HANDOUTS

PHILOSOPHY
• The study of ultimate causes and principles of all things.
• It comes from the two Greek words, philo (Фιλο) which means “to love” and sophia (σοФια) which means
wisdom. Thus, philosophy is also called love of wisdom.
• It is also defined as the science that through natural light of reason studies the first causes or highest
principle of all things.

Four things to consider in philosophy

1. SCIENCE
2. NATURAL LIGHT OF REASON
3. STUDY OF ALL THINGS
4. FIRST CAUSE OR HIGHEST PRINCIPLE

- PRINCIPLE OF IDENTITY – whatever is it is; whatever is not is not.

- PRINCIPLE OF NON-CONTRADICTION – it is impossible for a thing to be and not to be at the same time
with the same respect.
- PRINCIPLE OF EXCLUDED MIDDLE – there is no middle ground between being and non-being.
- PRINCIPLE OF SUFFICIENT REASON – nothing exists without a sufficient reason. Hence, every being has its
own purpose.

BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY

• Metaphysics – the study of ultimate reality; study of being as such.

• Ethics – the study on how people ought to live.
• Epistemology – it deals with the nature of knowledge.
• Logic – the study on how to develop valid arguments.
• Aesthetics – the study of beauty, art, and artistic perception.

For Socrates, to be happy, a person has to live a virtuous life. Virtue is not something to be taught or
acquired through education, but rather, it is merely an awakening of good deeds that lay dormant in the heart
and mind of a person.

Critical thinking means making reasoned judgments that are logical and well-thought out.

3 CORE SKILLS IN CRITICAL THINKING

Curiosity is the desire to learn more information and seek evidence as well as being open to new ideas.
Skepticism involves having a healthy questioning attitude about new information that you are exposed to and
not blindly believing everything everyone tells you.
Humility is the ability to admit that your opinions and ideas are wrong when faced with new convincing
evidence that states otherwise.
 3 GREAT ORIGINAL CENTERS OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE WORLD
• Greek Philosophy (Western Philosophy)
• Indian Philosophy
• Chinese Philosophy

The oldest philosophy originated in the East. However, Greek philosophy becomes much popular due to its
great impact in the world. Nevertheless, when it comes to history, the East already started philosophizing in
union with their religion long before Thales was born.

Three attitudinal imperatives in eastern philosophy

1. Eastern thought is cyclic or circular while the Western thought is linear. For the Eastern people, nothing
actually begins absolutely and ends absolutely.
2. The East does not provide a precise distinction between religion and philosophy. Philosophy and religion
is one. On the other hand, the West gives distinction between philosophy and religion.
3. Oriental people has a strong reliance on mysticism and intuition. Western people rely in speculations and
theories.

Three dimensions of filipino thought (A glimpse in Filipino philosophy)

1. Loob (Holistic and Interior Dimensions)
- Filipino generally believes in the innate goodness of human beings.
II. Time
- Filipinos considered time as cyclic. It is evident through their “gulong ng palad concept.”
Filipinos should believe that there is hope behind every problems or struggles in life.
III. Bahala na
- This concept of Filipino is evident in their “come what may” principle. It is one of the
most outstanding Filipino virtues. The courage to take the risks. Bahala na, on the other
hand, is seen as fatalistic; sort of leaving everything to God or to chance.