the creatures in it, including human beings. This leads to the belief that the Supreme Being has chosen a certain path for man even before he is conceived, and it is the man’s task to discover and walk through it. Many theologians and philosophers like St. Augustine have written different works to describe the nature of God, how man can be in accordance to God’s will, religious concepts like the soul, the Holy Trinity, and virtues that would guide man towards a meaningful life. However, there are people who do not adhere to the idea of religion, as it poses unanswered questions about God’s existence. Religion may explain everything about the meaning of life, but it does not provide an explanation for itself nor answer its fundamental premise of where God comes from. Hence, some people have chosen to find meaning by themselves. During the Second World War, there have been countless casualties even after it has ended. It was a time that the individual was given paramount importance. Since the war has destroyed lives and cities, people started to value their lives in a greater way than before. It is during this time that the philosophical school of thought called ​Existentialism has become even more popular. Its most famous proponent, Jean-Paul Sartre, was a French philosopher who is widely known for his words, “Existence precedes essence.” He referred to “essence” as meaning or purpose. Contrary to a religious perspective wherein man already has a purpose assigned to him by a supreme being even before he existed in the world, Sartre’s view is that man does not have a purpose yet when he is born. Man existed first, without meaning or purpose, and as he goes through his life, he creates the meaning and purpose for himself. For the Existentialists, it is the individual, not the society who can provide meaning in his own life. Freedom, responsibility, and authenticity are the virtues that Existentialism has focused on. For example, you were assigned a project by your teacher. You have formed a group and your groupmates chose you as their leader. In this situation, you have the ​freedom to choose whether you will accept the leadership or not. Whatever you choose, it would lead to certain events that you should be ​responsible for based on your choice. If you choose to accept the 10 ​ leadership and the project becomes a success, it’s your responsibility. If it fails, it is still your responsibility. ​Authenticity​, on the other hand, is the virtue of being true to oneself, to your own desires and character. If you made the choice of accepting the leadership, the question is about whether it is your ​true wish. Existentialists upholds authenticity, as being true to oneself can we get to know ourselves and provide meaning to it. Existentialists believed that people who pretend and are not honest with themselves and their actions are acting on ​bad faith​. Since the ancient times, many philosophers have attempted to put meaning on the life in this world. Some even think that there is no meaning at all – that whatever accomplishments humanity has, it would still perish one day. Some think that it doesn’t have to be meaningless at all – that we can still find meaning in small-scale, in our seemingly mundane everyday lives, and keep our attention to it until it goes to an end. Check Your Understanding Answer the following questions substantially. 1. What did Socrates mean by, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”? 2. How do people find the meaning of life with a religious perspective? 3. How did the Second World War give rise to Existentialism? 11 ​  Philosophy Applied Most of our lives are governed by routine: we wake up in the morning, take a bath, eat our meals, go to school to study and see our friends, go back home and finish our homework, and sleep. Tomorrow, we do the same. We may have a bit of a break during the weekends to spend some more time with our family, but afterwards, we would go back to our routine. Our lives may change after we graduate and get to work, but we would still settle to a certain routine in our lives. What is it all for? Why do we do it at all? What is the meaning in all of it? 12 ​  ​Be the Philosopher! Suggested Learning Tasks Task: On a paper, write down three philosophical questions about man, life, and how he finds meaning in this world. Leave a sufficient space between each question. Then, find a partner whom you can exchange and answer the papers with. If applicable, provide examples based on your own experiences to strengthen the argument of your answers. Afterwards, share your questions, answers, and examples to your class, and start an exchange of views and ideas. Criteria Beginning Developing Accomplishe Score d (0-12 points) (13-16 points) (17-20 points) Content The ideas The The are presentation presentation unoriginal, expressed expressed a unclear, and good and lot of ideas, does not on-point and contribute ideas, but effectively to the topic. with only a incorporates few points the that philosophies, incorporate and tells the multiple philosophies. thoughts and concepts that are stimulating. Organization The flow of The flow of The flow of the the the presentation presentation presentation 13 ​  cannot be is organized, can be understood although understood and needs there are well and is improvemen some points very t. The ideas that needed organized. needed clarification. There is clear more and smooth organization transition. from one point to another. Conventions The writers The writers The writers did not followed complied to follow the some of the all the instructions, instructions instructions and the task but also did provided, and was not not adhere to the task was well-execute the others, well-executed d. but the task. was still well-executed. Total Score: ​Philosophy & I: Check and Reflect Mark the appropriate boxes that define your understanding of the lessons. I think I need more I have a minimal I am confident that I Skills understanding of it. can do this with ease. time and assistance. 14 ​ I can define the terms and ideas used in the lessons. I can use the method of philosophy to see the big picture of every situation I am in. I can apply the discussed philosophies in my life and the society where I belong. Wrap Up The dialectic method of philosophizing is a method of discovering the truth through a question and answer process. It is a two-way exchange of ideas between two parties with differing points of view. Both the Socratic and Hegelian dialectic methods allow the thinkers to learn from each other’s perspective to arrive at a broader view of life. Socratic dialogue:​ Questions Answers Hegelian dialectics: T ​ hesis Antithesis Synthesis The meaning of one’s life is an in-depth and personal endeavor one must take throughout its course. The examination of one’s life contributes to its significance makes one’s existence more profound. Some people makes their life meaningful through religion. They see their lives as a journey of discovering one’s purpose in order to fulfill the will of God. While others choose to create the meaning for themselves through an exercise of freedom, responsibility, and authenticity. 15 ​  Bibliography Gould, James A. and Mulvaney, Robert J. 2007. ​Classic Philosophical Questions​, 12​th​ ed. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, Inc. Nagel, Thomas. 1987. ​What Does It All Mean?: A Very Short Introduction To Philosophy​. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. Palmer, Donald. 2002. D ​ oes The Center Hold?: An Introduction to Western Philosophy​. USA: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Plato. ​The Trial And Death Of Socrates: Four Dialogues​. Translated by Benjamin Jowett. New York: Tudor Publishing Company, 1992. Answers to Check Your Understanding ​Lesson 1: ​The Bigger Picture 1. A vaccine shot does not prevent a child from getting sick. 2. Genetically Modified Organisms are not (necessarily) harmful to the body. 3. Men are not (necessarily) better drivers than women. 4. Philosophy is not boring and unimportant. 5. Teenagers are not impulsive and irresponsible. Lesson 2: ​The Picture Within 1. What did Socrates mean by, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”? Socrates put value on self-reflection. “The unexamined life is not worth living.” is meant for us to realize that we should analyze our lives and get to know ourselves better so 16 ​  we can proceed to it in a more meaningful way. Our lives would only be worth living if we know who we are and act on decisions that are well-founded and carefully examined. 2. How do people find the meaning of life in a religious perspective? People who believe in the existence of a supreme being also believe that they have been created for a purpose – that God has laid out a plan for their lives. In a religious perspective, people find meaning by studying and attempting to understand the will of God. Once they have fulfilled their purpose, their live would come to an end and they shall be reunited with God. 3. How did the Second World War give rise to Existentialism? The devastation brought by the war made people realize that each life is, indeed, precious and short. An individual’s life was put into the spotlight, and that individuality, instead of the society, should be given emphasis. This has led Existential philosophers to write on how one can provide a more meaningful experience to make life more profound and significant. Glossary 1. Antithesis – ​the direct opposite of a thesis 2. Authenticity – t​ he virtue of being true to one’s character or personality 3. Dialectics – t​ he method of philosophical discussion through a dialogue 4. Existentialism – a ​ 20​th​ century school of thought that focused on individual existence 5. Introspection – t​ he act of reflecting about oneself; an inspection of the self 6. Synthesis – ​the product of presenting the antithesis towards the thesis to attain a higher form of truth 7. Thesis – ​a prevailing idea or proposition 17 ​