Introduction of Philosophy in Human Person: First Quarter
Introduction of Philosophy in Human Person: First Quarter
PHILOSOPHY IN
HUMAN PERSON
First Quarter
Unit I. The Human Person in the
Twenty-First Century
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This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators both from
public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in helping the learners meet the
standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming their personal, social, and economic
constraints in schooling.
This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent learning
activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help learners acquire the needed
21st century skills while taking into consideration their needs and circumstances.
In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of the module:
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you are expected to encourage and assist the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
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and purpose. Through our hands we may learn, create and accomplish. Hence, the hand in this
learning resource signifies that you as a learner is capable and empowered to successfully achieve the
relevant competencies and skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in your own
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This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for guided and
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competencies you are expected to learn in the
module.
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We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and gain deep
understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!
What I Need To Know
FIRST GRADING PERIOD: The meaning and method of doing philosophy in relced ation to the human
person as an embodied being in the world and the environment.
STANDARD CONTENT: The student is able to show an understanding of the activity of doing
philosophy of the human person as an embodied being in the world and the environment.
FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPT: The student is able to understand the meaning and process of doing
philosophy of the human person as an embodied being in the world and the environment as a means
toward a holistic and balanced growth in the intellectual, emotional, cultural, spiritual and financial areas
of life.
Lesson 6: Intersubjectivity
Lesson
Pursuing Wisdom and Facing Challenges in
1 the Twenty-First Century
The key elements in many educational reforms are diversity, difference and choice or other
proposals that establish separate curricular routes for different groups or individuals. Diversity in values
beliefs, background and experiences make each person unique (i.e., biology, ethnicity and culture,
family life, beliefs, geography, experiences and religion). Sometimes we have difficulty in accepting
others because they are different from us. Yet, such behavior can limit a person’s opportunities or can
make the person feel excluded or aggrieved. Educational challenge in the twenty-first century entails
how to deal appropriately with cultural and racial differences where one does not need to engage in
harassment and discrimination of any form.
This book developed on the distinct frame regarding challenging educational reforms. The
rationale for revising the General Education curriculum for Philippine higher and basic education
systems came from a viewpoint that adheres to a more holistic and less disciplinal program where the
Enhance Basic Education Act of 2013 or the Republic Act No. 10533 (signed on May 15, 2013)
curriculum hinges on. It is thus crucial that the book underpins philosophical quests more generally.
The grade 12 students must have acquired upon graduation the content and competencies undertaken
in this book.
Etymologically, the word “philosophy” comes from two greek words, PHILO meaning “to love”, and
SOPHIA meaning “wisdom”. Philosophy originally meant, “love of wisdom” and in a broad sense,
wisdom is still the goal of philosophy. Philosophy is also defined as the attitude of the mind that by
natural light of reason studies the first causes or the highest principles of all things. Under this
definition, four things are to be considered:
Principle of Identity – whatever is is; and whatever is not is not; everything is what it is.
Everything is its own being and not being is not being. It means a thing, idea or person
always has a name, a concept, and a characteristic for that thing to exist.
Principle of Non-Contradiction – it is impossible for a thing to be and not to be at the
same time, and at the same respect.
Principle of Excluded Middle – a thing is either is or is not; everything must be either
be or not be; between being and not being, there is no middle ground possible.
Principle of Sufficient Reason – nothing exists without a sufficient reason foe its being
and existence.
Since its beginnings, however, the focus and scope of philosophy have changed. Early Greek
philosophers studied aspects of the natural world and human civilizations that later became separate
sciences –astronomy, physics, psychology and sociology. On the other hand, certain basic problems –
the nature of the universe, the standard of justice, the validity of knowledge, the correct application of
reason, and the criteria of beauty and truth – have been the domains of philosophy from its beginnings
to the present.
Universal and fundamental problems are the subject matter of the five branches of philosophy –
metaphysics, ethics, epistemology, logic and aesthetics. These branches will be discussed in the next
topic. There are also special branches of philosophy like philosophy of science, philosophy of state,
philosophy of politics, philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of education, philosophy of law,
philosophy of language and others.
Finally, in attaining wisdom, there is a need for emptying. Emptying is suspending one’s
judgment and conclusion about a matter and mentally exploring the pros and cons, the characteristics,
and the purpose of an idea or situation. This means pushing ourselves not to be affected by our
personal biases and stereotypes so we can make an objective and fair assessment of things. Without
the virtue of emptying, students will only learn partial philosophy that is knowledge-based without
becoming holistic (i.e., acquiring wisdom through various dimensions of being human including the
psychological, social, emotional, and moral aspects).
What’s In
Time: 1-minute (but really up to 5-7 minutes) at the end of a class or assignment
Activity 1.2
1. Provide students with a short set of questions (2-4) you would like them to briefly reflect on. Be
sure to emphasize responses are to be short.
2. Each student then records their answers and submits them to you.
3. As needed, follow up on comments. Be sure to summarize and respond to any important
questions or issues that arise in the students’ responses the following class.
QUESTIONS:
What was the most important thing you learned during this class?
What questions remained unanswered? Or, Something that confused me or I want clarified)
Summarize the main point of today’s lecture in one sentence.
What was the most useful or meaningful thing you learned from this assignment?
In your own words, explain the major point in this assignment.
Write the question related to this assignment that you would like to have answered in class.
What is It
After examining the definitions of Philosophy, this section will distinguish its branches where
recognition of various human activities emanated from deliberate reflection and dialogues. Many of the
most vital issues of philosophy are still disputed and have unsettled questions at present.
Nevertheless, one of the greatest needs of anyone seeking “wisdom” is genuine sympathy or an
understanding of all the most diverse points of view (holistic perspective). A narrow provincialism of
mind, limited to the ideas and outlook of a single party or a single age (partial perspective) is wholly
incompatible with the philosophical attitude.
The Branches of Philosophy
A. METAPHYSICS
In our everyday attempts to understand the world in terms of appearance and reality, we
try to make things comprehensible and sensible in the ordinary way of understanding the world
by simplifying or reducing the mass of things we call appearance to a relatively fewer the
number of things we call reality. Reality here is referred to metaphysics as “true reality”,
meaning, it is the fundamental source and basis of all reality in the world and in existence.
Metaphysics assumes that the reality we see with our eyes is just a temporary cover of
the true reality that exists beyond what our senses could perceive.
B. ETHICS
Ethics is the branch of philosophy that explores the nature of moral virtue and evaluates the
morality and virtue of human actions. Ethicists who study morality from the perspective of
philosophy appeal to logical arguments to justify claims and positions involving morality. They
use ethical theory in the analysis and deliberation of issues.
Whereas religion has often helped motivate individuals to obey the laws and moral code of their
society, philosophy is not content with traditional or habitual ethics but adapts a critical. It insists
that obedience to moral law be given a rational foundation. In thought of Socrates, we see the
beginning of a transition from a traditional, religion-based morality to philosophical ethics.
4. VIRTUE ETHICS – what kind of person I ought to be. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle are some
examples. This ethical theory ignores the consequences, duties and social contracts.
Instead, it focuses on character development of individuals and their acquisition of good
virtue ethics.
5. RELATIVISM – what does my culture or society think I thought to do? The divine command
discusses how personal religious beliefs and spiritual attitudes are specially important
personal commitments that are relevant to personal and professional lives. For utilitarianism,
self-interest should enter into our calculations of the overall good. Duty ethics emphasizes
our duties to ourselves. Virtue ethics links our personal good with participating in
communities and social practices.
C. EPISTEMOLOGY – specifically, it deals with the nature, sources, limitations and validity of
knowledge. Epistemology questions are basic to all other philosophical inquiries. Epistemology
explains: (1) how we know what we claim to know; (2) how we can find out what we wish to
know; (3) how we can differentiate truth from falsehood. Epistemology addresses varied
problems; the reliability, extent and kinds of knowledge; truth; language; and science and
scientific knowledge. How do we acquire reliable knowledge.
Empiricism is the view that knowledge can be attained only through sense experience.
According to empiricists, real knowledge is based on what our sight, hearing, smell, and other
senses tell us is really out there, not what people make up in their heads. Knowledge for
empiricists are based on facts and evidence that we can see and perceive in the world.
D. LOGIC – Reasoning is the concern of logcisian. This could be reasoning in science and
medicine, in ethics and law, in politics and commerce, in sports and games, and in the mundane
affairs of everyday living. Varied kinds of reasoning may be used, and all are of interest to the
logician.
The term “logic” comes from the Greek word “logike” and was coined by Zeno the Stoic (c.340-
265 BC). Etymologically, it means a treatise on matters pertaining to the human thought. It is
important to underpin that logic does not provide us knowledge of the world directly, for logic is
considered a tool, and therefore, does not contribute directly to the content of our thoughts.
Logic is not interested in what we know regarding certain subjects. Its concern, rather, is the
truth or the validity of our arguments regarding such objects.
Aristotle was the first philospher to devise a logical method. He drew upon the emphasis on the
“universal” in Socrates, negation in Parmenides and Plato, and the reduction to the absurd of
Zeno of Elea. His philosophy is also based on claims about propositional structure and the body
of argumentative techniques (e.g., legal reasoning and geometrical proof).
E. AESTHETICS – when humanity has learned to make something that is useful to them, they
begin to plan and dream how to make it beautiful. What therefore is beauty? The establishment
of criteria of beauty is the function of aesthetics. Aesthetics is the science of the beautiful in its
various manifestations – including the sublime, comic, tragic, pathetic and ugly.
To experience aesthetics, therefore, means whatever experience has relevance to art, whether
the experience be that of the creative artist or of appreciation. As a branch of philosophy,
students should consider the importance of aesthetics because of the following:
1. It vitalizes our knowledge – it makes our knowledge of the world alive and useful. We go
through our days picking up a principle as a fact, here and there, and too infrequently see
how they are related. It is the part of a play, a poem, or a story to give us new insight, to
help us see new relationships between the separated items in our memories.
2. It helps us live more deeply and richly – a work of art –whether a book, a piece of music,
painting, or a television show –helps us rise from purely physical existence into the realm of
intellect and the spirit. As a being of body and soul, a human being needs nourishment for
his higher life as well as his lower. Art, therefore, is not something merely like craft or
applied arts, but something of weight and significance to humankind.
3. It brings us in touch with our culture – things about us change so rapidly nowadays that
we forget how much we owe to the past. We cannot shut ourselves off from the past
anymore than we can shut ourselves off geographically from the rest of the world. It is
difficult that the great problems of human life have occured over and over again for
thousands of years. The answers of great minds in the past to these problems are part of
our culture.
Attaining a Comprehensive Outlook in Life
A. Expanding our Philosophical Frames: Western and Non-Western Traditions
Many philosophers hold that there are three great original centers of philosophy in the world –
Greek (or Western), Indian, and Chinese. All three arose as critical reflections on their own
cultural traditions. Historically speaking, asian classics of the Indians and the Chinese predate
the oldest of western classics. During the first centuries, there was more philosophical activity in
the East than in the West. Before the Greek period, there was hardly any activity in the West.
From the time of the Greek triumvirate (Socrates, Plato and Aristotle) there was a reversal. The
western thinkers started to indulge in feverish philosophical speculation, whereas the asin
thinkers began diminishing philosophical activity. In our present century, almost all the major
philosophical ideas emanate from western thinkers.
This section underpins that the challenges of the global information age cannot be understood
by oversimplification. One size does not fit all. There are multiple cultures and there are different
types of states in terms of recent economic modernization. Certainly, the culture of the “East” is
very different from that of the “West”, but that does not mean each culture is incapable of
understanding certain features of the other.
There are three attitudinal imperatives that we must bear in mind if we are to appreciate either
the Oriental o Eastern thought vis-a-vis the Occidental or Western mindset and to situate them
in their proper perspective:
a. First, in contrast to the propensity of the West to think in a linear manner, that is, interms of
beginning and ending in a straight line, Oriental thought runs in a circular manner in which
the end conjoins the beginning in a cyclic style. A man may have been born at a precise
time and may have died at a precise time, but it cannot be said his existence can be
congealed at a specific time, and when he dies, his life continues in another form.
b. Second, life for Oriental thinkers is a transition of thought; it is philosophy in action. Orientals
believe that life must be the extension of thought, its fruit and its application.
c. Third attitudinal imperative is the acceptance of the validity of intuition and mysticism, the
readiness to revert to extra logical, if not, illogical modes of thinking. Orientals are perceived
transcending the mimitations of the human intellect and treading on a no-man’s land where
verification of one’s premise is not possible. Oriental thought does not follow a structured
mode. But its very nature, it cannot but be intuitive and mystic.
It may sound presumptous to speak of “Filipino Thought” for the reason that the Philippines
could not very well speak of a tradition such as that of China, India or Greco-Roman. Yet, for the
Filipino, there has to be “Filipino thought” or none at all. Like any other people, the Filipino must
eventually that consciousness of his own particular life and his world, his society and his gods in
the light of truth, and thereby realize his proper being. However, the pioneering attempts to
formulate a Filipino philosophy share the fate of most pioneering works; the lack of refined tools
and predeessors upon whom to stand.
Nevertheless, Filipinos do have their own philosophy. This section draws out elements or draws
sketches of the general lines of Filipino philosophy. The three dimensions of Filipino thought are
loob, filipino concept of time, and bahala na. These attitudes and values constitute the hidden
springs of the Filipino mind.
Kagandahang-loob, kabutihang-loob, and kalooban are terms that show sharing of one’s
self to others. Great Philippine Values, in fact, are essentially interpersonal. The use of
intermediaries or go-betweens, the values of loyalty, hospitality, pakikisama, and respect to
authority are such values that relate to persons. In short, the Filipino generally believes in
the innate goodness of human being. Filipino ethics has an internal code and sanction that
flow from within itself. This ethics is more constant than other legalistic moral philosophies
that are rather negative. The Filipino, who stresses duties over rights, has plenty in common
with his Oriental neighbors such as the Chinese and the Indian.
In short, the Filipino as an individual looks at himself as holistic from the interior dimension
under the pirnciple of harmony. The Filipino looks at himself as a self, as a total whole – as
a “person”, conscious of his freedom, proud of his human dignity and sensitive to the
violation of these two.
As the saying goes, “if one has reached the lowest ebb, there is no way to go but up”. Time
is considered cyclic. Gulong ng Paalad, nonetheless, blends well with foreign philosophical
ideas in the Asian Region. It approaches Karma of the indians and yin-yang thought of the
Chinese and Japanese philosophy of “living in harmony with nature”.
Often, Filipino Time is mistakenly interpreted as always delayed in the commitment time of
arrival. This notion can be misleading since the Filipino farmers are early risers to go to their
field and waste no time for work. The concept of “siesta time” or “power naps” is also
imporatnt for filipino culture that must not be necessarily considered negative.
3. Bahala Na
The pre-Spanish Filipino people believed in a Supreme Being, Batula or Bathala. However,
in this regard, the originality of Filipino Thought will probably be precisely in his personalistic
view of the universe. For Filipinos, human live with cosmic spirits or presence .
Bathala is not an impersonal entity but rather a personal being that keeps balance in the
universe. Unlike the Indian and the Chinese, a human being can forge some personal
relationships with this deity because Bathala is endowed with personality. The Filipino puts
his entire trust in this Bathala who has evolved into the Christian God.
The Filipino subconsciously accepts the Bathala Na attitude as a part of life. Bahala Na
literally means to leave everything to God who is Bathala in the vernacular. The Bahala Na
philosophy puts complete trust in the divine providence; it contains the element of
resignation. Thus, the Filipino accepts beforehand whatever the outcome of his problem
might be.
It is believed, however, that the Philippine values and system, in line with Filipino philosophy,
are in dire need to be used as positive motivation. Beyond his family, the Filipinos sees himself
belonging to a small primary group in a dyadic, pyramidal function. In other words, he does not
identify horizontally with his class that cuts across the whole community but vertically with its
authority figures distinguished by their wealth, power and age. He receives protection and other
favors from above and should be ready to do the same toward his ties below. Reciprocating
debts of gratitude between coordinates and subordinates holds the whole group together –
superordinate and subordinate (Utang na Loob).
Also, the filipinos gives great value to endurance and hardwork as means to economic self-
sufficiency. This self-sufficiency refers not to individual self, but to the family to which one owes
a special debt of gratitude for having brought him life and nurtured him.
Abundance comes from the Latin term, abundare, meaning, “to oveflow nonstop”. In Pido
Aguilar’s The Gift of Abundance, abundance was given a new spiritual, even Buddhist
paradigm. Abundance is outflowing rathe incoming. It is not about amassing material things or
people but our relationship with others, ourselves and with nature.
What’s More
As philosophy covers a great deal of conceptual, complex and values laden processes,
this lesson introduced how human persons learn philosophy as they go beyond and rise to
daunting challenges of modern experience .
This lesson presented a view that philosophocal concerns include not only thoughts but
also one’s soul, nation, finances, and environment. Our broad understanding of philosophy
concerns not only humans but other living beings as well. Philosophy has mant and special
branches that go beyond partial but stress holism.
That all human beings have physical potentialities and it is possible for them to develop
their bodies and their bodily skills. Some of these skills are connected with sports and leisure as
they run, swim and to dance. Other skills are practical: the ability to type, the ability to drive a
car or to fly a plane, the ability to master crafts such as carpentry or masonry.
Human beings have many mental activities that can be developed. They can expand
their capacities to imagine and to dream of new possibilities. They can develop their human
sensitivity, becoming more aware of themselves, of other people and of nature. They can learn
to think more logically and to bring rationality more compeletely into their lives. They can
become expert in one of the many human sciences.
Human beings can develop communication skills, learning how to read and to write and
to talk. It may take many years to develop these skills but, once they are mastered, inidividuals
are better able to function as full human beings. They can express their ideas clearly and
forcefully. They can bring understanding, joy and beautynto those who read what they write or
listen what they say.
Human beings can develop their social skills in many different ways. They can become
loyal friends, good mothers and fathers, active members of society. As individuals learn to play
their roles in society and make significant contributions to society, they fulfill some of their social
potentialities.
What I Can Do
Complete the chart by writing how you able to develop your different skills.
2. MENTAL
3. COMMUNICATION
4. SOCIAL
Assessment
________5. It is the art of questioning and answering until we arrived at the truth?
a. Metaphysics c. Epistemology
b. Ethics d. Elenchus
________6. The Filipino attitude as part of life which literary means to leave everything to GOD which
is Bathala?
a. Bahala Na c. Pakikisama
b. Bayanihan d. Kalooban
Michael D. Moga, SJ. What makes man truly Human: A Philosophy of Man and Society.
(Makati City: St. Paul Publishing Inc., 1995)