MODULE 1

DOING PHILOSOPHY
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Module 1 discusses what philosophy is; what it does; and how one can also do or practice
philosophy on his own. Philosophy is not rich only in meaning, it is also very valuable in our life.
But its value is found not only in its being rich in meaning and concept, but also in its being an art.
As an art, it is something that must be practiced.

DEVOTIONAL
Reading: As a Christian matures, there is often a consideration of “why I am here” and
“what is really important?” Philosophy of life is a guiding principle where an individual can
exercise freely as he lives day by day.
Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will
grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let
anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human
thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. Colossians 2:7-8.
Prayer: Almighty Father in heaven, we thank you for the opportunity to live life with you
and learn new things through online based and modular education. Grant us knowledge to open
our minds and hearts in understanding our lesson. Endow us with wisdom that we can apply the
things we’re about to learn according to your will.
Bless the students who are willing to study despite the challenges we are facing now. Give
them good health and strength daily so that they can perform their tasks and duties in home, school,
and church. Bless their parents Lord, provide them the love and grace together with your abundant
blessings. We pray and ask in the loving and merciful father in heaven. Amen.
Question: As a Christian young student, what is your most meaningful guiding principle
in life? Why? Explain.
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Essential Understanding/Question: Why is it essential that the learner should understand
the meaning and process of doing philosophy? Explain below.

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START OFF
*Pre-Assessment:
1. The term philosophy comes from two Greek terms – philo and Sophia. What does it mean
by philo? What about sophia?
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2. Knowledge is different from wisdom. What are their differences? Explain.

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*Essential Questions: How does a learner reflects on a concrete experience in a philosophical
way. You can give your recent personal or family encounter related to it.
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*Connect: This module 1 expects you to realize the value of philosophy not only as a course or a
science but also as a way of life and as a manner of living.
*Objectives: At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1.1 Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view

1.2 Recognize human activities that emanated from deliberate reflection
1.3 Realize the value of doing philosophy in obtaining a broad perspective on life
1.4 Do a philosophical reflection on a concrete situation from a holistic perspective

PURSUE
This is the lesson proper, the basic concept of the course.
*Content/Big Ideas: The following are the main topics that support the subject matter.
Note: All Essay Question rubrics is found after the create part.
 THE MEANING OF PHILOSOPHY
The word philosophy has several meanings and usages. Some are very common while are
profound. In a general sense, philosophy could mean a guiding principle. For example, when
someone says, “My philosophy in life is, ‘what is important is doing my best, not really being the
best,’ he means to say that this is his guiding principle. Philosophy could also mean reason,
rationale, or basis of something. When someone asks, ‘what is the reason behind such project,
activity or endeavour? He wants to know the reason behind such project or endeavour. Similarly,
philosophy could also be understood as the study of the cause of something. For example, we say
that philosophy is the study of the cause or foundation of knowledge. Sometimes we also describe
something or someone as being “philosophical”. When we say that someone or something is being
“philosophical” we could either mean that one is taking things in very profound way that he is
being too analytical about a particular subject matter or topic. These are just few of the reasons
why it is common to refer to philosophy as something very difficult to understand and that it
normally challenges the mind.
Because of the various meanings of philosophy and the complexity and profoundness
associated with it, we tend to have different attitudes toward its significance. Philosophy is
important in life because it allows us to have a better if not a thorough understanding of things
around us.
According to Quito (1983) a Filipino professor of philosophy, there are two usages of the
term philosophy in the current local trend. These are the popular and the academic uses. When
someone talks about the popular usage of philosophy, he is reminded of how the common people
think of the way a “pilosopo” explains things or events in one’s surroundings.
During the early days, there are those like the character of pilosopong Tasyo who appears
in the novel of Jose Rizal who represent the good sense of pilosopo. Oftentimes, their ideas are so
profound that ordinary people cannot fathom or understand what is being explained. As a result,
people like Pilosopong Tasyo end up regarded as crazy by common people.
When we speak about academic usage of philosophy, we refer to the kind of philosophy
being taught in schools, discussed in conferences, and published in scientific journals and books.
However, there is a need to educate the people specially the young students about the value of
genuine philosophy.
Activity 1: Complete the table below. Write your answer on the space provided.

ACTIONS WHAT MUST BE DONE BEFORE ACTION

1. Buying new clothes

2. Choosing friends
 3. Deciding where to
study for college
4. Going to school

5. Watching movies
which are not allowed
at your age
6. Posting your opinion
or feelings in social
media
7. Going out with
opposite sex

Activity 2: As a student, what have you realized about the activity number 1? Reflect and explain
your answer on the space given.
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THE ETYMOLOGY OF PHILOSOPHY

The term philosophy comes from two Greek words: philo or philien which means “love”
and sophia which means “wisdom” or knowledge. It was the Greek philosopher Pythagoras who
coined the word philosophia or philosophy. He was the same Greek mathematician who is credited
for having laid the foundation of the Pythagorean Theorem. Pythagoras, who was one of the wisest
men of ancient Greece, lived somewhere between 570 and 495 BC. He was born in Samos and
later on migrated to Croton in southern Italy. According to a story, he was asked by a local king if
he was a wise man like his contemporaries the sophists who regarded themselves as wise men.
Pythagoras humbly told the king that he was not a wise man. The king asked him then what he
was. Pythagoras told the king that he was just a philosophus and that he was trying to search for
wisdom. This was because he loved wisdom. It was from this answer by Pythagoras that
philosophy came to known as “love of wisdom”.
The Greeks consider three kinds of love: eros, agape, and philia.
1. Eros – refers to a kind of love that is passionate and intensely desires something. It is often
referred to as a sexual, hence, the modern notion of “erotic”. It is self-centered and is often
a selfish response to some particular qualities of the beloved like goodness or beauty.
 2. Philia- involves a fondness and appreciation of the qualities of the beloved, but such
fondness is not egotistical because the response is not centered on the desire to acquire the
object. In Greeks, the most common form of philia is friendship, but it could also be applied
to the love of one’s family or community, job, or discipline.
3. Agape- refers to the unconditional love of God for man, but it could be extended to kind
of brotherly love for all humanity. It seeks a perfect love because it transcends the desire
for particular qualities and the necessity of reciprocity.
According to the Greek philosopher Aristotle, all men seek wisdom. Therefore all men are
philosophers in this sense. The search for wisdom is not just the exclusive task of academic
philosophers, it is everyone’s task.
Wisdom and knowledge are often used interchangeably. One should be aware that there is
a difference between the two.
1. Wisdom – refers to understanding of the meaning, reason, or causes of things; it is more
general view and has a deeper appreciation of reality.
2. Knowledge – refers to the acquisition of ideas, information, theories, the application of
certain scientific principles and formula, methods, or procedures.
When one studies a particular discipline like chemistry, he gains knowledge about the
concept, principles, different formula, and procedure involved in this branch of science. One
also learns how to apply chemistry to his everyday living. However, if one desires to have
wisdom, he should go beyond the attainment of knowledge. This is because having wisdom
enables one to understand the deeper reason and meaning of things and reality and of human
life.
Wisdom gives a more holistic view of reality, it sees and understand life from wider
perspective. One maybe knowledgeable about certain scientific or economic principles but
does not mean he has wisdom. Wisdom is attained through one’s daily experiences and from
the experiences of other people. We gain wisdom when we reflect on our experiences, and the
things that happen around us, and those that we encounter around the world. This is why our
parents or older people are wiser than us because they have already gained a lot of experience
in life and have reflected and understood those experiences. It is the objective of the philosophy
to teach us how to reflect on our own experiences, so that we may gain wisdom.
Activity 3: Why is it important to know and give rationale in life? Cite an experience. Write
your answer below.
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 THE ACADEMIC DEFINITION OF PHILOSOPHY
Traditionally, in the academe, philosophy is defined in a more formal and logical or scientific
manner. (Piṅon, 1999,11) Today, philosophy has acquired many connotations depending on
the person who expounds a particular philosophy and of philosophical period and system.
What is science? It’s a systematized body of knowledge. A body of knowledge is an
organized and interconnected collection of ideas, theories, laws, formulas, and other
conceptions about a particular field. Philosophy is a science because it is not based on mere
opinions or hypotheses. The concepts and principles of philosophy are based on certain facts
and they have been analysed, demonstrated, or proven before being reduced to a system. In the
ordinary sense, philosophy can be practiced by every reasonable and reflecting individual. In
the more academic sense, philosophy can be taught and practiced only by those who have
studied in academic discipline. It is considered to be the science of all things or realities which
can be known and understood by human reason. It studies the nature of people, the existence
and attributes or powers of the Supreme Being, the principles of nature, the meaning of the
world, the nature of knowledge, and others. While at some points and in some cases it may be
influenced by authority or particular religious faith, the ultimate aim is to have an
understanding of reality mainly based on reason. When one reflects philosophically on a
particular topic, he may also refer to philosophers in the past like Aristotle, Aquinas, or
Confucius or he may adhere to his religious belief but he also examines or analyses the ideas
of these philosophers and his religious belief through his reason.
Activity 4. In your own words, what is an academic philosophy? Write in 2 lines only.

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THE VALUE OF PHILOSOPHY

First of all, the value of philosophy should not be compared to the value of the physical or
natural sciences, or to technology, economics or business. The physical and natural sciences
have their own practical value. The inventions they produce and discoveries they make have
their own usefulness to humankind. It is through the sciences that there are technology and the
technological advancements that people enjoy today. Some of these are the internet and other
means of communication and transportation. Similarly, economics and business are beneficial
to mankind because they help provide for the material and economic needs of people.
Commerce and business transactions have been very productive for the past years and people
continue to benefit from variety of goods and commodities.
Unlike other physical or natural sciences, philosophy does not offer definitive and exact
answers to questions people ask. The other sciences can give us clear answers to our questions
because the questions we ask are objective in nature. These objective questions are for what,
 who, where, and how. Even in economics and business can provide people with definite
answers for questions that ask about how one can increase production, generate income,
increase sales and gain profit, and minimize costs.
The basic question of philosophy is why. This is because there could be many reasons for
a particular thing or event. For philosophy, what is more important is the question rather than
the answers. Philosophy continues to ask questions and even though it could not provide exact
and definite answers like what the other branches of science can give and it opens one’s mind
to the reality of life. It is able to suggest many possibilities which could deepen one’s thoughts,
broaden his perspectives and widen a person’s views about his surroundings. It guides people
in distinguishing what is true from what is false and also guides them in their search for the
truth. Philosophy offers people the value of philosophic reflection. More importantly, it
provides people with intellectual attitudes that allow them to have a better view of life and
reality; a sense of wonder, openness of the mind, critical thinking, and philosophic reflection
which are able to gain the following practical benefits.
1. They learn how to systematize all important knowledge in the domain of reason.
Philosophy may not able to provide specific facts or data but finds a common ground
among these data and sees these data or facts in their proper perspective and thereby
understands them not as a separate entities but as part of the larger whole.
2. The ultimate end of knowledge and learning is finding the truth. Not that philosophy will
make one’s thinking free from errors or make people infallible, somehow, philosophy
allows people to be properly guided in their thinking.
3. They are able to analyse things through an “intellectual eye” that enable them to see things
not only as they appear to the senses but also the underlying causes and meaning of these
things.
4. They are able to gain insights into human nature, it helps them understand their capacities
and potentials and gives them a better appreciation of themselves.
Activity 5: One sentence reflection. Summarize the main point of the Value of Philosophy in one
sentence only.
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THE ART AND WONDER OF PHILOSOPHIZING

Philosophizing is making speculations or theories about fundamental issues in a
complicated or difficult manner. It begins with wondering and posing the question why.
Man uses philosophy to satisfy his curiosity. It is different from other sciences because it
endeavours to explain why things are as they are.
 When one philosophizes. He engages in a philosophical activity. It could mean to
engage in a critical examination or reflection about something, causes, or reasons of
realities. This engagement has two basic components – reasons and experience.
Reason – enables a person to reflect the underlying meaning or causes of things or
realities. Through reason, a person is able to make sense of his experience and the realities
both external and internal to him.
Experience- provides a person with the initial data so that he would be able to speak of
his subsequent reflection. It keeps a person in touch or rooted in reality. Having experience
allows a person to have direct contact with external reality. Reason and experience re both
common to people since very person is endowed with these faculties.
Normally, philosophical reflection ends at this stage when a person has come to
understand or gain a better or holistic view of what he initially experience then his
wondering and philosophical reflection comes to an end at least temporarily.
A person shares his thoughts with others or engages in rational exchange of ideas
because he is a social or relational being. It is this nature that enables person to relate,
communicate, and deal with his fellow human beings. He engages in discussions,
dialogues, or arguments. When two people or more engage in such a rational discussions,
what results is an evolved or improved form of their original ideas or thoughts. This is how
schools of thought or systems of ideas came about, like Scholasticism, existentialism, etc.
they are based on the experiences of men who engaged in a reflection of their experiences
through the use of their natural reason and then modified their thoughts or ideas through
rational discussions and dialogues with fellow thinkers. The Greeks for example engaged
in such critical reflection such as focusing on the nature or ultimate cause of the cosmos,
and then engaged in discussion or discourse and subsequently presented their thoughts and
ideas in a unified and coherent form, in this sense they did philosophy. This is how we do
philosophy before the great systems or schools of philosophy were established.
There is another way of philosophizing, which might be regarded as more complex.
This kind of philosophizing involves studying the thoughts of other persons or thinkers,
reflecting on them, analysing and criticizing them, and coming up with one’s own synthesis
or evaluation. Reason and experience are also essential parts of this activity. Rational
discussions and dialogues are part of the distillation process where essential and well-
thought ideas are separated from the trivial ones. The persons who do kind of
philosophizing can share the fruits of their studies either through formal teachings or
through publications.
Activity 6: How will you differentiate the positive and negative understanding of the term
pilosopo?
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Featured Philosopher

The philosopher Socrates remains, as he was in his lifetime (469–399 B.C.E.), an enigma, an
inscrutable individual who, despite having written nothing, is considered one of the handful of
philosophers who forever changed how philosophy itself was to be conceived. All our information
about him is second-hand and most of it vigorously disputed, but his trial and death at the hands
of the Athenian democracy is nevertheless the founding myth of the academic discipline of
philosophy, and his influence has been felt far beyond philosophy itself, and in every age. Because
his life is widely considered paradigmatic not only for the philosophic life but, more generally, for
how anyone ought to live, Socrates has been encumbered with the adulation and emulation
normally reserved for religious figures – strange for someone who tried so hard to make others do
their own thinking and for someone convicted and executed on the charge of irreverence toward
the gods. Certainly he was impressive, so impressive that many others were moved to write about
him, all of whom found him strange by the conventions of fifth-century Athens in his appearance,
personality, and behaviour, as well as in his views and methods.

Standards of beauty are different in different eras, and in Socrates’s time beauty could easily
be measured by the standard of the gods, stately, proportionate sculptures of whom had been
adorning the Athenian acropolis since about the time Socrates reached the age of thirty. Good
looks and proper bearing were important to a man’s political prospects, for beauty and goodness
were linked in the popular imagination. The extant sources agree that Socrates was profoundly
ugly, resembling a satyr more than a man—and resembling not at all the statues that turned up
later in ancient times and now grace Internet sites and the covers of books. He had wide-set,
bulging eyes that darted sideways and enabled him, like a crab, to see not only what was straight
ahead, but what was beside him as well; a flat, upturned nose with flaring nostrils; and large fleshy
lips like an ass. Socrates let his hair grow long, Spartan-style (even while Athens and Sparta were
at war), and went about barefoot and unwashed, carrying a stick and looking arrogant. He didn’t
change his clothes but efficiently wore in the daytime what he covered himself with at night.
Something was peculiar about his gait as well, sometimes described as a swagger so intimidating
that enemy soldiers kept their distance. He was impervious to the effects of alcohol and cold
weather, but this made him an object of suspicion to his fellow soldiers on campaign. We can
safely assume an average height (since no one mentions it at all), and a strong build, given the
active life he appears to have led.
Activity 7: In your own philosophical words, who is Socrates and why he became a philosopher?
Write your answer below.
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*Explain: The following are the key points to remember:

* The term philosophy comes from two Greek terms – philo which means”love” and Sophia
means “knowledge” or “wisdom”. Hence, philosophy means “love of wisdom”.
* Knowledge is different from wisdom. Wisdom is the profound understanding of the meaning,
reason, r causes of things. It is a more general view and at the same time, a deeper appreciation of
reality. Knowledge is the acquisition of ideas, information and theories, the application of a certain
scientific principles and formula, or the mastery of certain methods of procedures.
* Traditionally and academically, philosophy is defined as the science of all things or beings in
their ultimate causes and principles known by human reason alone.
* The value of philosophy is different from that of the other sciences. Philosophy provides food
for the mind, nourishment for the spirit. The value of philosophy can be found in the goods of the
mind or the spirit.
* As rational individuals people are capable of philosophical reflection. To philosophize is to
satisfy one’s wondering, to search for the meaning and reason of things; and to contemplate on the
reasons, causes, and meanings of things and of man’s existence through the use of human reason.
* Philosophical activity has two basic components- reason and experience. Reason enables people
to reflect on or examine the underlying meaning or reasons of the things or realities. Experience
provides them with the initial data of their reflection or examination.

APPLY
You have read the discussion and points to remember. It is time for application now. Answer the
following Essay Questions below by writing your answer on the lines given. 5 points each.
1. How will you describe philosophy as a science?
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 2. What are the practical benefits of studying philosophy?
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3. How will you explain the roles of reason and experience in philosophical activity?
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CREATE
This is the final task wherein you are going to present your understanding based on the lesson
above.
1. Think of one particular activity in school where you apply your mental ability or skill.
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2. Describe one person you know whom you think embodies the philosophical attitude.
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3. Compose a short paper about your philosophy in life.

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Essay Rubrics:
Content 4
Logical thought/ideas 3
Syntax 3
total 10

Textbook: Philosophy: Toward an Understanding and Appreciation of the Human Person.

Jove Jim S. Aguas (2017) Abiva Publishing House, Inc. Quezon City, Philippines.
Internet: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/socrates/
https://bible.org/seriespage/35-my-philosophy-life