INTRODUCTION TO THE

PHILOSOPHY OF THE
HUMAN PERSON
 Let’s Ponder

Teacher: Juan, what would you like to be when you grow up?
Juan: Ma’am, I want to be happy!
Teacher: Juan, you did not understand my question.
Juan: Ma’am, you do not understand what life is all about!
 Let’s Ponder
Teacher: Juan, what would you like to be when you grow up?
Juan: Ma’am, I want to be happy!
Teacher: Juan, you did not understand my question.
Juan: Ma’am, you do not understand what life is all about!

1.Do you think that Juan’s answer was appropriate for his teacher’s
question?
2.What do you think was Juan’s interpretation of his teacher’s
question?
3.Based on his responses, what kind of student do you imagine Juan to
be?
4.If you were Juan’s teacher, how would you respond to him?
5.How is philosophy related to this situation?
THINK
 Flash floods in remote village kill a hundred people

 Abused child kept chained in basement for five years finally

rescued

 Man sentenced to ten years for stealing milk to feed his baby

 Lottery winner donates half of winnings to local orphanage

 WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
 comes from the Greek word : philos (love) and sophia (wisdom) –
“love of wisdom”

 is the study that uses human reason to investigate the ultimate causes,
reasons, and principles which governs all things.

Philosophers – people who engage in philosophy

- “lovers of wisdom”
THINK
What words come to
mind when you hear
the word Philosophy?
Write the words in
the blank circles.

PHILOSOPHY
 4 MAJOR PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS
REGARDING HUMAN EXISTENCE
 What is real? Are we able to perceive and understand reality and
everything in it?

 How do we know what we know? Are the things that we know true?

 What is the ultimate cause of all things? What is our purpose in this
world?

 To what extent are our choices and actions considered “free”?

THE ANCIENT PHILOSOPHERS AND THEIR
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS
PHILOSOPHER
PYTHAGORAS
(570 BCE TO 495 BCE)
HERACLITUS
(535 BCE TO 475 BCE)
DEMOCRITUS
(460 BCE TO 370 BCE)
DIOGENES OF SINOPE
(412 BCE TO 323 BCE)
http://www.worldhistorycharts.com/ancient-greek-philosophers/
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION
• A mathematician and scientist
• formulated the Phytagorean theorem
• Proposed that everything that exists is based on a higher
order or plan which he called “logos”
• “No man ever step in the same river twice”
• Devoted himself to the study of the causes of natural
phenomena.
• The first to propose that matter is composed of tiny particles
called “atom”
• Known advocate of living a simple and virtuous life.
• Influenced the development of several schools of
philosophy such as Cynicism and Stoicism.
THE ANCIENT PHILOSOPHERS AND THEIR
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS
PHILOSOPHER SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION

EPICURUS • believed that philosophy could enable man to live a life of

(341 BCE TCO 270 BCE) happiness.
• Epicureanism – a school of philosophy w/c believes that
wisdom and simple living will result in a life free of fear and
pain.

• considered the foremost philosopher of ancient times.

SOCRATES
• Socratic Method – a means of examining a topic by devising a
(470 BCE TO 399 BCE)
series of questions that let the learner examine and analyze his
knowledge and views regarding the topic.
• Student of Socrates
PLATO • Theory of Forums – proposes that everything that exist is based on
(427 BCE TO 347 BCE) an idea or template that can only be perceived in the mind
• Dialectic – a method of inquiry where two opposing ideas are
discussed in an attempt to arrive at new knowledge
http://www.worldhistorycharts.com/ancient-greek-philosophers/
THE ANCIENT PHILOSOPHERS AND THEIR
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS
PHILOSOPHER
ARISTOTLE
(384 BCE TO 322 BCE)
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION
• Student of Plato
• Deductive reasoning – the process by which specific
statements are analyzed to reach a conclusion or
generalization.

http://www.worldhistorycharts.com/ancient-greek-philosophers/
WHY IS THERE A NEED TO PHILOSOPHIZE?
 SENSE OF WONDER – drives the need of a philosopher to question, examine
and learn more.

 DOUBT - necessary to determine if ideas or views are correct or true. It

also became the basis of critical thinking and analysis in the sciences.

 EXPERIENCE – provides us a means of to understand adverse or challenging

conditions, and to rise above them and gain new knowledge and
perspectives

 LOVE OF WISDOM – one who engages in philosophy is not satisfied with

figuring out the answer to a question. He seeks to continue to question, to
probe, and to discuss in order to get to the bottom of things.
HOW DO WE CHARACTERIZE THE
STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY?
 ASAN ANALYSIS OF FRAMEWORK – a way of thinking about
the world and is composed of the views and beliefs of a
person.

 Internal
Questioning – questions dealing with our own correctness
and values.

 External
Questioning – seek to question the very frameworks
upon which people base their own beliefs and views.
HOW DO WE CHARACTERIZE THE
STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY?
1. AS AN ANALYSIS OF FRAMEWORK – Systematic philosophy attempts to provide a
framework in reason that can explain all questions and problems related to
human life.

FRAMEWORK – is defined as a way of thinking about the world and is

composed of the views and beliefs of a person.
HOW DO WE CHARACTERIZE THE
STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY?
2. AS AN EXAMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE – the central principle of philosophy
which is often applied in the analysis of the frameworks of other areas of
sciences.
 BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY
 AESTHETICS – deals with beauty and what make things beautiful
 LOGIC – deals with correct reasoning
 EPISTEMOLOGY – discusses the nature of knowledge and knowing
 ETHICS – deals with moral questions and dilemmas
 POLITICAL
PHILOSOPHY – studies governments and deals with the questions of justice,
power and the rights and obligation of citizens
 METAPHYSICS – deals with questions regarding reality and existence
 PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – understands the human person from a
philosophical perspective.
HOW DO WE CHARACTERIZE THE
STUDY OF PHILOSOPHY?
3. AS A DISCIPLINE – Philosophy makes sense of information gathered from
various fields of knowledge by integrating and synthesizing them
to have a deeper and more complete understanding of reality.

(e.g., science, psychology, economics, politics, etc.)

THINK
Analyze the characteristics of Philosophy by expanding the graphic organizer.

Philosophy

As an
As an analysis
examination As a discipline
of frameworks
of knowledge
HOLISTIC THINKING AND
PARTIAL THINKING
 HOLISTIC THINKING – is a perspective that considers larger patterns
or the bigger picture when looking at problems or situations.
- enables a person to view problem more objectively
and come up with better decisions or solutions

 PARTIAL THINKING – focuses on one aspects of a situation.

- it is an important component of analytical
thinking, as an individual focuses on certain areas or aspects of a
problem in order to understand it.
REFLECTION
 It is an important aspect of philosophy.

 Can be done by examining one’s thoughts, feelings, and

actions and learnings experience.

 Reflecting on situations, activities, actions and decisions

enables a person to gain insights that will help in
effective decision-making.
THINK
 You go into a restaurant and the waiter hands you a menu. You are
deciding which dish to order.

 You and your friends are deciding on a “fun” thing to do while at

the mall.

 You open your wallet and saw that you still have a hundred pesos
left from your weekly allowance.
PRACTICAL USES OF PHILOSOPHY
IN OUR LIVES
 Philosophy enables a person to engage in critical analysis and interpretation of
concepts, definitions, arguments, and problems.

 Improves problem-solving and decision-making.

 A philosopher is a good communicator who can clearly and adequately present

his/her ideas.

 Wisdom

 Contributes to self-development.
Reference:

 Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person – Roberto D. Abella,

M.Div., D.Min.
 Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Teacher’s Manual– Roberto
D. Abella, M.Div., D.Min.