Philosophy Reviewer PDF

LESSON 1: WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY PHILOSOPHY - Study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life. - Comes from the Greek words: Philos (love) and Sophia (wisdom) - To attain a broad understanding and perspective in life through reflection. - Employing holistic thinking in...

LESSON 1: WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY PHILOSOPHY - Study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life. - Comes from the Greek words: Philos (love) and Sophia (wisdom) - To attain a broad understanding and perspective in life through reflection. - Employing holistic thinking in understanding life situations and challenges. HELPFUL TOOLS IN ENGAGING IN PHILOSOPHY 1) Reflection 2) Holistic thinking SIMPLE QUESTION - What is this? SERIOUS QUESTION - Why did I fail? DEEP QUESTION - Why do good people suffer? ESSENCE OF PHILOSOPHY - Search for answers to life questions. WISDOM - Ability to discern inner qualities and relationships. PHILOSOPHERS - People who engage in philosophy. NOTABLE ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHERS: 1) PYTHAGORAS - Credited with formulating the Pythagorean Theorem. - Established a community of learners who were devoted to the study of religion and philosophy. 2) HERACLITUS - For him change is a permanent aspect of the human condition. - “No man ever steps in the same river twice” 3) DEMOCRITUS - He devoted himself to the causes of Natural Phenomena. - First to propose that matter is composed of tiny particles called atoms. 4) DIOGENES OF SINOPE - Advocate of living simple and virtuous life; not only talk of virtue but should show it in words and actions. - Also known to be a vocal critic of well-known philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. 5) EPICURUS - Believe that philosophy could enable man to live a life of happiness. EPICUREANISM - A school of philosophy which believes that wisdom and simple living will result in a life free of fear and pain. 6) SOCRATES - Made great contributions to the field of ethics. - Believe that philosophy could able a man to live a life of virtue.  7) PLATO - His teachings and writings were considered the foundation of western philosophy. THEORY OF FORMS - Propose that everything that exists is based on an idea that can only be perceived in mind; eternal and unchanging DIALECTIC - Method of inquiry where two opposing ideas are discussed. ACADEMY - An institution of higher learning which was the first of its kind in the Western World. 8) ARISTOTLE - Disagreed with Plato's Theory of Forms and took a different stance in interpreting reality. - All ideas and views are based on what we can sense and perceive; this view greatly influenced the study of Physical Science. DEDUCTIVE REASONING - The process by which scientific statements are analyzed to reach a conclusion or generalization. WESTERN PHILOSOPHY - Started in Ancient Greece. EASTERN PHILOSOPHY - Civilizations in Asia. WHY IS THERE A NEED TO PHILOSOPHIZE 1) SENSE OF WONDER - Whenever we are confronted with an experience, we always wonder how it came about. - The Greek philosopher PLATO believed that philosophy is brought by man's sense of wonder. 2) DOUBT - French philosopher RENE DESCARTES considered doubt as a reason why people philosophize. - Descartes' method of examining ideas and perspectives became the basis of critical thinking and analysis in sciences. 3) EXPERIENCE - Swiss - German philosopher KARL JASPER believed that man was often confronted by experiences which challenged his ideas and framework. - Limit situations accompanied by feelings of helplessness, anxiety and dread. 4) LOVE OF WISDOM - To love wisdom is to have an insatiable desire for truth. - Seeks to continue to question, to probe, and to discuss in order to get to the bottom of things. ACCORDING TO SOCRATES: “I know what I do not know” “The unexamined life is not worth living” LEARNING IS UNCEASING - There is a lot more to learn and experience in life. FRAMEWORK - Refers to way of thinking about the world and is made up of a person's view and belief. INTERNAL QUESTIONS - These are questions that examine personal ideas regarding correctness and values. EXTERNAL QUESTIONS - Question the very framework upon which people base their own belief and views. CENTRAL PRINCIPLE IN PHILOSOPHY - Is the examination and questioning. BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY: a) AESTHETIC - Deals with beauty and what makes things beautiful. b) LOGIC - Deals with correct reasoning. c) EPISTEMOLOGY - Discusses the nature of knowledge and knowing. d) ETHICS - Deals with moral questions and dilemmas. e) POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY - Studies governments and deals with questions of justice, power and the rights and obligations of citizens. f) METAPHYSICS - Deals with questions regarding reality and existence. PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON - An area in philosophy that understands the human person from a philosophical perspective. PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE - Know the truth about the human person. HOLISTIC THINKING - A perspective that considers the “bigger picture” when looking at problems and situations. PARTIAL THINKING - A perspective that focuses on specific aspects of a situation. REFLECTION - An activity that requires a person to examine his thoughts, feelings and actions and learn from experience. CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS - Can help us avoid being tricked by false claims and manipulative schemes. SELF KNOWLEDGE - Grows along with ones understanding of the world and this is essential to the realization of the self. PHILOSOPHY - Is the study that uses human reason to investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and principles which govern all things. REFLECTING - Enables a person to gain that will help in decision making. LESSON 2: METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING - PHILOSOPHY is concerned with determining truth since it lies at the heart of any inquiry. - PHILOSOPHERS explore the nature of knowledge and the ways of knowing. METHODS OF PHILOSOPHY - Applied in determining truth and evaluating opinions. - Guides in distinguishing fact from opinion and identifying fallacies and bias. - Leads to wisdom and truth. DETERMINING TRUTH - Is useful because it enables us to distinguish truthful claims from false ones. PROPOSITIONS - Statement about the world or reality that may or may not carry the truth. - Usually stated as short statements or sentences. WHAT IS TRUTH AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? It is through knowing that we are able to determine what is true. KNOWLEDGE - The clear awareness and understanding of something. - The product of questions that allow clear answers provided by facts. - Must be truthful to gain validity and acceptance FACTS - These are statements which are observed to be real or truthful. - Can be proven right or wrong. - Based on evidence. CLAIMS - Statements that are not evidently known to be true. - Need to be examined to determine whether they are true or false. TRUTHFUL STATEMENTS - Can be considered as based on facts. HOW CAN PHILOSOPHY GUIDE US IN DISTINGUISHING TRUTH FROM OPINION? OPINION - A statement that is in need of further justification. - This is comprised of statement that provides views on a certain matter CONCLUSION - This is a judgment based on certain facts. - The conclusion itself could still be contested or questioned. BELIEFS - Statements that express convictions that are not easily and clearly explained by facts. EXPLANATIONS - Statements that assume the claim to be true and provide reasons why the statement is true. ARGUMENTS - Series of statements that provide reasons to convince a person that a claim or opinion is truthful. LOGIC - Is the branch of philosophy that focuses on the analysis of arguments. WHAT SHOULD WE CONSIDER WHEN LOOKING AT ARGUMENTS OR OPINIONS? FALLACY- Arguments that are based on faulty reasoning. Examples of Fallacies: 1) AD HOMINEM - Attacking the person presenting the argument instead of the argument itself. 2) APPEAL TO FORCE - Using the threat of force or an undesirable event to advance an argument. 3) APPEAL TO EMOTION - Using emotions such as pity or sympathy. 4) APPEAL TO THE POPULAR - The idea is presented as acceptable because a lot of people accept it. 5) APPEAL TO TRADITION - The idea is acceptable because it has been true for a long time. 6) BEGGING THE QUESTION - Assuming the thing or idea to proven is true also known as circular argument. 7) CAUSE AND EFFECT - Assuming a cause and effect relationship between unrelated events. 8) FALLACY OF COMPOSITION - Assuming that what is true of a part is true for the whole. 9) FALLACY OF DIVISION - Assuming that what is true for the whole is true for its parts. BIAS - Personal views of the person presenting. - These are tendencies or influences that affect the views of people. 1) CORRESPONDENCE BIAS / ATTRIBUTION EFFECT - Tendency to judge a person's personality by his actions.  2) CONFIRMATION BIAS - Look for and readily accept information which fits one's own beliefs or rejects the ideas that go against it. 3) FRAMING - Focusing on a certain aspect of a problem while ignoring other aspects. 4) HINDSIGHT - Tendency to see past events as predictable/ pattern to historical events 5) CONFLICT OF INTEREST - A person or group is connected or vested interest in the issue being discussed. 6) CULTURAL BIAS - Analyzing an event based on ones cultural standard. LESSON 3 - THE HUMAN PERSON AS AN EMBODIED SPIRIT - Philosophers consider the human person as defined by the union of the body and the spirit. - The human person is an embodied spirit, they are also integrated with each other. - This means that we cannot separate the two (body and spirit). - Whatever affects the body also affect the spirit, enables him or her to experience both the physical world and the spiritual world. MAN - General term commonly used to the entire human race; related terms include humanity, mankind, and humankind. HUMAN - Refers to man as a species - Homo sapiens sapiens or modern human beings. HUMAN BEING - Used to distinguish man from other animals. PERSON - Refers to a human being granted recognition of certain rights, protection, responsibilities, and dignity, above all. HUMAN PERSON - Totality of an individual possessing awareness, self-determination and the capacity to interact with others. PERSONHOOD - Refers to the state of being a person. HUMAN NATURE - Characteristics that distinguish humans from all other creatures that includes thinking, feeling and acting. THINKING, FEELING AND ACTING - These traits are considered to form the essence of humanity, and without them, an individual may not be considered a human person. TRAITS / CHARACTERISTICS OF A HUMAN PERSON: 1) SELF-AWARENESS - Refers to the person having a clear perception of oneself, including his or her thoughts, emotions. identity, and actions. The person is defined by a deeper awareness which is driven by rationality or human thought. A person is aware of both his or her surroundings and himself or herself. A human person knows that he or she is living an experience and is an active participant in this experience. This awareness gives rise to the notion of the "SELF". SELF - Person who is actively aware that he or she is perceiving and experiencing reality. - Enables us to reach out and interact with things outside of ourselves. - Enables us to experience an "inner world". INNER WORLD - Defined by our thoughts and ideas - Allows a person to create goals, dreams, and plans. INTERIORITY - The quality of being focused on one's inner life and identity. - Enables persons to exercise creativity. CREATIVITY - Allows us to imagine. (Sky in different colors, draw fantastic animals) - A person can create something that does not yet exist outside. The fact that we can daydream, get lost in our thoughts, imagine, fantasize, and reflect shows that we are able to reach within ourselves and experience interiority. 2) SELF-DETERMINATION - 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. We are persons because we act and we are aware of our actions. FREEWILL - Capacity to choose a course of action from various alternatives.  - Enables us to do actions whenever we want to and makes self-determination possible The existence of free will enables a person to: - Act willfully. - Control his or her actions. - Recognize himself or herself as the source of action. - Awareness of consequences of his actions. CONSEQUENCE - The result or effect of an action or condition. As persons, we are aware that each action we perform has a consequence. Philosophers assume that a person acts freely and with due regard for the consequences of his actions. Reflection is needed to uncover the intentions and consequences of our actions. There can be unintended consequences of the action. MORALITY - The goodness or badness of an action. Human action is an important aspect of the person. Philosophers consider human action to reveal a person's true nature. (For example, we may find a person attractive, but if he or she acts in a rude or offensive manner, our initial favorable impression may change) Through action that a person is able to explore and fulfill his or her potential. 3) EXTERNALITY - The capability to reach out and interact with others and the world. - A person never exists in isolation. - Man has a natural tendency to seek out fellow human beings. - We grow and develop not only through our thoughts and actions, but also through the influence of other people in our lives, and the individuals we interact with. Philosophers consider man a social being, and that a person never exists in isolation. Our interaction with others defines our existence as a person. 4) DIGNITY - Right to be valued and respected. - Philosophers consider all humans as having an inherent worth or value. HUMAN DIGNITY - Is rooted in the nature of the human being. - Human person has dignity simply because of the fact that he or she is human. - Human dignity also drives us to seek what is good. TRAITS / CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HUMAN PERSON: - Has awareness of self. - has self- determination. - Is able to reach and interact with others. - Has dignity. WHAT IS IN OUR HUMAN NATURE THAT ENABLES US TO BECOME PERSON? BODY - A person is truly defined by his or her body and what he or she experiences through the senses. - It is the tangible element of the person. SPIRIT - The unseen aspects of the human person. - Comes from the Latin word for “breath”. - This refers to the intangible element of the person. INTANGIBLE ELEMENT - Enables us to exercise thought, possess awareness, interiority, and the capacity to reach out to the outside world and other persons. EMBODIMENT - Enables us to do and experience all things that make us human person. EXPERIENCE - a product of embodiment. PLATO: DICHOTOMY 3 PARTS OF THE SOUL: 1) APPETITIVE - Thirst, hunger and physical wants. 2) SPIRITUAL - Abomination, anger, and emotional feelings. 3) RATIONAL- Think, reflect, analyze, comprehend, and draw conclusions. RATIONAL SOUL - Guides the spiritual and appetitive soul. SPIRITUAL AND APPETITIVE SOULS - Described as the motion and activity of the human person. ARISTOTLE: - Anything that has life has soul. - The term soul is the English translation of the Greek word “psyche”. SOUL - Animator of the body. BODY - The matter to the soul. 3 LEVELS OF SOUL: 1) PLANTS - Vegetative 2) ANIMALS - Sensitive 3) HUMANS - Rational; capable of thinking; highest level of soul is present CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY - The inseparable union of body and soul. EMBODIED SPIRIT - The body is not separate from the soul, just as the soul is not separate from the body. LIMITATIONS OF THE HUMAN PERSON 1) FAILURE - Our failure confronts our weaknesses and limitations. 2) VULNERABILITY - Accepting our dependency on others. 3) LONELINESS - Can be rooted from our sense of vulnerability, and fear of death 4) LOVE - Is to experience richness, positivity, and transcendence. TRANSCENDENCE - Ability to surpass limits. TRANS - Go beyond SCANDARE - Climb Our mind is an important tool that allows us to go beyond many of our physical limits. ESSENCE OF TRANSCENDENCE To acknowledge our limitations. Identify possibilities for development. Change ourselves for the better. - goodluck (nath)