Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person PDF, SY 2024-2025, Quarter 1, Handout 1

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON K to 12 BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL – CORE SUBJECT QUARTER 2 HAND QUARTER 1 HAND OUT...

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON K to 12 BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL – CORE SUBJECT QUARTER 2 HAND QUARTER 1 HAND OUT OUT 1 2 SY 2024 2025 QUARTER Contents Standards Performance Standards Most Essential Learning Competencies 1 The learner understands the The learner reflects on a concrete 1.1 Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial meaning and process of doing experience in a philosophical way. point of view philosophy Week 1 PPT11/12-Ia-1.1 LESSON I – WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? WISDOM AND SIMPLE LIVING WILL RESULT IN A LIFE FREE OF FEAR AND PAIN PHILOSOPHY 6. SOCRATES ( 470 BCE to 399 BCE ) – considered the foremost - presented as a study and discipline that enables a person to attain philosopher of ancient time and made great contributions to the a broad understanding and perspective in life through field of ETHICS known CRITIC OF INTELLECTUALS during his REFLECTION time but DID NOT CLAIM to be “wise” and merely a “midwife” that - a way of analyzing ideas and frameworks and a REFLECTIVE and helped inquiring minds achieve WISDOM believed that philosophy MEDITATIVE activity could enable a man to live a LIFE OF VIRTUE credited with - enables us to attain a broad and deep perspective on life through formulating the DELIBERATE and CAREFUL THINKING, the USE OF REFLECTION, and EMPLOYING HOLISTIC THINKING in SOCRATIC METHOD a means of examining a topic by devising a understanding life situations and challenges series of questions that let the learner examine and analyze his - through philosophy, a person can APPRECIATE LIFE knowledge and views regarding the topic EXPERIENCES as vital components that gives MEANING TO LIFE 7. PLATO ( 427 BCE to 347 BCE ) – a student of Socrates, he wrote down his mentor’s teaching and incorporated some of his ideas into HELPFUL TOOLS IN ENGAGING IN PHILOSOPHY: them; his teachings and writings were considered the FOUNDATION 1. reflection OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY ; significant ideas include THEORY 2. holistic thinking OF FORMS – proposes that everything that exists is based on an idea or template that can only be perceived in the mind; these ESSENCE OF PHILOSOPHY: search for answers to life’s questions nonphysical ideas are ETERNAL and UNCHANGING focused his studies on the ideal society and proposed an ideal model of PHILOSOPHY GOVERNMENT and SOCIETY which is ruled by WISDOM and - comes from two Greek words: philos (love) and sophia (wisdom) REASON ; known for his DIALECTIC (method of inquiry where two - ancient Greeks used this term to refer to “love of wisdom” and soon opposing ideas are discussed in an attempt to arrive at new applied it to the study or discipline that uses human reason to knowledge) ; his lasting contribution to learning was the founding of investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and principles which the ACADEMY – an institution of higher learning which was the first govern all things of its kind in the Western World 8. ARISTOTLE ( 384 BCE to 322 BCE ) – he attended the ACADEMY, WISDOM - one intended product of philosophizing because it’s an ability and was a prominent STUDENT OF PLATO, however, DISAGREED to discern inner qualities and relationships WITH Plato’s Theory of Forms and took a different stance in interpreting reality; for him, all ideas and views are based on PHILOSOPHERS – people who engage in philosophy perception and our reality is based on what we can sense and - lovers of wisdom perceive – this view greatly influenced the study of the PHYSICAL SCIENCE - was involved in a great variety of disciplines such as NOTABLE ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHERS: ZOOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, ETHICS, and POLITICS ;proposed a 1. PYTHAGORAS ( 570 BCE to 495 BCE ) – a mathematician and system for the classification of plants and animals; his studies in scientist credited with formulating the Pythagorean Theorem. - LOGIC led to the formulation of a formal process of analyzing established a community of learners who were devoted to the study reasoning which gave rise to DEDUCTIVE of religion and philosophy REASONING (the process by which specific statements are 2. HERACLITUS ( 535 BCE to 475 BCE ) – he proposed that analyzed to reach a conclusion or generalization) everything that exists is based on a higher order or plan which he called logos. For him, CHANGE is a permanent aspect of the WESTERN PHILOSOPHY – emergence started in the developments human condition as he was credited with the saying, “ NO MAN that started in ancient Greece - throughout the centuries became more EVER STEPS IN THE SAME RIVER TWICE.” systematic and specialized in its approach 3. DEMOCRITUS ( 460 BCE to 370 BCE ) – he devoted himself to EASTERN PHILOSOPHY – emerged from the communities and the CAUSES OF NATURAL PHENOMENA and was among the civilizations in Asia; more fluid and places greater emphasis on social first to propose that MATTER is composed of tiny particles called relations, the family and community ATOMS. 4. DIOGENES OF SINOPE ( 412 BCE to 323 BCE ) – known as FOUR ( 4 ) MAJOR PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS: advocate of living a simple and virtuous life; one should not only TALK OF VIRTUE but should show it in WORDS and ACTIONS. - 1. What is real? Are we able to perceive and his emphasis on AUSTERITY and SIMPLICITY often went to the understand reality and everything in it? extreme, and he was said to have lived like a BEGGAR - also 2. How do we know what we know? Are the known to be a vocal CRITIC OF well-known philosophers such as PLATO and ARISTOTLE ; his teachings and views influenced the things that we know true? development of several SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHY such as 3. What is the ultimate cause of all things? CYNICISM and STOICISM 5. EPICURUS ( 321 BCE to 270 BCE ) – believed that philosophy What is our purpose in this world? could enable man to live a life of happiness and his views gave rise 4. To what extent are our choices and to EPICUREANISM – a school of philosophy which believes that actions considered “free”? Source : Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person by Abella, Roberto D., M.Div., D.Min., 2016  INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON K to 12 BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL – CORE SUBJECT QUARTER 2 HAND QUARTER 1 HAND OUT OUT 1 2 SY 2024 2025 WHY IS THERE A NEED TO PHILOSOPHIZE? 6. Philosophy makes sense of information gathered from various 1. SENSE OF WONDER – whenever we are confronted with an fields of knowledge (e.g. science, psychology, economics, experience, we always wonder how it came about - man’s over politics, etc.) – philosophy does not limit itself to its own field, by bounding curiosity drives him to ask questions, some of which integrating and synthesizing them to have a DEEPER and more have no definite answers COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF REALITY 2. DOUBT – French philosopher Rene Descartes considered this as ********************************************************************************* a reason why people philosophize. In life, we will be faced with PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON several ideas and arguments which present themselves as an AREA in philosophy that understands the human person from “truths.” a philosophical perspective – integrating and synthesizing the 3. EXPERIENCE – 20th-Century Swiss-German philosopher Karl different branches of philosophy and other fields of study to Jaspers believed that man is often confronted by experiences KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HUMAN PERSON which challenge his ideas and framework which he called LIMIT SITUATIONS accompanied by feelings of helplessness, anxiety WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOLISTIC THINKING AND an dread. PARTIAL THINKING? 4. LOVE OF WISDOM – to love wisdom is to have an insatiable desire for truth; seeks to continue to question, to probe, and to HOLISTIC THINKING discuss in order to get to the bottom of things  a perspective that considers the “bigger picture” when looking at problems and situations “ I know that I do not know… “ – it is in accepting this state of  considers large-scale patterns in systems ignorance that one can begin to learn and understand - by expanding  requires an individual to have an open mindset and an ability to get our knowledge through philosophy, we begin to realize that the general sense or impression regarding the situation - can LEARNING IS UNCEASING. enable a person to step back and consider the general aspects of a certain problem “ The unexamined life is not worth living. ” Socrates’ motto - nowhere is it more appropriate to embark on PARTIAL THINKING philosophy than in an examination of our own life.  a perspective that focuses on specific aspects of a situation  an important component of analytical thinking, as an individual HOW DO WE CHARACTERIZE THE STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY? focuses on certain areas of a problem in order to understand it 1. Consider philosophy as a way of analyzing frameworks FRAMEWORK – refers to way of thinking about the world and is Though partial thinking is useful, PHILOSOPHY UTILIZES HOLISTIC made-up of a person’s views and beliefs; whenever a person THINKING IN MAKING SENSE OF PROBLEMS AND ISSUES encounters a problem or question in life, he often goes back to his RELATED TO THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. People tend to APPLY AN own framework in order to make sense of the problem ANALYTICAL PERSPECTIVE when looking at problems or situations. INTERNAL QUESTIONS – these are questions that examine personal ideas regarding correctness and values - questions ADOPTING A HOLISTIC APPROACH IN THINKING dealing with our own correctness and values which can be  encourages us not only to be more critical but also to be more addressed by our own personal frameworks considerate in dealing with others EXTERNAL QUESTIONS – seek to question the very framework  gives rise to a more appreciative perspective about life, as we upon which people base their own beliefs and views are able to look at life in its totality. This means that we try to 2. Philosophy is an examination of a particular area of knowledge understand a situation from DIFFERENT vantage points so we CENTRAL PRINCIPLE IN PHILOSOPHY – is examination and can see it more fully questioning (inquiring nature), and this is often applied in the analysis of the frameworks of other areas or sciences HOW DOES ONE ENGAGE IN REFLECTION? REFLECTION – an activity that requires a person to EXAMINE his 3. Philosophy itself is a distinct area of knowledge with its own thoughts, feelings and actions and learn from EXPERIENCE - allows goals, concerns and ways of doing things - philosophy is you an opportunity to THINK MORE DEEPLY about your action, your divided into several branches each of which deals with a particular motivations for doing such an action and even its POSSIBLE aspect of life or phenomena CONSEQUENCES ; vital in ensuring that our actions and decisions are BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY: WELL THOUGHT OUT and are done with due regard to their IMPLICATIONS and CONSEQUENCES on ourselves, others and our a. AESTHETICS – philosophy which deals with beauty and what makes surroundings ; helps us UNDERSTAND ourselves and our actions better things “ beautiful” - when we reflect, we can JUDGE whether our actions or decisions are b. LOGIC – deals with correct reasoning REASONABLE OR NOT. c. EPISTEMOLOGY – discusses the nature of knowledge and knowing d. ETHICS – deals with moral questions and dilemmas WHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL USES OF PHILOSOPHY IN OUR e. POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY – studies governments and deals with LIVES? questions of justice, power and the rights and obligations of citizens 1. Philosophy enables a person to engage in critical analysis and f. METAPHYSICS – deals with questions regarding reality and existence interpretation of concepts, definitions, arguments and problems. 2. Philosophy improves problem-solving and decision-making. 4. Philosophy is a reflective and meditative activity. 3. A philosopher is a good communicator who can clearly and 5. Philosophy is a method of mental exercise on any type of adequately present his ideas. experience - Individuals engage in philosophy when they PONDER 4. Wisdom is one intended product of philosophizing, and this refers POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES REGARDING THEIR ACTIONS. to a person’s ability to apply knowledge to daily life particularly in making SOUND CHOICES and JUDGMENT. When one imagines certain ALTERNATIVES and POSSIBLE 5. Knowledge of philosophy can contribute to self-development. OUTCOMES, one already engages in philosophy. Source : Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person by Abella, Roberto D., M.Div., D.Min., 2016