methods-of-philosophizing-1.pdf

LESSON 2 METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING  Inquire and Discover In today’s society, we receive vast amounts of information from various sources, including media, friends, and family. While much of this information is useful, some can be misleading or false, such as unproven health c...

LESSON 2 METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING  Inquire and Discover In today’s society, we receive vast amounts of information from various sources, including media, friends, and family. While much of this information is useful, some can be misleading or false, such as unproven health claims or sensationalized news  Philosophers explore the concept of truth, which is essential for validating knowledge. Truth is often debated in terms of propositions, which are statements that can be either true or false. Thus, determining the truth of information is crucial for and decision-making  What is truth and why is it important? Before we discuss truth, it is important to clarify knowledge, since it is through knowing that we are able to determine what is true. Knowledge is the clear awareness and understanding of something.  I know that.. I know why I know how These statements correspond to one important aspect of knowledge - that it is based on reality. This simply means that what we know is what is observable or evident in the real world. For example, we say that "I know that fish live in water" because fish do live in water. How do we know if something is true? There are several views regarding truth. Philosophers emphasize the importance of belief as a basis for determining truth  nature of knowledge and how we know what we know. We assume that everything we know about this world is true. But philosophers who pondered upon the origins of knowledge doubted everything that there is to know about themselves and the world. In doing so, they were able to better understand the means by which humans gain knowledge. THINK Apply systematic doubt in analyzing the following statements. Describe how you will determine their truthfulness. 1. Our classroom is tidy. 2. Our school is big. 3. I am a good student. 4. We live in a safe community.  How can philosophy guide us in distinguishing truth from opinion? Apply Now that you have an idea of how philosophizing recognizes truth, let us try and it in various situations in your life. The ideas that we encounter in everyday life can be considered as truth or opinion. But what distinguishes one from the other? Let us take a look at the following statements and determine which one states fact or opinion.  1. It takes me 30 minates to walk from my home to school. 2. Living near the school is better because we don't have to spend much for transportation. 3. My sater ate the last piece of pizza pie. 4. My sister is a selfish person because she ate the last piece of pizza pir and did not share it 5. The policeman firmly pushed the suspect to his knees and placed him in handcuffs. 6. The aggressive manner by which the policeman arrested the suspect is an example of the brutality that characterizes our police force. Analyzing these statements, you will be able to identify statements that are similar. Let's rearrange them again. 1. It takes me 30 minutes to walk from my home to school 3. My sister ate the last piece of pizza pie. 5. The policeman firmly pushed the suspect in his knees and placed him in handcuffs 6. Living near the school is better because we don't have to spend much for transportation. 4. My sister is a selfish person because she ate the last piece of pizza pie and did not share it with me. 6. The aggressive manner by which the policeman arrested the suspect is an example of the brutality that characterizes our police force.  Which column has statements that are more factual? If you answered the first column, then you are correct. Analyzing closely the statements in that column using the philosophical tools we learned, we can confidently say that they fit into the category of facts since they contain ideas or information that are easily verifiable  Verifying the time it takes to walk from home to school is possible through evidence like eyewitness accounts. The second column contrasts this by presenting opinions, which go beyond facts to offer conclusions or perspectives. These opinions may be based on beliefs, which are not easily proven by facts alone. For instance, the belief "God put me on earth to spread His message" cannot be proven solely through factual evidence.  Statements that extend beyond facts, like "my sisters selfish," often include explanations or arguments. Explanations assume the claim is true and provide reasons, while arguments aim to convince others of a claim's truthfulness. In debates, arguments from both sides are presented before a judgment is made. Logic, a branch of Philosophy, focuses on analyzing arguments, which can influence decisions and actions. However, not all arguments are truthful or equally strong. It's crucial to apply critical thinking to assess the validity of claims and avoid manipulation by those with ill intentions.  What should we consider when looking at arguments or opinions? Arguments often take the form of statements that are either claims of facts and are phrased in such a way that they seem reasonable. However, a number of arguments may be based on faulty reasoning. These kinds of arguments are called fallacies. Some of these fallacies may be intentional, as the person making the claim is desperate to convince you to accept his or her argument. The following are examples of fallacies appeal to force:using the threat of force or an undesirable event appeal to emotion:using emotions such as pity or sympathy appeal to the popular:the idea is presented as acceptable because a lot of people accept it Fallacy of division:assuming that what is true for the whole is true for its parts Fallacy of composition:assuming that what is true of a part is true for the whole Cause and effect:assuming a "cause-and- effect relationship between unrelated events: Begging the question:assuming the thing or idea to be proven is true; also known as "circular argument"  When looking at an opinion, be aware of bias or the personal views of the person presenting it. Biases are not necessarily errors in reasoning, but refer to tendencies or influences which affect the views of people. Bias cannot be avoided in any discussion or debate. What is important is that the people engaging in the discussion are aware of their personal biases and have an open but critical attitude toward other views which conflict with their own. The most common biases are enumerated on the next slide.  correspondence bias or attribution effect: tendency to judge a person's personality by his or her actions, without regard for external factors or influences confirmation bias: tendency to look for and readily accept information which fits one's own beliefs or views and to reject ideas or views that go against it Framing:focusing on a certain aspect of a problem while ignoring other aspects Hindsight:the tendency to see past events as predictable, or to ascribe a pattern to historical events Conflict of interest:a person or group is connected to or has a vested interest in the issue being discussed Cultural bias:analyzing an event or issue based on one's cultural standards  How can an understanding of the difference between truth and opinion lead us to wisdom? An understanding of opinions and facts and the means to distinguish one from the other can further improve our understanding and appreciation of varied views and ideas. The ability to determine truth goes hand in hand with the holistic perspective and enables us to make wiser decisions, especially in choosing the ideas and views which we find acceptable. Go over the various views on this issue and decide which opinion has the most number of verifiable claims and arguments. If an opinion is more truthful, does it immediately mean that it is most acceptable to you? Understand that you have your own bias and perspective which play a huge influence in your decisions. Which among the opinions is most similar to your own personal bias regarding  Do you consider drug addicts as human persons or as criminals? Do you know a drug addict or a drug user? Do you consider that person a criminal or a person? Have you ever been affected by problems related to drug addiction? How did it make you feel? Do you believe that killing drug addicts is an effective way of solving the problem of drug addiction? Do you believe that drug addicts deserve to die for being drug addicts? Let us philosophize further and come up with philosophical questions about the issue. Let's start with these:  If drug addiction is a crime and drug addicts are criminals, does this mean that any other form of addiction is also a crime? Can people addicted to coffee be considered criminals? If we get rid of the drug addicts but not the drug manufacturers and pushers, do we solve the problem of drug addiction? Are we just getting rid of the symptoms but not the causes of the problem?  Your own reflection on your thoughts and ideas regarding the issue, together with enable you to make a wise decision an objective evaluation of opinions on the matter will regarding the most acceptable view. This is important since your views will define your actions regarding this issue. If you believe that killing drug addicts is not the best means of solving the problem of drug addiction, what will you do? If, on the other hand, you support the killing of drug addicts, how will this view affect your actions? End of lesson 2