Week-1-7 CM MDL PHP121

4.
2 Dwellers within Nature: Beyond Utility,

Table of Contents Towards Responsibility………………………………………………………………..29-31
MODULE 1 4.3 Toward a Shift in Thinking: Calculative vs. Meditative Thinking…………..31-33
Chapter 1. Doing Philosophy Activities and Assessment…………………………………………………………………………34-37
1.1 Having Philosophies………………………………………………………………1-2 INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF A HUMAN PERSON SUBJECT…..38-39
1.2 Being Philosophical……………………………………………………………….2-3 MODULE 5
1.3 The Activity of Philosophy…………………………………………………….3-4 Introduction to the Philosophy of a Human Person 1st Quarter Examination
1.4 Doing Philosophy: Holistic Perspective and Partial View………4-5
Activities and Assessment…………………………………………………………..6-9
MODULE 2
Chapter 2. Methods of Philosophizing
2.1 Traditional Branches of Philosophy……………………………………….10
2.2 Philosophical Methods………………………………………………………….11-12
2.3 Truth………………………………………………………………………………………12-13
2.4 Opinion………………………………………………………………………………….13-14
MODULE 3
Chapter 3. The Human Person as an Embodied Spirit
3.1 Our Bodies…………………………………………………………………………….17-19
3.2 Having Bodies…………………………………………………………………………19-21
3.3 Being Bodies…………………………………………………………………………..21-23
MODULE 4
Chapter 4. The Human Person in their Environment
4.1 Our Ordinary Understanding of our Relationship
with Nature………………………………………………………………………………..27-29
ASIAN INSTITUTE OF COMPUTER STUDIES (AICS)
First Quarter
1. DOING PHILOSOPHY in the common or expected way that answers are supposed to be given. They might
actually be someone who thinks outside of the box.
Module At the end of this module, you are expected to:
 Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial When we encounter the word philosopher, we perhaps relate it to people who
point of view, have philosophies. Take for example how beauty queens answer hosts asking what
 Realize the value of doing philosophy in obtaining principles they live by, or what sort of general guideline she uses to make sense of
a broad perspective on life, and her life and her actions, they might answer with something brief like “I believe that
 Do a philosophical reflection on a concrete each of us has a purpose in this world and it is our responsibility to discover this
Week:______
situation from a holistic perspective. purpose,” meaning that she might believe that our life’s work should be geared
toward what we can contribute to society. Your own philosophy might be
KEY QUESTIONS something like, “be true to yourself,” meaning, at least at first glance, that you
 Do you have your own philosophy? value honesty about yourself in all aspects of your relationships and decisions.
 If one has lot of knowledge, does it mean that he is wise? Neither of the examples above involve anyone being a pilosopo in the sense of
 If one has a philosophy, does it mean that he is a philosopher? being smart aleck or being clever. The examples portray having a philosophy is,
broadly speaking, having a general guideline in life, or how to live life. Some of us
1.1 Having Philosophies The original meaning of the word may realize we do have these on a certain extent, and in this sense we might think
philosophy comes from the Greek roots philosophies are personal mottoes or personal codes, or perhaps a point of view─
philo─ meaning ‘love’ and ─sophos, or ‘wisdom’ which therefore translates to ‘love a way of seeing and making sense of the world and our experiences.
of wisdom’. While it is defined by some as the study of ideas about knowledge,
Just like how someone follow a recipe of a meal, having
truth, the nature and meaning of life, or a way of thinking about certain subjects
philosophy can also mean having a general guideline
such as ethics, thought, existence, time, meaning, and value. It can be described as
about a specific activity or an aspect of life. Such as when
either a body of knowledge or an intellectual activity. Furthermore, we can all
you have philosophies regarding grades, something like,
agree that philosophy is a broad subject and we will break down its meaning in this
“Why strive for 99 when 75 is already a passing grade?”
chapter.
or maybe you believe something contrary to that: “It’s not
Filipinos have a word ‘pilosopo’, which is commonly used to about doing the minimum, it’s about doing the best that
refer to someone who may be a smart aleck especially in you can’ which implies your thinking about grades are
answering questions. Statements coming from someone either valuing the bare minimum or giving your best. Philosophies like these give
who we refer to as pilosopo often gives us a feeling that he us a sense of what an activity is for, giving its sole purpose. Having philosophies
or she is trying to be clever (and not in the sense of involve personal codes and guidelines, these codes and guidelines are themselves
‘ingenious’) and may sometimes irritate or amuse us. We understandable in terms of purpose, as well particular ways of thinking (points of
usually think that his or her answers do make sense, but not view) about specific things.
1
Social institutions like companies and schools, even government agencies also have The first topic (1.1 Having Philosophies) introduced how the word philosophy was
their own purposes and point of views. Each one has a mission and vision derived. So, a philosopher is a ‘lover of wisdom’ wherein wisdom is not necessarily
statement that articulates their functions, objectives, and methods. For instance, the same as knowledge. Whilst some may know about a lot of things (e.g., experts,
your school has its own set of mission-vision statement, in line with its own masters, craftsmen, trivia), are not necessarily wise, though they are certainly
objectives. Through this, your school is declaring why it exists ( its purpose in terms knowledgeable about things. As such, when Socrates is said to be wise, his wisdom
of the reasons of its establishment), how it wants to achieve its purpose (its does not refer to knowing things (for he knows that he des not know), but his
method), and reiterates for what it is built (which is also its purpose, but in terms wisdom consists of acknowledging the limits of the things he knows for certain.
of end goals).
We can refer by the above statements that being philosophical might mean that
So our definition of having a philosophy is getting more complex: having a amidst all the things we know─ amidst all our perspectives and certain ideas about
philosophy involves having a reason for existing (which answers a why question, things in life and our experiences, there are always some things we do not know,
sometimes in the form of what), a method of obtaining goals (which answer a how some things we have not thought about, or some way we have never thought of
question)─ which are all parts of having guidelines and points of view for thinking. We knew ourselves that we already know a lot of things, but realizing that
something. our points of view are limited, and that there are other ways of seeing and thinking
about things, we now start to wonder about how other people see and understand
1.2 Being Philosophical Having a philosophy and being
things. We begin to try thinking in a different perspective rather on the usual way
philosophical are two different things.
of how we used to think.
Just because a person has a philosophy does not necessarily mean that he is a
philosopher. Being philosophical, on the other hand, has something more to do Therefore, being philosophical means being able to think carefully, in a manner
with how a person thinks in a certain way, rather than having a code or having a that suggests a deliberate examination not only of what we think, but why we
point of view or even having a purpose. Being philosophical involves the manner think about a certain thing in a particular way.
by which a philosopher thought (and are thinking) about questions throughout
roughly the 3,000 years of its history. So apart from philosophy being a personal or Philosophy is more like a
institutional code or guideline, it is also a body of knowledge or a subject matter, conversation among different
with its own history and credentials, its own practitioners and its own methods views rather than a body of
following different traditions, and also its own very different, specific purposes. knowledge that contain one
step-by-step process to follow.
Socrates (470-399 B.C.E.) remains, as he was in his lifetime, an Unlike mathematics which
exemplary philosopher, despite having written nothing, is comes up with an almost
considered one of the handful of philosophers who forever definite answer, philosophy
changed how philosophy itself was to be conceived. He is involves consideration of other
Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Brahe
deemed wise not because he knows a lot of things, but because possibilities and asking a lot of questions. Just like how the developments in
of the fact that he knows that he does not know. astronomy (and in other aspects) started with asking questions, and so is
Socrates
2
philosophy being similar to other body of knowledge: it involves many persons thinking that thinkers have taken for granted as true, or even commonsensical, or
engaging one another in a series of questions, which then form its own history and as proven. We realize slowly that our questions lead to deeper, bigger, and more
content. It is a series of questions and answers each building upon the last in the fundamental things and ways of viewing things. This way of examining possible
hope of clarifying answers, or at least searching for the right questions to ask. Given ways of thinking renders uncertain those ways of thinking that are more accepted
this, it can be said that there is a philosophical endeavor going in on any knowledge- and defined. That is why in the introduction it is mentioned about thinking outside
seeking enterprise. the box. And also remember Socrates: he was keenly aware that amidst the things
we can hold for certain, there are many more things that can be discovered. This
Being philosophical does not only involves asking a lot of questions, but rather implies that certainties themselves can be questioned. Philosophy is in the picture
carefully examining why we think the way we do about things. Part of being not to prove certainties false or wrong but shows that certainties, though seem
philosophical means that we are asking the reasons why we think of things this way final and unquestionable, can be perceived in enlarged perspectives, to consider
rather than any other way. Thus, being philosophical is exploring other ways of other possible paths of thinking about things.
thinking about, asking, and answering questions.
Finally, we now see that being philosophical also involves a lot of things, indeed. It
Philosophy is considered a starting point of science is deemed important that philosophical reflection and philosophical questions
because a major part of philosophy is uncertainty and have to involve you yourself, meaning you have to make the questions yours and
indefiniteness. It tries to make sense out of questions you yourself have to think about things. You examine your own point of view and
which do not yet have definite answers. Let us look in investigate the reasons for it. It is an attempt on wrestling with your own thoughts
astronomy, for instance, Thales of Miletus (c. 620 B.C.E – and ideas, and not merely believing something simply because you were taught to
c. 546 B.C. E.) who is known as the first recorded believe it in school or at home. It is just not about accepting someone’s truth, but
philosopher, thought that the basic ‘stuff’ of the universe questioning it and carefully examining the reason behind its truth. What matters
is water because water is the most apparent thing that most is that you philosophize in your own, and willingly agreed that there is
still can be termed ‘water’ in all its variable forms. This Thales of Miletus uncertainty in the midst of certainty. It is not all about getting answers in
attempt to explain the physical universe has many analogues in other cultures and philosophy but on asking questions and furthermore these questions also point to
civilizations, involving similarly early feats of mathematical computations of the why you think the way you think about anything at all.
sizes of the moon, the Earth, and the movements of other celestial bodies (some
of which are near to present-day computation). After many other thinkers and 1.3 The Activity of Since on the previous topic it is
many more centuries, definite and definitive mathematical and physical models Philosophy identified that being philosophical
took hold, and astronomy become more and more a separate science from the means that you yourself have to be
more speculative type of inquiry, because of the increasing strictness and accuracy involved and do you own effort on answering questions or at least try to do your
of their methods and terminologies. own questions, we can also define philosophy not only as a body of knowledge, but
an activity. And like all activities, philosophy requires skill, and being philosophical
Seeing in this light, it can be said that being philosophical can be defined as our requires training to hone this skill.
continuing quest to refine and reevaluate assumptions, or those ideas or ways of
3
Now, the skill that philosophy requires is the skill of considering many points of In the process of doing philosophy, however, it is critical to have a holistic point of
view, since it is emphasized that being philosophical involves reevaluating view− the perception of looking at all aspects of a situation before making a
assumptions, thus it is a must to leave an open door for other explanation and conclusion. It is well emphasized that the activity of philosophizing requires the
thinking. It is always going to be an activity of thinking about thinking. attempt of considering the many points of view. Some other skills involved in doing
philosophy are critical, logical, and analytical thinking, observation, and
There is an activity in philosophizing itself: when we try to understand things in communication skills.
different points of view, we are attempting to join a particular part of the
conversation that has been around for many, many years, and try− if we are honest Before one could engage in philosophical inquiry, he or she must be able to
and careful in our attempt− to contribute our own ways of seeing the issue. In this distinguish between a holistic and partial point of view. This is critical for anyone
way, since we are presently contributing on the on-going conversation, it implies doing philosophy because it sets a limit in coming up with conclusions about a given
that we are continually asking ourselves what these issues involve, or why these situation.
issues are important, why we think about them the specific way that we do, and
Holistic Point of View Partial Point of View
how we ought to act given a particular perspective.
 Looks at all aspects of the given  Looks at only a limited number of
Since philosophy involves asking ourselves why we think in particular ways about problem or situation. aspects of the given problem or
issues and also wondering about the issues themselves (its importance and value),  All aspects are given importance situation.
when making conclusions.  Conclusions are made based on
and philosophizing involves our very selves and our points of views, it can then be
 All aspects are tied in together to considering some, but not all, sides
inferred that we are attempting to understand ourselves personally and ourselves
form a general overview of the of the problem or situation.
as a society whenever we philosophize.
problem or situation.
Philosophical reflection is the process by Example: A teacher listens first to both Example: A teacher scolds student A
1.4 Doing
which an individual undergoes a reflective stories of her two arguing students after student B accused him of stealing
Philosophy:
Holistic Perspective state or evaluate his or her experiences before making any conclusion about her pencil case. However, the teacher
and Partial View first before making any related action. The the issue. only listened to the story of student B,
use of philosophical reflection is important and not to student A, before deciding
as it enables thought to be looked into using a deeper, holistic perspective. In to scold the student.
effect, actions are directed towards greater sources of wisdom and truth.
Looking at the characteristics of holistic and partial points of view, it can be
In the process, one can learn more about himself or herself, including personal concluded that using a holistic perspective is more desirable in doing philosophy
beliefs, ideals, or values. Previous experiences may be seen as important aspects than using a partial perspective. Partial points of view only promote limited
of making reflections because they facilitate deeper thinking and understanding of knowledge on the situation. This may lead to wrong conclusions.
the self. Aside from knowing the self, many other activities also emanate from
reflection.
4
Doing philosophy can be applied to day-to-day activities and life perspectives.

Because it involves an evaluative process, doing philosophy allows a person to REFERENCES
make better decisions and act accordingly to situations. Books
CHAPTER SUMMARY What is Philosophy? - Chapter 1, pp. 1-14, Philosophizing and Being Human; A
Textbook for Senior High School (2016)
Having a philosophy involves having a reason for existing, a method of
obtaining goals, and having points of view for something. Electronic Sources
Socrates. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2018, February 6) retrieved from

Having a philosophy does not necessarily mean that you are a philosopher, but you
can still be a philosophical thinker. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/socrates
What is Philosophy, retrieved from https://philosophy.fsu.edu/undergraduate-

Being philosophical means looking carefully not only on what we think but also study/why-philosophy/What-is-Philosophy
on why we think about a certain thing in a particular way.
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Chapter1: The Process of
The skill that doing philosophy requires is considering the many points of view. Doing Philosophy (2018, June 13) retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/arielgilbuena7/intro-to-the-philosophy-of-the-
human-person-chapter-1-the-process-of-doing-philosophy
Philosophy is deemed personal since it involves oneself: making an effort doing
your own question, and then examining your own point of view in it.
It is important to view a situation in a holistic perspective rather than in

particular; exercise giving open doors to all uncertainties and possibilities .
Applying philosophy in your way of thinking leads you to better choices and
decisions.
Philosophy deals with uncertainties and possibilities rather than fixed answers.
Remember Socrates: He knows that he does not know. Asking questions will be
always vital to understand and give answers that may not be direct but at least
close to uncertainties.
5
Directions: In a short bond paper, write an essay The squirming body trunk within his hands,
ACTIVITY 1
explaining the connection of the poem below to Thus boldly up the snake:
philosophy. Observe proper margin and indention, the “I see,” –quoth he- “the Elephant
essay should also have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. A rubric for Is very much like a snake!”
grading will be given. (30 points)
The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
Blind Men and the Elephant And felt about the knee:
John Godfrey Saxe’s Version “What most wondrous beast is like
(1816-1887) Is mighty plain,” –quoth he,-
“’Tis clear enough the Elephant
It was six men of Indostan, Is very much like a tree!”
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
(Though all of them were blind), Said, “E’en the blindest man
That each observation Can tell what this resembles most;
Might satisfy his mind. Deny the fact who can,
The First approach’d the Elephant This Marvel of an Elephant
And happening to fall Is very much like a fan!”
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl: The Sixth no sooner had begun
“God bless me! But the Elephant About the beast to grope,
Is very like a wall!” Then, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
The Second, feeling of tusk, “I see,” –quoth he-, “the Elephant
Cried, -“Ho! What we have here Is very much like a rope!”
So very round and smooth and sharp? And so these men of Indostan
To me ‘tis mighty clear, Disputed loud and long,
This wonder of an elephant Each and his own opinion
Is very much like a spear!” Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
The Third approach’d the animal, And all were in the wrong!
And happening to take
6
Blind Men and the Elephant Directions: Using the Venn diagram, try to list the
A Poem by John Godfrey Saxe ACTIVITY 2
similarities and differences of your own motto versus the
Retrieved from https://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/blind-men-and-the-elephant.html
motto of someone you look up to (e.g., your favorite
Rubric for Grading: artist, model, beauty queen, teacher, etc.) Construct your own diagram on a
DESCRIPTION/INDICATION separate bond paper that will be passed along this activity sheet. Refer to the
CRITERIA 10 7 5 3 example below.
Content The insights The insights The insights The insights "Let us cultivate an environment, not just in
“Be the change you want beauty pageants but in society in general,
were discussed were discussed are unclear, are irrelevant
to see in the world.” –My where we argue like we're right but listen
clearly and clearly but the and the output to the given
concisely. output is too is too wordy. concept. Motto like we're wrong." -Catriona Gray
wordy.
Grammar and The insights The insights There are The output has
Vocabulary were explained were explained minimal errors too many
using proper using correct in grammar errors in
grammar and spelling of and spelling of grammar and
correct spelling words. words. spelling.
of words. However,
there are some
errors in - Is not clearly - Talks about the - Is very direct of
grammar. precise of the betterment of the the cultivation she
Mechanics The task The task The task The task change he/she is society/world is talking about
outcome outcome outcome outcome talking about - Encourages the - Uses the word
showed that showed that showed that showed that - Speaks on a single self to be involved ‘us’ instead of
the student the student the student did the student did ‘you’ in this betterment referring to a
followed all followed most not follow the not follow any - Consists of single person only
the of the instructions instruction positive thinking
instructions instruction correctly. correctly.
correctly. correctly. Some parts are
either missing
or unclear.
Reminder: The short bond paper should be attached with this activity sheet and
shall then be passed on the scheduled date given by the instructor.
7
ASSESSMENT Name:______________________________________ 5. He is considered wisest of the Athenians not because he knows a lot of
Strand and Section:____________________________ things but because of the fact that he knows that he does not know.
Date:_______________________________________ a. Aristotle
Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer. Use black/blue pen only. Any b. Plato
form of cheating is prohibited. Submit on the scheduled date given by the c. Socrates
instructor.
6. Despite considering philosophy as a body of knowledge with a step-by-step
1. A Filipino word which refer to someone who may be smart aleck especially process to follow, it can be implied that philosophy is more like a _______
in answering questions. among different points of view.
a. Pilyo a. Story
b. Pilosopo b. Conversation
c. Pinoy c. Text
2. Someone said that his philosophy is ‘To God be the glory’. At first glance, 7. What does the term philosophy mean?
what do you think does he mean by this? a. Love of Critical Thinking
a. God is powerful and great in His life. b. Love of Wisdom
b. The center of his life is God only. c. Love of Logic
c. Everything that He does and achieve in his life is a way of being
thankful to and praising God. 8. What point of view looks at all aspects of a situation?
a. Holistic
3. Having a philosophy can also mean having a general ________ about a b. Partial
specific activity or aspect of life. c. Wholly
a. Guideline
b. Statement 9. Which of the following scenarios demonstrates a partial point of view?
c. Answers a. Listening to both your teachers’ and parents’ advice on how to
improve your grades
4. The mission and vision of social institutions mean that the social institution b. Referring to only one source of information for your position paper
has a ________ it wants to achieve. c. Checking out all the dental clinics referred to you by your friends
a. Purpose
b. Task 10. Considering these statements:
c. Assignment A: Unlike other sciences, philosophy does not answer questions definitely
or in the exact way
8
B: Considering the ways others view a situation or a question is a skill that

philosophy requires.
a. Both statements A and B are true.

b. Statement A is true while statement B is false.
c. Both statements are false.
9
First Quarter
2. METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy concerned
with the nature of existence, being, and the world.
Module At the end of this module, you are expected to: Epistemology Study of Knowledge What can I know?
 Distinguish opinion from truth, Epistemology is the branch of philosophy
 Analyze situations that show the difference concerned with the nature, origin, and limits of
between opinion and truth, human knowledge.
 Realize that the methods of philosophy lead to Aesthetics Study of Art What is beautiful?
wisdom and truth, and Aesthetics is the branch of philosophy concerned
Week:______
 Evaluate opinions. with the nature and appreciation of art, beauty,
and good taste.
KEY QUESTIONS Logic Study of Reasoning What is correct
inference?
 What do you think is the difference of philosophy from other natural
Philosophical Logic, the study, from a philosophical
and human science?
perspective, of the nature and types of logic,
 Who determines the truth in matters? including problems in the fiend and the relation of
 Are all opinions considered false? logic to mathematics and other disciplines.
Politics Study of Power What makes a just
We can get a better understanding of society?
2.1 Traditional Branches
philosophy by considering what sorts of Political Philosophy is the branch of philosophy
of Philosophy
things other than scientific issues human that is concerned, at the most abstract level, with
might inquire into. Traditionally, the main branches of philosophy (also called ‘sub- the concepts and arguments involved in political
disciplines’ are as follows. Know, however, that these branches are not the only opinion.
branches under philosophy, and that while may seem like they are concerned with
very different and sometimes seemingly separate things altogether, these overlap These sub-disciplines can be categorized in various different ways. For instance, if
in various philosophical systems forwarded by various thinkers. we categorize it by chronology, it will be into classified into: ancient philosophy,
which is dominant in the sixth century B.C.E. until roughly the fourth century C.E.,
Branch of Philosophy Concern Question and the medieval philosophy which has become dominant with its philosophical or
Ethics Study of Action What ought I do? theological thought from fifth to the fifteenth century C.E., after which comes the
Ethics, also called moral philosophy, is the modern period of the philosophy. Contemporary philosophy is the period referring
discipline concerned with what is morally good and
to the present mode and systems of philosophizing, referred to by some as
bad and morally right and wrong. The term is also
postmodern philosophy.
applied to any system or theory of moral values or
principles.
Metaphysics Study of Existence What is being?
10
2.2 Philosophical Method The first chapter clearly discussed the So the identification of the philosophical method with a commitment to reason
plurality of philosophies and how it and argument as a source of knowledge (or at least justification for people to
differs from other sciences. It seems that philosophy is distinguished from other believe) seems reasonably viable.
endeavors by the method it adopts. As science is usually identified by the scientific
Philosophical method (or philosophical methodology) is defined also as the study
method, by which it observes and explain phenomena in a calculative and an
of how to do philosophy. A common view among philosophers is that philosophy
experimental way, what is the philosophical method?
is distinguished by the ways that philosophers follow in addressing philosophical
Brown (2008) stated on his article The Philosophical Method that a good case can questions. There is not just one method that philosophers use to answer
be made that philosophical method involves a commitment to reason and philosophical questions.
argument as a source of knowledge. Rationalism then took evidence that only
reason was a source of knowledge. Parmenides (515-445 Dogmatism (1595-1605)
B.C.E.), on the other hand, argued that though reality
appeared as a plurality that was in constant change (since •Arrogant assertion of opinions as truth
generations and generations develop different points of •A dogmatist is a person who asserts his or her opinions in an
view), in actuality was a static unity that never changed. The 'arrogant manner'
reason that we are supposed to adopt this radical position is •Blind believers
•Asserting or insisting upon ideas or principles, especially when
that positing the reality of many changing objects leads to a
unproven or unexamined, in an imperious or arrogant manner.
contradiction (that of something coming from nothing or
opposites existing in the same place at the same time). Parmenides of Elea
Empiricism
The philosophical method (based on Brown, 2008) involves a commitment to the
following: a good argument with the conclusion that p is the reason to believe p. •It is a theory that all knowledge is sense experience.
•Boomed in the 11th century when the Persian philosopher
What counts as a good argument (or even an argument at all) will be debated but 'Avicenna' argued that knowledge is attained through emprical
everyone agrees that if there is a good argument with the conclusion that p then families.
there is a reason to believe that p. In this way, we also see how is it that science is •The term empiricism has a dual eytymology, Greek word
a type of philosophy. The scientific method 'experience' and roman usage of empiric.
By empirical, it means
presupposes the philosophical method with the that based on, concerned •This concept originated in observation and experiment which is
restriction that good arguments come from empirical with, or verifiable by used in natural sciences. It is the fundamental requirement of the
observation or experience scientific method that all hypotheses and theories must be tested
testing of theory. So though Einstein may have used against observation of the natural world.
rather than theory or pure
thought experiments to come up with relativity, no one •Hence, science is considered to be methodology empirical in
logic.
believed it until empirical confirmation. nature.
11
2.3 Truth As varieties of rational inquiry, it is

Skepticism
natural to think that science and
•Attitude of doubting knowledge claims set forth in various areas. philosophy are mainly concerned with getting the truth about things. The idea that
•The original Greek meaning 'skeptikos' was an 'inquirer', someone who science and philosophy are truth oriented is somehow interesting and at the same
was unsatisfied and still looking for truth. time, confusing. But for now let’s assume that rational inquiry is truth oriented and
•Since the Enlightenment, skepticisn has come to mean disbelief- address a couple of questions about truth.
primarily religious disbelief- and the skeptic has often been likened by
Atheists.  What is it for a claim to be true?
 How do we determine that a claim is true?
Criticism
Separating the two questions above is important. Questions about how we know
•The critical philosophy movement, attributed to Immanuel Kant, sees whether something is true are epistemic questions (refer to branches of philosophy
the primary task of philosophy as criticism rather than justification of above). But the question of what it is for something to be true is not an epistemic
knowledge.
issue. The truth of claim is quite independent of how whether we know it to be
•In a more general sense, it applies to any philosophical doctrine that
adopts a critical attitude, i.e., that systematically questions whatever true. If you are not sure about this, consider the claim that there is intelligent life
appears to be true yet is capable of being doubted. on other planets and the claim that there is no intelligent life on other planets. We
do not know which of these two claims are true, but surely one of them is.
Rationalism Whichever of these claims is true, its being true does not depend in any way on
whether or how we know it to be true. The ability to make an informed judgment
•The view that regards reason as the chief source and test of as to what the facts are in a certain situation is a function of available evidences,
knowledge.
experience, training and so forth. With respect to some issues, no one really is in a
•Holding that reality itself has an inherently logical structure, the
position to discern the fact in some claims.
rationalist asserts that a c;ass of truth exists that an intellect can grasp
directly. The question, “Who determines what the truths or the facts are?” could be
understood by asking, “Who makes it so that something is or is not a fact?”. When
Dialectic Method applied to the question of whether God exists, the answer is obvious: no one does.
•The art or practice of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical Neither the existence nor the non-existence of God (whatever the fact of the
arguments. matter may be) is caused by human action; so no one makes it a fact that God does
•'Dialectics' is a term used to describe a method of philosophical not exist. In this case, the truth of the matter is totally independent of us.
argument that involves some sort of contradictory process between
opposing sides.. This illustrated an obvious but rather an important point. To the extent that people
act, they clearly do make various things the case and various things not the case. If
I place my coffee on the table, I have made it a fact that the laptop I am using is on
the table and I have made it a falsehood that the laptop is in the bed. This is because
12
I can interact with the physical world and change physical states of affairs, thus to every opinion and every considered judgment – in other words, every belief – will
that extent determining what the physical facts are. There are, however, facts either be true or false. This is a function of the fact that beliefs are about things or
beyond physical facts. For example, sometimes our actions take on meaning and states of affairs and they will either comport with the facts or not. An opinion may
so create facts because of the institutional rules that are in place. Like when the or may not express a fact. (And again it is a separate issue whether the fact in
Pope speaks ex cathedra (meaning, with the agreement of all the cardinals) on question can never be known or not.)
matters of faith or morals, he makes it the case that those things become, as a
It then should be noted that a belief being false does not automatically render it a
matter of fact, a catholic doctrine. They will be Catholic doctrine whether other
mere opinion. Let us take for example when some parents lying to their child by
Catholics (and non-Catholics) agree with the proclamation or not and regardless of
telling her Santa Claus exists. It is perfectly possible that the child’s false belief in
whether we even care.
Santa has then risen to the level of a considered judgment.
In these and myriad other ways, people do determine the facts in the sense of
It is also worth noting that whether a particular belief is a mere opinion or a
making them.
considered judgment is highly variable: it is relative to the individual believer, and
Something can be a fact even if we cannot know it. In this life, there are quite to a particular time in their life, too.
literally, an infinite number of claims that we could make that we know must be
Matters of taste are not opinions. It has been
either true or false (it is a fact that there is a fact about it!) but we cannot possibly
a battle over the internet if pineapples should
figure out their truth-values.
be on pizza. Some people declare that
2.4 Opinion Facts are not properly contrasted with pineapples on pizza is disgusting. Of course,
opinions. Though facts are often there will be someone in the contrary that
presented as the opposite of opinion, we cannot just conclude that a given opinion might say, “That is simply your opinion.” In such
does not state the truth. It should be a case, this latter claim clearly means
clarified the term of ‘opinion’ denotes something like, “That’s just a matter of your personal taste.”
a kind of belief. In common usage, an
Now it is surely correct to say that whether pineapples on pizza is disgusting or
opinion is a belief which has not been
pleasing is a matter of personal taste. To that extent, labeling it a matter of opinion
sufficiently well-supported or
is understandable. Notice, however, that the meaning of ‘opinion’ here is very
substantiated to count as a considered
different from the meaning used above, where an opinion is an insufficiently
judgment. Indeed, beliefs can be
supported belief. This difference in meaning is significant, for in ordinary
usefully classified as either opinions
circumstances it would be a mistake to say that one’s report that one finds
(beliefs which do not enjoy sufficient Regina George’s line from Mean Girls
pineapples on pizza disgusting is an insufficiently supported belief. If one has tasted
support or justification) or considered judgments (beliefs which do enjoy sufficient
it and found it unappealing, one’s declaration concerning its disgustingness is
support or justification). This is a perfectly appropriate dichotomy. Note, however,
perfectly well-supported, so long as the disgustingness is understood as being
that it should not be confused with another equally important and legitimate
relative to the subject and not implied to be an observer-independent (objective)
dichotomy: namely, the distinction between true beliefs and false beliefs. Both
13
quality of pineapples on pizza. Put another way, it is a fact that a different person Political Philosophy, retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/political-
finds it quite satisfying. philosophy
In conclusion, the term ‘fact’ refers to a state of affairs or an aspect of reality, not Rationalism, retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/rationalism
to a class of beliefs. By contrast, ‘opinions’ and ‘considered judgments’ are types
Skepticism, retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/skepticism
of beliefs, and those labels are most usefully used to distinguished sufficiently well-
supported from insufficiently well-supported beliefs. The Philosophical Method, Brown, R., (2008) retrieved from
https://onemorebrown.com/2008/08/15/the-philosophical-method/
REFERENCES
Books
Philosophical Methods - Chapter II, pp. 19, Philosophizing and Being Human; A
Textbook for Senior High School (2016)
Traditional Branches of Philosophy – Chapter II, pp. 19, Philosophizing and Being
Human; A Textbook for Senior High School (2016)
Electronic Sources
Aesthetics, Branch of Philosophy, retrieved from

https://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_aesthetics.html
Ethics, Philosophy, retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/ethics-

philosophy/
Facts and Opinions, (Lammer-Heindel, 2016) retrieved from -

https://philosophynow.org/issues/115/Facts_and_Opinions
Metaphysics, Branch of Philosophy retrieved from

https://www.philosophybasics.com/branch/metaphysics.html
Methods in Philosophy, PPT (2016) retrieved from

https://www.slideshare.net/Sairishkhokar/methods-in-philosophy
Philosophy of Logic, retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/topic/philosophy-of-logic
14
Directions. Based on the chapter’s discussion, identify ASSESSMENT Name:______________________________________

ACTIVITY 1
whether the given statement is true or false. Write T if it Strand and Section:____________________________
is true, and write F if otherwise. Date:_______________________________________
Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer. Use black/blue pen only. Any
__________1. All opinions are considered false.
form of cheating is prohibited. Submit on the scheduled date given by the
__________2. Something can be true whether we know the truth behind it or not. instructor.
__________3. No one determines what the facts are, instead, human goes on a 1. The original Greek word ‘skeptikos’ means ________, which refers to
quest in searching the truth in life. someone who is unsatisfied and still looking for the truth.
a. Searcher
__________4. When something is based on empirical judgment, it means that it is b. Investigator
therefore verified by theory and pure logic rather than experiment and c. Inquirer
observation.
2. A theory that all knowledge is sense-experience, either you observe it, or
__________5. Skeptical thinking means doubting the knowledge presented to you. experience it first-hand.
__________6. The branches of philosophy are very different and not connected to a. Criticism
b. Empiricism
each other.
c. Dogmatism
__________7. You are deemed elitist if you express your opinion in an ‘arrogant
manner’. 3. While science follow a step-by-step procedure and arrives at an almost
definite answer, on the other hand, philosophy
__________8. Rationalism took evidence that only reason was the source of __________________________________.
knowledge. a. Does not stick to one answer, instead considers the points of
view of many.
__________9. Sometimes our actions take on meaning and so create facts because b. Is just like science which comes up at one exact answer and
of the institutional rules that are in place. therefore considers it the truth.
__________10. Contemporary philosophy is also known as modern philosophy. c. Heavily relies on questions and not caring whether it may have
answers, as long as there are questions.
4. Consider the statements below.

A: Opinions may or may not express a fact.
B: Opinions are entirely contrast of facts.
C: The truth that we know is the only truth in the world.
a. Only statement A is true while statements B and C are false.
15
b. Only statement B is true while statements A and C are false. b. Empiricism

c. Only statement C is true and statements A and B are false. c. Dialectic Method
5. A branch of philosophy which is highly concerned with the study of 11. A sub-discipline of philosophy which asks the question, ‘what makes a
existence and thus asks the question, ‘what is being?’. society just?’
a. Ethics a. Logic
b. Epistemology b. Politics
c. Metaphysics c. Ethics
6. An art or practice of exchanging logical arguments with the purpose of 12. This has been concerned with disbelief primarily of religion, and is highly
arriving at the truth.’ likened by atheists.
a. Criticism a. Skepticism
b. Dialectics b. Criticism
c. Aesthetics c. Empiricism
7. He argued that truth is never changing and is the same always. 13. We can change the physical truths because _________.
a. Avicenna a. We have control over our minds and intellect.
b. Immanuel Kant b. We distinguish truth through our spiritual sense.
c. Parmenides c. We can interact with the physical world and can change the states
of physical affairs.
8. Your classmate Robert told you that his parents gave him a gift:
PlayStation5. You highly doubted this because you know it is quite pricy. 14. It is a category of the sub-disciplines which is dominant in the sixth century
So you come over his house to check if he has really a PS5. What kind of B.C.E. until fourth century C.E.
methodology reflects this situation? a. Medieval philosophy
a. Criticism b. Contemporary Philosophy
b. Skepticism c. Ancient Philosophy
c. Rationalism
15. A discipline which is concerned with what is morally good and right and
9. A sub-discipline of philosophy concerned with art and beauty. what morally bad and wrong.
a. Aesthetics a. Epistemic
b. Epistemology b. Metaphysics
c. Ethics c. Ethics
10. It regards reason as the chief source and test of knowledge.

a. Rationalism
16
First Quarter
3. THE HUMAN PERSON AS AN instance, when you have a toothache so painful that you become aware of how
something so small can have pain so massive, you end up being sorry for all your
Module EMBODIED SPIRIT
bad life choices. We also pay attention to our body when we get suddenly struck
At the end of this module, you are expected to: by how weird a certain part of it looks. You may have noticed how weird your ears
 Recognize own limitations and possibilities, look like, or your arms, or even your toes.
 Evaluate own limitations and the possibilities for
their transcendence, and Perhaps the most usual time we notice our bodies is when we find that we cannot
Week:______  Distinguish the limitations and possibilities for do something, either due to injury or illness, or to sheer inability. It is when you
transcendence have a runny nose on the exact day of field trip: you think of how you take for
granted all the times that you were just breathing peacefully without a runny nose.
KEY QUESTIONS You may also curse yourself when you have your ankles sprained, and not being
able to play basketball with your friends on the weekend. Insofar as inabilities go,
 What is the relation of the mind and the body?
you may wonder why you cannot reach your strange-looking toes without bending
 Are we living inside our bodies or is the body living in us? Or are we
your knees while your seatmate can do it effortlessly maybe even while wiggling
our bodies?
his ears, which you cannot do either. Or why most people cannot lick their own
 Is there a gap between our bodies and our experiences?
elbows, or keep their eyes open while sneezing. Or why comic book superheroes
or mutants, can, say, fly or teleport from one place to another, while we are stuck
The generation of today is very much with long modes of transit. You might think, “If only I can teleport, like Dr. Strange
3.1 Our bodies
concerned with their body: not on how or fly like Iron Man, I would not ever be late for anything, or have to fall in line at
well it functions, but more on how much it looks like. It is the result of spending the public transport, or clean my room, ever
too much time on social media, we get to see an almost perfect body structure that again.” Furthermore, if it were possible to
we question ourselves: ‘Why do I don’t have thighs like that?’ or may say to teleport some parts and aspects of your body
ourselves, ‘Oh, her skin is so soft, it must be because of the product she uses’ and away, then you would never have toothaches,
then proceed on buying products we might not stiff necks, strange-looking toes, or all sorts of
even need in the first place. We now pay attention disease. Your body would not just hurt, you
to activities that will make our bodies look better would also not worry with the usual limitation
in public. But, before social media and stuff, how of time and space.
often do we really pay attention to our bodies?
But, because our bodies are in time and space,
I know that there are certainly times that we we function in accordance with natural laws.
neglect our bodies, think for example all the time Our bodies are subject to the laws of physics,
you drank soda instead of water. But, when a part involving mass, inertia, torque, and other things. Our bodies also work in
of our body hurts, it takes our full attention. For accordance to the laws of biology and chemistry, and our abilities are also
17
determined by our anatomy as species which has continually evolved throughout The mind-body problem
time. To apply this to our illustration above, we have difficulty in licking our own
elbows because most of us do not have joints or bone lengths that allow for it; most The mind-bod problem is concerned
of us cannot hold our eyes open when we sneeze because of the involuntary reflex Mind with the relation of the physical (realm
triggered by the stimulation of the cranial nerve connecting the nose and the eyes. Body of atoms, neurons, nerves, brain,
We cannot fly like a bird unaided because our strength and power would not be matter, and so on) and the mental (the
enough to support wings relative to our size or provide lift, and teleportation realm of beliefs, emotions, sensations,
involves disintegration and reintegration of atomic data nobody and nothing as of pains, and so on). It asks the questions,
now is capable of (the very meaning of teleportation is still under discussion). ‘are you a body?’, ‘are you something which is not simply in your body?’ or ‘are you
something else in addition to your body?’.
In short, the bodies that we have, in the context of being a species which are also
creatures of time and space, are physically conditioned by and subject to natural
laws, simple because our bodies and its atoms and cells are physical things.
When asked to describe someone, or even ourselves, we ought to give descriptions

Dualism Monism
involving physical terms− my hair length is this short, I am not that tall, with this
-defined as the doctrine that - agree in maintaning that
skin complexion, and so on. While we know that our self, or our personhood largely
there are in the world two universe does not contain
involves our materiality (and not only in terms of our physical descriptions), we also kinds of substances, matter two kind it things
ordinarily suppose that there is much more to ourselves than our bodies. That is, and mind, which are fundamentally different. Out
while we know that our bodies may be subject to the natural laws of physics, different in kind and should of the duality of things as it
biology, and chemistry, we also intuitively hold that we have minds that are not be distinct. seems to be revealed to the
plain man they try to make
limited in the same way that our bodies are. Our intellect, our will, our imagination,
some kind of unity.
our rationality− all of which we take to be aspects of the mind− seem to be both
less spatio-temporally constrained as compared to our bodies and are also part and
parcel of who we are. So apart from physical descriptions, we also use more Forms of Monism
abstract ones when talking about ourselves− I do not want to be a failure in my
1. Materialism – a doctrine to which the first impulse of the plain man leads
parents, I think being in this generation means having so much burden, I imagine him at the present time. According to this doctrine, nothing comes from
myself being in the beach, etc. So on one hand, I have a body, and on the other I nothing, and nothing can become non-existent. All the changes which have
also have a mind which is different form my body. Moreover, we ordinarily suppose ever taken place in the world are the only changes in the position of
that the mind controls the body, just like how a driver takes control of the car. Or material particles− they are regrouping of atoms.
maybe the controller is the soul, which is the essence of ourselves, and the body 2. Spiritualism – a doctrine to which believes that there is no existence which
contains it, perhaps similar to a jar of water. we may not properly call mind or spirit. It errs in the one direction as
18
materialism errs in the other. One must not confound with this doctrine same way that I also have a mind and a will; and it can also mean that I am my body
that very different one, Spiritism, which teaches that a certain favored class because whatever it is that my body go through, I go through.
of persons called mediums may bring back the spirits departed and enable
3.2 Having Bodies Philosophers throughout the history
us to hold communication with them.
have also talked about the body
Possession and Involvement although when they do so, they do so within the discussion of their very diverse
philosophical systems.
There are times when we refer “our” physical and mental states as “our body and
mind’, by this, what do we mean by “our”? What do those possessive forms “our”
or “my” or a “person’s” body even mean?
Rene Descartes (1596-1650)
When a person says, “It’s my body and I have the right to do whatever I want to do
"I think, therefore I am."
with it,” he/she usually means the his/her body is her own, and not society’s or
French philosopher and
anybody else’s: it is his/hers. Or when mathematician who is usually
someone says, “My mind is made up,” they credited as the thinker who
mean that they have made their decision and systematically articulated the
it in their mind that they made it, not modern dualism between the mind
anybody else’s mind. The possessives imply a and the body.
form of ownership, a form of having− in our
examples having a body and having a stand,
perhaps also in the same way that we say we For Descartes, the body is fundamentally different from the mind. Almost
have books, or we have parents, or we have everything for him is doubtful, however, there is one thing that he clearly and
fears. distinctly perceives to be indubitable: that he is doubting. Because of this doubt
that he is proven to exist, hence his famous phrase, “I think, therefore I am,”
On the other hand, notice that when we talk about our bodies, for the instance in
meaning that since I doubt, I think, and since I am thinking, I exist. Simply, he can
the context of our bodies that are in time and space, we also say that we are in
think about his body, the external world, and his experiences of it as perhaps
time and space. Just like how we go on our daily activities such− we wake up, we
nonexistent, but he cannot think of himself as nonexistent− for to think of oneself
got off of the bed, we think our toes look weird, we suffer from injury. The
as nonexistent there has to be an existing thing which thinks so. He therefore
involvement of our bodies in doing those activities simultaneously implies and
concludes that this existing thing is a thinking thing which is fundamentally
requires the involvement of ourselves.
different from a non-thinking material, extended thing. The essence of body, which
In this way we can talk about the body not only in terms of the mind-body problem, is extension, is therefore radically different from a non-thinking from the essence
but also in terms of the meaning and experience involved whenever we use the of the mind, which is thought. The “I” that thinks the essence of man; the body
phrase, my body. This is because my body can mean the body that I have, in the which is unthinking is separate from it.
19
which has access to ideal forms, being of the same nature as them. Man is thus
essentially a soul with a corruptible, mortal body, and in bodily death the body’s
Plato (428/427-348/347 B.C.E.) distractions and imprisonment no longer apply him.
- The Soul is in the Body
An ancient Greek philosopher and a
student of Socrates, his belief
somewhat coincides that of
Descartes. Plato's concern were wtih Aristotle (384 B.C.E-322 B.C.E.)
a systematic investigation of - The Body is in the Soul
metaphysics, politics, ethics, and
epistemology. a Greek philosopher and polymath
during the Classical period in Ancient
Greece. He is the student of Plato.
For Plato, dualism occurs as the essential difference between the body (which is,
or something like, a thing that is mortal, divisible, and corruptible) and the soul
(which is, or something like, an essence that is immaterial, invisible, and perfect).
On his point of view, the soul has three parts (which are not physical divisions): Aristotle, however, disagreed with some of his teacher’s ideas, claiming that the
form is inseparable from (or in some interpretations, is itself) the matter of
An excellent,
substance. This means that the man (who is a substance) is the soul (his form, the
virtuous man,
Spirited Part: essence of which is the body). Aristotle argued that you cannot ask whether a man
responsible with our has a very well-
spiritedness:
is just his soul or his body, since for all the nonphysical nature of the soul’s abilities,
ordered soul,
enthusiasm an vigor intellectual activities always require physical apparatuses. Anything that is a
for honor like honor meaning that
substance therefore both has matter and form, and man is and can only exist as
and victory each of these
Appetitive Part: the unity of matter and form.
responsible for Rational Part: parts do their
responsible for truth function well to
our base, and wisdom
Later on, the Christian philosophers of the Middle Ages took these pagan ideas and
physical needs pursue their also forwarded, in the context of various theological concerns, that man is the
respective goals composite of the body and the soul (which is, however, the more important of the
without two). The modern philosophers (of which Descartes was an example), paid more
Soul interfering with

the other parts
attention to the mind of man, slowly moving away from a metaphysical framework
(involving fundamental substances and their nature) to a more epistemological
and functions. It (involving the conditions and possibility of knowing).
is the soul, and
not the body,
20
Having a body is very much like have anything else, like my house keys or my phone
that I lost. I am responsible of my possessions, I have control over them, and I may
Gabriel Marcel (1889-1973)
use them the way I deem fit.
- I am my body
A french philosopher. Marcel's illustration of Comparing my body to some of my possessions may give you a good metaphor, but
being and having is one that actually straddles my body is also very different from every other possession that I have. I can lose
the distinction between them: "my body". My my house keys− because they are separate from me. However, I cannot say the
body, insofar as it is my body, is both
something that I have and something that I
exact thing to my body: my body and its lifetime is radically connected to myself
am, and cannot be adequately accounted for and my human being.
using either of these descriptions alone.
Moreover, our bodies experiences are our experiences. That is why you say to your
mother “I am going to the computer shop,” rather than “My body is going to the
computer shop”. Descartes hinted at this when he problematized one of Plato’s
metaphors: that the body is like the ship and the soul is like its captain. If the ship
capsizes, the captain does not himself capsize. In contrast, if my body experiences
Marcel aims to describe the body as a lived body, not in the sense of objective fact, pain, the entirety of myself is regretfully, but fully, involved. This is why our
but in the sense of an always already engaged (and meaningful) experience. For experiences of pain are so vivid, because our very selves are experiencing pain.
Marcel, Descartes’ analysis of the body as an extended thing pertains to the
objective body that you or I have− meaning it can be anyone’s (and consequently These considerations therefore point to the limit of saying I have my body. My body
no one’s specific) body. is not only something that I have, because although it is like anything I own, it is
unique among everything else that I have because of my radical involvement with
Treating the body as a machine (just like how Descartes thought of it) is a very it. Furthermore, neither is it just the universal, objective of the sciences, because
efficient way of understanding and fixing it when possible. The body in the physical though if functions like everybody else’s, it is mine and no one else’s. Although very
sciences is very much like any other normal biological and physical body in terms useful for scientifically understanding it, treating it entirely objectively would make
of its parts and functions, the doctor can pinpoint what is malfunctioning in the it lose its mineness. Therefore, more fundamentally, for Marcel, my body is not
patient’s body. Successful diagnosis and treatment depends on and requires this just something I have; my body is also that which I am. I am my body.
objectivity. The success of science is due to and requires this objectivity, producing
near universally valid results. 3.3 Being Bodies It does not make sense to ask whether
my body and my self are separate or
To be objective about the body therefore means to treat itself from the thing it is even separable. We have already seen how, when describing ourselves, we resort
investigating. To be objective about the body therefore means to treat it separate to physical and abstract descriptions of ourselves. We already saw that my self and
from myself, and thus say I have a body. This body that I have needs oxygen, my body, in terms of life, location, and history, are inseparable. That is, I am where
sustenance, care, and control− like everybody’s does. body is: my teacher cannot mark me absent from class when I am sitting there−
even when my mind is somewhere else daydreaming. What my body undergoes, I
21
also undergo: my tooth aching or my neck stiffening up involves myself. And when It becomes apparent therefore that embodiment is not something additional that
my body dies, my family and friends will hold my funeral, because I have already man has, in that man, is not something else plus a body. We see that most of the
died. These ordinary examples of ordinary experiences point to the inseparability earlier metaphors such as a captain and a ship or maybe a water in a jar, involve
of my body and my self so much so that I can say: I am my body. the unity of two substantially different things that will come up short, in that these
metaphors contain and maintain separate concepts even while at the same time
Now, let us take a look on what being my body means. Because of my body the
gluing them together. That is why I am my body in a way that no other conceptual
world occurs to me as it does: I experience the hardness of this chair I am sitting
unity can be. My self Is absolutely embodied, whereby my self in that phrase does
on, I feel the sticky warmth of the air on my skin, I see the words on this page, I
not pertain to something separable from embodiment, and whereby embodiment
hear dogs barking outside. Because of my body, I have a sense of distance, of
in turn does not pertain to something being contained by a containing body. This
breadth and depth, of temperature, of length and duration and so on− in short, I
mysterious involvement is the very same paradox involved having (bodies) and
always have a spatial and temporal orientation within the world. My belongingness
being (bodies).
to time and space, my belongingness in this world, is because I am my body. This
world, moreover, is not just the physical world of the objectives sciences− because In this way, embodiment points not the separation of the object and the subject,
my experience of the world of the physical sciences involves me. but rather to the very ways by which our bodies allow us to inhabit the world and
I perceive things as I observe the world in such way that I see myself involved with thus form cultural habits of living it.
it because I am my body. I cannot conceive of a world which does not have any
basis on my fundamental experience of it. I am fundamentally involved in the world
because of my body as an intermediary. Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908-
1961)
However, because of my body being an intermediary, I also am not the world, that - I have a body and I am my body
is, I am connected to the world but I am not the world. This is because my body He emphasized the radical nature
that connects is also my body that sets apart: what comes between may connect, of the experienced body. For him,
or may separate. Because of my body I am in the world, I am of the world, and I am what shows up for us in
not the world. experience is fundamentally
constituted y our bodies.
The same applies to myself and other people. I am connected with other people,
with other subjects, who are like me but are not me, because of my body. Because
of our bodies, we understand (and misunderstand) one another’s gesture, words, Marcel and Merleau-Ponty argue that the body is neither an object that can be
movements, faces. In the same way that the world is familiar to me because of my known from the outside an investigating subject nor a completely subjective thing
body, we are known to one another as enemies or friends or strangers because of with no relation whatsoever to the world. Embodiment is paradoxical, and as
our bodies. As such, apart from our bodies being intermediaries, our bodies are stated, there might be no other conceptual metaphor that can capture its unity. I
also involved in inter-subjectivity. This means that any level of inter-subjectivity− have a body, and I am my body.
ethical, political, social, among others− has fundamental relation to embodiment.
22
To end this chapter, it is safe to conclude that: REFERENCES

Books
I have my body:
In the same ways that I have possessions, in What Is My Relationship to My Body - Chapter III, pp. 41-57, Philosophizing and
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However, unlike every other thing that I own, my
body is not separable from me, and if I treat it Monism and Dualism – Chapter XIV, pp. 223-254, An Introduction to Philosophy by
like an object, its being mine vanishes. Fullerton, G.S.
Therefore,
Electronic Sources
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the History of Philosophy 14(4), 391-404 retrieved from
I am my body:
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/227643/pdf
My body is not an object that I have, its me. I am
my body because my self is absolutely
embodied. I have my body, true; I am my body,
also true; but
I am not just my body too:

I am not my money, my manga collection, or my
grades. My body, which is me, cannot be the
entirety of me as a person, for while the body is
subject to physical and habitual changes, I
remain who i am as a human being, which at the
same, is only so because I am my body as well.
That is to say, it is in the contradiction (I have and I am), and the transcendence (I
am not just) that the experience of the embodiment can be holistically understood.
I am an embodied subjectivity: what this means is, simultaneously, I have a body, I
am my body, and I am not just my body.
23
Directions. Below are statements given by the Directions. Among the philosophers with their own
ACTIVITY 1 ACTIVITY 2
philosopher based on the philosophy they have on mind - philosophies, choose one and portray it using a poster
and body. Identify the philosopher of each statement design. Your art must be in a short bond paper that will be
given. (i.e., Descartes, Plato, Aristotle, Marcel, or Merleau-Ponty) passed along with this activity sheet. You will be graded based on the rubric given
below. (15 points)
1. I exist because I am thinking.
2. The form is therefore inseparable from the matter of substance. Choose one among these:
3. My body is not just something that I have, my body is also I am.

Rene Descartes
4. The soul consists of three parts.
"I think, therefore I am."
5. To think of oneself as non-existent there has to be an existing thing which
is fundamentally different from a non-thinking material, extended thing.
Plato
6. Man is essentially a soul with a corruptible, mortal body. "The soul is in the body."
7. Body is neither an object nor completely subjective thing.
Aristotle
8. The body is like a ship and the soul is like its captain.
"The body is in the soul."
9. You cannot ask whether a man is just his soul or his body, since for all non-
physical nature of the soul abilities, intellectual activities require physical
apparatuses. Gabriel Marcel
"I am my body.
10. The body is a lived body: not objective but in the sense of always already
engaged experience.
24
Rubric for Grading: ASSESSMENT Name:______________________________________

Strand and Section:____________________________
Criteria Very Good Good Fair Poor Score
5 4 3 2
Date:_______________________________________
Required The poster All required Only few Several Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer. Use black/blue pen only. Any
Elements includes all elements required required form of cheating is prohibited. Submit on the scheduled date given by the
required are included elements elements instructor.
elements as on the are missing are missing
well as poster. on the on the 1. The part of the soul as illustrated by Plato that is responsible with
additional poster. poster. enthusiasm and honor.
information. a. Spirited Part
Attractiveness The poster is The poster is The poster is The poster is
b. Appetitive Part
exceptionally attractive in acceptably distractingly
attractive in terms of attractive messy or c. Rational Part
terms of design, though it very poorly
design, layout layout and may be a bit designed. It 2. Our bodies have limitations because we function in accordance with
and neatness. neatness. messy. is not _____.
attractive. a. Human Laws
Graphics All graphics Most of the Some of the Graphics do
b. Law of Science
Relevance are related to graphics are graphics are not relate to
the topic and related to related to the topic c. Natural Laws
make it easier the topic the topic and it is hard
to and make it and make it to 3. It is a doctrine that defines matter and mind are different and should be
understand. easier to easy to understand. distinct.
understand. understand.
a. Dualism
b. Materialism
c. Monism
4. He is a Greek philosopher who disagreed with some of his teacher’s idea.

a. Plato
b. Aristotle
c. Socrates
5. They are the one who took the idea that man is the composite of the body
and the soul.
a. Modern Philosophers
25
b. Christian Philosophers
c. Greek Philosophers
6. He is the one who argued that the thinking essence of man which is the “I”
and the body which is unthinking, is separate from it.
a. Descartes
b. Aristotle
c. Plato
7. When we are asked to describe someone, we ought to give descriptions

involving _______.
a. Personality
b. Hobbies and Likes
c. Physical Terms
8. My body being is an _____; this means that I am connected to the world

but I am not the world.
a. Intermediate
b. Intermediary
c. Inter-median
9. According to Plato, it is the part of the soul responsible for truth and
wisdom.
a. Appetitive Part
b. Spirited Part
c. Rational Part
10. A very efficient way of understanding and therefore fixing the body.
a. Treating the body as a ship that has a captain.
b. Treating the body as a cage of the soul.
c. Treating the body as a machine.
26
4. THE HUMAN PERSON IN THEIR it were a different world− an innocent,

primeval world insulated from the malice and
ENVIRONMENT
machinations of human consciousness. But
At the end of this module, you are expected to: there is also “war” in nature: the survival of
 Notice things that are not in their proper place and species. Though beings of different species
organize them in aesthetic, coexist peacefully in this world, each one uses
 Show that care for environment contributes to their respective adaptive and reproductive
health, well-being, and sustainable development, abilities− from the tiniest bacteria to the most
and fearsome carnivore− in order to survive.
 Demonstrate the virtue of prudence and frugality
towards environments. The world of nature is therefore seen as a chaotic, yet peaceful world. Chaotic, in
the sense that each species exclusively looks to further its own survival, causing it
KEY QUESTIONS to be hostile toward possible invaders; nevertheless, it is also peaceful, in the way
that at the end of the day, nature, left on its own, finds a way to allow every
 Is the human world and nature existing independently and separate
organism in the community to benefit and flourish from the various processes and
from each other?
confrontations that take place between different species. For some of us, it is a
 What does it mean to be a dweller in nature?
world that can take care of itself, without the need of looking after. It has the
 Should we refrain ourselves from modern technology?
capacity to both destroy and heal itself, without human intervention.
4.1 Our Ordinary Understanding of If we were asked to close our Our Relationship with Nature: Separation and Alienation
our Relationship with Nature eyes and think of nature, what Ever wandered somewhere in nature and feel like an outsider or invader? Yes, you
comes to our mind are virgin are struck and awe with its beauty but at the same time you also become quite
forests, deep blue oceans, conscious of the potential harm or damage that your presence can bring into that
fields of flowers and fresh world. Same thing with the nature photographers (like those who work for National
air, and wild animals Geographic), they are very wary of themselves when they take pictures of nature:
running free in the making it sure that they capture nature in its purest form, minimizing the effects of
savannah. their presence on their subjects as much as possible. Excellent nature
photographers “transport” us to the world of “pure” nature. When we watch a
Some view nature as a part documentary about the African savannah, we never see people in the frame (unless
of the world that is it is a documentary about animal poaching). The show tries to present nature for
untouched by human what it truly is− a world devoid of human presence. In other words, it can be said
presence. In fact, our that for some people, our relationship with nature is that is separation or
common sense treats it as if alienation.
27
Nature, in this regard, becomes antithetical to the artificial world of human (1452-1519) idea for a flying machine, which eventually transformed into the
civilization, which Is a world of cultural and technological artifacts. Human culture modern day helicopter and airplane. The world of nature then is not a world unto
and civilization is a world of intervention and enterprise while the world of nature itself; it is not a sight to behold. It serves as a practical purpose within the sphere
is a world of brute instinct and natural processes. The human world’s beauty owes of the human world; to be more precise, for some people, the natural world is
itself to the passion and creativity of man, while that of nature comes from chance subordinate to the human world.
and natural selection. From this perspective, human existence is an existence
This is also known as the anthropocentric or ‘human-centered’ view of nature,
detached from nature. Nature is a place one visits when one has a luxury of time,
wherein their view of nature places man at the center of the world value. This
that is, when one can momentarily extricate oneself from the everyday business of
perspective interprets man as the source and measure of value for nature. Put
making a living. Nature is a world one visits during holiday vacations. For the most
simply, for some people, we value the natural world because it is useful to our
part, however, we are not part of nature. We have our own world− the world of
species.
skyscrapers, cars, concrete roads and computers.
These two prevailing views on the human being’s relationship with nature are
Our Relationship with Nature: The ‘Human-Centered’ View of Nature
certainly not beyond criticism. On one hand, to treat nature as if it were a world
While some people thinks that nature is separate from us, others’ perspective is
unto itself and imagine our existence as detached from it is an essentially naïve
that nature is not separate from culture, but is in fact, an integral part of the latter.
view. After all, the earth is enveloped by one atmosphere and everything that exists
They recognize the value of nature not only as a scene to behold, or an experience
within this space is biologically and chemically connected with one another. As the
to partake in, but as a resource, hence the term, natural resources.
human world is sustained by the various natural processes that happen in nature,
Nature is a wellspring of vital raw like photosynthesis and the hydrologic cycle, conversely, our ways of life, our
materials that are necessary for production and consumption patterns, waste disposal strategies, and our
forging and sustaining human reproduction rate, take a toll on the nonhuman world. In this way, the natural and
civilization. Essentially all human human worlds cannot be understood as isolated from each other: what we do
artifacts trace their material origin affects our nature and what happens in the nature affects us.
from the natural environment,
On the other hand, to view the natural world as subordinate to human world is not
including all the naturally occurring
also not a position to beyond critique. This largely anthropocentric view essentially
things that we source from the world
reduces nature into a stockpile. According to this view, as long as a person, a nation
of nature in order to create and
or a corporation obtains the consent of the law, nature (apart from protected
maintain the objects that makes up the world of culture and technology. Nature,
wildlife sanctuaries or heritage sites), can be treated as a possession. Although it
in this regard, possesses value in terms of utility for various human enterprises. As
seems that seeing the natural environment as an object to be possessed is perfectly
our only source of raw materials, human technology is inutile if it alienates itself
logical, the more essential issue that needs to be addressed is the sense of
from nature. It is true that most of the artifacts we have managed to create in our
superiority that human beings hold over the rest of the nature. If we are to see
civilization’s history are either fully or partially inspired by the things we observe in
ourselves as the most important and valuable species on earth, taking such an
nature; for example, bats and birds served as inspiration for Leonardo da Vinci’s
28
essence of our humanity. For instance, is it our capacity to reason that makes us distinctively cultured, but rather we have
special, perhaps our ability to use language and tools and invent machines? Does become less so. In the last centuries, we have
our place at the top of the food chain automatically gives us the right to use the guided our dealings with the world less and less
natural environment in any way that we please? These are some of the questions by moral considerations and more and more by
that we need to think about if we aspire to critically examine our relationship with considerations of short term utility−
nature. gratification of greed. In the process, we have
become less human, less cultured, more
‘bestial’ in the commonsense acceptation of
4.2 Dwellers within Nature: Beyond The Czech thinker, Erazim
that term. If we are to recover the confidence
Utility, Towards Responsibility Kohäk, sends out a call for us to
Erazim Kohäk of our intrinsic place in nature, we need to do
take our place as dwellers in
so by reclaiming, not rejecting, our distinctive moral humanity, our task of
nature. What does it mean to be a dweller?
cultivating the earth as faithful stewards. For humans, it is precisely culture, in its
We, human beings, have pushed our 4.5 billion old planet to the brink of extinction most basic sense of cultivation, of care and respect, not bestiality, that can be the
in a such a short period of time. The dinosaurs, who have roamed the planet for way to reclaiming our place in nature. It is as beings capable of seeing our place in
millions of years before we arrived, have never caused such huge damage to the nature from a moral point of view that we can cease being marauders and can
biosphere. The evidences of our inhumanity is visible: our existence on earth is by become dwellers in the earth.
far the most expensive way of
In this context, to dwell implies that we treat the earth as our home. We do not
being as compared to that of
destroy our homes do we? We take care of it and treat it with respect. The problem,
other species. We demand so
however, is that we seldom extend this respect outside the bounds of our private
much from nature. Our shelters,
properties. We do care about the things that we deem ours but rarely pay attention
clothes, cars, factories, and
to those we consider not ours. To some people, it is the government’s responsibility
gadgets take a huge toll on the
to clean and maintain whatever it is outside our homes. Some of these people do
natural environment. Think about
think that paying their taxes is enough to show their concern for their immediate
the game of golf, for instance.
environment. If ever we do act responsibly toward the natural environment, we
How many trees, animals, and
mostly do it to feel good about ourselves. Like how most of us participate in clean-
other living and nonliving
up drives or fun runs without a full background knowledge of the cause we are
organisms have to be displaced from their natural habitat or sometimes even
advocating. For most of us, we only start acting concerned about the environment
destroyed, just so golfers can put and shoot a tiny white ball into a small hole?
whenever some calamity or environmental crisis occurs that threatens to physically
Without doubt, our species has become the most voracious consumers in all of
harm us and damage our property. In any case, what is clear is the fact that we lack
nature.
the motivation and commitment to think and be concerned with what is beyond
As Kohäk stated, we have become marauders on the face of the earth rather than the realm of what personally concerns and belongs to us. We do not feel that we
dwellers therein, it is not because we have become more distinctively human, more dwell in nature. We view nature as an object to behold or as a warehouse for
29
various raw materials. This sense of alienation is the primary reason why we have remaining CO2 budget will be entirely gone within less than 8 ½ years. There will
lost our place in nature. Instead of treating it as our home, we approach it as a n not be any solutions or plans presented in line with these figures here today,
object to behold, possess, dominate, control and exploit. because these numbers are too uncomfortable. And you are still not mature to tell
it like this.”
Mankind has developed ingenious ways of harnessing and utilizing the powers of
nature. We have been able to transform the earth into a world that reflects our Very much unlike Greta, we are content with short-term solutions to perennial
own image. From fossil-powered mass production and transportation to domestic environmental problems because we are too lazy to change and too fixed on our
electrical sockets that power various appliances, the modern city developed by irresponsibly consumptive lifestyle. The essential reason why we have become so
mankind is a hub of human creativity and resourcefulness. But the city is also the callous and inconsiderate to the natural world is that we have become incapable
most expensive and wasteful part of the earth. Most of us treat the city as our of understanding our place in nature from a moral perspective. We have selfishly
home because we feel that it has the capacity to shield us from the unpredictable imposed our will over all of the existence just because we view ourselves as the
and destructive forces in nature. We see the city as our ‘safe zone’. Within its walls, pinnacle of existence due to our intellectual advantage over the rest of nature.
we become oblivious of the fact that viewed from the economic perspective, Instead of being stewards, we have become spoiled consumers that stop at nothing
everything is connected to everything else. This shows how naïve we can be when to get what they want from the environment. This is what Kohäk means when he
it comes to understanding that we cannot isolate ourselves from nature. said that we have become less cultured especially over the last three centuries.
Instead of being cultivators of nature (which is the original meaning of the Latin
We can consider it as a form of mass suicide: our wasteful and environmentally-
word cultus), our actions in relation to the natural environment have been based
unsustainable way of life. Year after year, we create more and more ways to
on the principles of short-term utility, greed and exploitation. We do not see nature
destroy ourselves with how we live ourselves. From the unhealthy food that we
as our home, nor do we view ourselves as dwellers therein.
consume, to the destruction of our forests, our profit-driven approach to life has
made us more and more vulnerable to diseases, floods, food and water shortages, To dwell in nature begins with the acceptance of the fact that the earth is our
air and noise pollution, unpredictable weather, and the like. And instead of solving home. The earth is the only place in the known universe that allows our species to
environmental issues by changing our way of life, we spend an inordinate amount live comfortably. We have to recognize that the earth is the only place we have got
of money in technology that can maintain us on this current path of auto- and it generously provides us with everything we need to exist. From this
destruction. Instead of being less wasteful, we invent new biodegradable materials perspective of gratitude, we can begin to see the inherent value of everything in
so we can keep on consuming. our natural environment. Though it is crucial to see the value of nature apart from
its value or use for us, beyond utility, both living and nonliving beings in the
On the 2019 U.N. Climate Action
environment have value that springs from the fact that they all play a distinct role
Summit, Grate Thunberg said on her
in the various processes that sustain life on earth. The earth is made up of different
speech, addressing the politicians
ecosystems that share a common purpose, which is to maintain life, not just human
present there: “How dare you pretend
life, but all life. It is therefore only by seeing the bigger picture that human beings
that this can be solved with just ‘business
can appreciate what it means to have an entire planet sustain the existence, as well
as usual’ and some technical solutions?
as of that other beings. We are part of an ecological system and our role is not
With today’s emission levels. That
Greta Thunberg
30
confined to looking after our own species’ survival. As the only things capable of machine or a computer. Calculative thinking computes. It computes ever new, ever
intelligent and moral stewardship, we have the responsibility to make sure that more promising and at the same time economical possibilities. Calculative thinking
various ecosystems are working in order. To do so implies that we recognize the races from one prospect to the next. Calculative thinking never stops, never collects
inherent value of all organic and nonorganic beings to their respective ecosystems. itself.
To be a dweller necessitates that we try our best to mitigate the negative effects
Calculative thinking is a way of thinking that is motivated by the desire for
of our distinctively consumptive way of life on the different ecosystems that make
dominion. It essentially transforms the world of nature into a warehouse of
up the biosphere. Dwelling is a way of life. Dwelling calls us to become what we
resources that continually needs to be catalogued, refined, and appropriated to
truly are with respect to nature− stewards that are capable of subordinating greed
supply humanity’s ever-growing demand for convenience and control.
to love and utility to responsibility.
This is why calculative thinking never stops. As soon as humanity comes up with a
4.3 Toward a Shift in Thinking: The German Philosopher
Calculative vs. Meditative Thinking clever new way of bringing comfort and sophistication to its life, calculative
Martin Heidegger in his
thinking evaluates the requisite reconfigurations and transformations that must
‘Memorial Address’, (1959)
undergo in order to turn these ideas into reality. For example, when humanity
called humanity’s attention to what he called ‘the crisis of homelessness.’ His
became economically busier and had less time to prepare meals at home, the fast
reflection is not about a housing shortage; but of
food industry became economically busier and had less time to prepare meals at
something more than the practical problems that human
home, the fast food industry had to find ways to adapt its menu and services to the
beings have to deal with in everyday life. He says that this
eating habits of modern man. It needed to calculate ways that would guarantee a
sense of homelessness stems from human
steady supply of inventory for all its branches so that whenever a customer orders
thoughtlessness. Heidegger insisted in the midst of the
for a hamburger or fried chicken, here will be no shortage of meat and poultry
atomic age: large-scale production of wares in full-swing,
because that would be financially injurious for the company. In this context, pigs,
energy resources being discovered, commercial media
cows and chickens are no longer treated as animals, but as food source. In the eyes
gaining momentum, and cities blossoming, that there
of a culture that is solely motivated by profit, efficiency and convenience,
was something strange going on with humanity. He
nonhuman members of the ecological community are treated like objects, stripped
claims that the age of modern technology
Martin Heidegger
of their right to humane living conditions.
threatens man’s rootedness to the world.
Another example is the world’s unending demand for fossil fuels and various
According to him, the spirit of the age of modern technology transforms nature
sources of energy. The modern human civilization is fundamentally dependent on
into a gigantic gasoline station to the eyes of the industry. Human beings are driven
fossil fuels. Without oil and energy, the world’s economy will fall and nations will
by the momentum of science and technology to approach the world from the
crumble. Whoever controls these energy sources essentially has dominion over the
perspective of what he called “calculative thinking”. He defines it as such in the
rest of the world. In the very short time− since the Industrial Revolution that led to
same work:
wide-scale extraction− just over 200 years, we’ve consumed an incredible amount
Calculative thinking is the mark of all thinking that plans and investigates. Such of them, leaving fossil fuels all but gone and the climate seriously impacted. If we
thinking remains calculation even if neither works with numbers nor uses an adding carry on the amount we are now consuming globally, our known oil deposits could
31
run out in just over 53 way, we are freed from the constant demand to use and consume. He proposes
years. This makes countries and alternative way of thinking: meditative thinking. This way of thinking, in his
(especially superpowers opinion, can mitigate the ill effects of calculative thought by bringing us back to a
like the US, China, and thoughtful relationship with technology and nature. Meditative thinking does not
Russia) are racing to secure calculate or measure. Instead, it is a form of thinking that tries to loosen the grip
alternative resources of of calculative thought on us by asking us to say both yes and no to technology. In
energy like coal and natural meditative thinking, we say yes to technology by using it, but at the same time, we
gas. This phenomenon only say no to it, by not allowing the products and methods of technology to dominate
shows us how insecure we and control our lives. Meditative thinking is an attempt to contemplate the mystery
are in our own planet. behind the powerful momentum of the age of modern technology in order to
Humans literally bomb and kill each other just for a bigger piece of the pie, so to understand why we live the way we do now. In doing this, we do not allow our
speak. consumptive fascination with technology drive us into blind obsession with the
idea of progress that ultimately leads to the irresponsible utilization of our natural
We are never content with living with our means; we have been obsessed with
resources. In other words, if calculative thinking frames nature as resource and
keeping a full inventory of resources for further production and consumption. We
modern technology as a means of procurement, meditative thinking seeks to allow
are relentlessly in the hunt for more. This is the essence of calculative thinking.
nature to unveil itself for what it truly is− our dwelling place. At the same time,
Humanity, pushed by the momentum of modern technology, becomes oblivious to
meditative thinking tries to understand modern technology beyond its use for us
what it has become. This is what Heidegger means when he says that we are facing
and interprets it as a way by which nature is revealed to us in our time.
a crisis of homelessness that is caused by thoughtlessness. Calculative thinking
presents us with a dangerously narrow view of the world. It only highlights If we do not contemplate the mysterious force that drives our current culture of
possibilities in nature that are suited for the purposes of production and thoughtlessness, then we will not be able to recover our essential place in nature
consumption. Trapped in such a one-dimensional way of thinking, we push blindly as dwellers− stewards tasked with recognizing the inherent value of all beings.
toward new technologically prospects without recognizing alternative ways of While we are not being told to give up our modern technological way of life,
thinking that may allow us to dwell in nature in a more responsible way. responsible stewardship requires that we think of ways to balance our needs with
that of the environment’s. This is the meaning of aiming for sustainable
While acknowledging the effects of technology, Heidegger is not naïve to suggest
development: taking into account not only the effects of our decisions and actions
that we completely refrain from using calculative thought. Of course we need
on other human beings, but it also considers the effects that such actions might
technology in order to survive in an otherwise harsh and precarious world.
have on the larger community of organic and nonorganic beings.
Technological civilization is not evil, nor is technology, according to Heidegger.
We must not allow our greed and insecurities to thoughtlessly disregard nature’s
Heidegger then suggests that we liberate ourselves from the things or gadgets that
need to regenerate, recover, and be replenished after we take from it. Put simply,
we own and not allow them to dictate the pace and content of our lives. He calls
we must think before we act. As dwellers, we are responsible not just for the
upon us to take a step back from the frenzied lifestyle of consumption and utility
present state of the environment. We are challenged to cultivate and conserve
and reflect on our relationship with technology and the world in general. In this
32
nature nor merely for the sake of the future generations of human beings, but also
for the sake of the future welfare of every member (living and nonliving) of the
earth’s community of beings.
REFERENCES
Books
What Does It Mean to Dwell in Nature - Chapter IV, pp. 61-75, Philosophizing and
Being Human; A Textbook for Senior High School (2016)
Electronic Sources
Transcript: Greta Thunberg's Speech at the U.N. Climate Action Summit retrieved
from https://www.npr.org/2019/09/23/763453863/transcript-greta-thunbergs-
speech-at-the-u-n-climate-action-summit
When Will Fossil Fuels Run Out? retrieved from https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-

green-energy/energy-independence/the-end-of-fossil-fuels
33
Directions. After knowing our very role as dwellers in Directions. Here is a transcript of Greta Thunberg’s
ACTIVITY 1 ACTIVITY 2
nature, make a list of steps that you think will be helpful Speech in the UN Climate Change Conference last
in being a responsible steward of nature. You should at December 11, 2019. As a fellow youth like Greta, write a
least note 10 doable steps. An example below is given. (1 point each) reaction paper regarding of what you feel after reading this transcript. Do you
agree with her? What are your realizations?
(00:26)
Hi. A year and a half ago, I didn’t speak to anyone unless I really had to, but then I
found a reason to speak. Since then, I’ve given many speeches and learned that
when you talk in public, you start with something personal or emotional to get
Invest in using metal straws instead of consuming one-time-use plastic straws everyone’s attention. Say things like, our house is on fire, I wanted to panic or how
dare you.
(01:00)
But today I will not do that because then those phrases are all that people focus
on. They don’t remember the facts, the very reason why I say those things in the
first place, we no longer have time to leave out the science. For about a year I
have been constantly talking about our rapidly declining carbon budgets over and
over again. But since that is still being ignored, I will just keep repeating it.
(01:38)
In chapter two, on page 108 in the SR 1.5 IPCC report that came out last year, it
says that if we ought to have a 6% to 7% chance of limiting the global
temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius, we had on January 1, 2018, 420
gigatons of CO2 left two emit in that budget. And of course that number is much
lower today as we emit about 42 gigatons of CO2 every year including land use.
(02:18)
With today’s emissions levels, that remaining budget will be gone within about
eight years. These numbers aren’t anyone’s opinions or political views. This is the
current best available science. Though many scientists suggest these figures or too
moderate. These are the ones that have been accepted through the IPCC, and
please note that these figures are global and therefore do not say anything about
34
the aspect of equity, which is absolutely essential to make the Paris Agreement to account for just one tenth. We indeed have some work to do, but some more than
work on a global scale. others.
(03:00) (01:57)
That means that richer countries need to do their fair share and get down to real Recently, a handful of rich countries pledged to reduce their emissions of
zero emissions much faster and then help poorer countries do the same, so people greenhouse gases by so-and-so many percent by this or that date or to become
in less fortunate parts of the world can raise their living standards. These numbers climate neutral or net zero in so-and-so many years. This may sound impressive at
also don’t include most feedback loops, nonlinear tipping points, or additional first glance, but even though the intentions may be good, this is not leadership.
warming hidden by toxic air pollution. This is not leading. This is misleading because most of these pledges do not
include aviation, shipping, and imported and exported goods and consumption.
(03:30)
They do, however, include the possibility of countries to offset their emissions
Most models assume, however, that future generations will somehow be able to
elsewhere.
suck hundreds of billions of tons of CO2 out of the air with technologies that do
not exist in the scale required and maybe never will. The approximate 6% to 7% (02:46)
chance budget is the one with the highest odds given by the IPCC. And now we These pledges don’t include the immediate yearly reduction rates needed for
have less than 340 gigatons of CO2 left to emit in that budget to share fairly. wealthy countries, which is necessary to stay within the remaining tiny budget.
Zero in 2050 means nothing, if high emission continues even for a few years, then
Why is it so important to stay below 1.5 degrees? Because even at one degree
the remaining budget will be gone. Without seeing the full picture, we will not
people are dying from the climate crisis. Because that is what the United Science
solve this crisis. Finding holistic solutions is what the cup should be all about, but
calls for to avoid destabilizing the climates. So that we have the best possible
instead it seems to have turned into some kind of opportunity for countries to
chance to avoid setting off irreversible chain reactions such as melting glaciers,
negotiate loopholes and to avoid raising their ambition.
polar ice and thawing Arctic permafrost. Every fraction of a degree matters. So
there it is, again. This is my message. This is what I want you to focus on. (03:40)
Countries are finding clever ways around having to take real action. Like double
(00:42)
counting emissions reductions and moving their emissions overseas and walking
So please tell me, how do you react to these numbers without feeling at least
back on their promises to increase ambition or refusing to pay for solutions or loss
some level of panic? How do you respond to the fact that basically nothing is
of damage. This has to stop. What we need is real drastic emission cuts at the
being done about this without feeling the slightest bit of anger? And how do you
source, but of course just reducing emissions is not enough. Our greenhouse gas
communicate this without sounding alarmist? I would really like to know. Since
emissions has to stop. To stay below 1.5 degrees. We need to keep the carbon in
the Paris Agreement, global banks have invested 1.9 trillion U.S. dollars in fossil
the ground. Only setting up distant dates and saying things which give the
fuels. One hundred companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions. The
impression of the action is underway will most likely do more harm than good
G20 countries account for almost 80% of total emissions. The richest 10% of the
because the changes required are still nowhere in site. The politics needed does
world’s population produce half of our CO2 emissions, while the poorest 50%
not exist today despite what you might hear from world leaders. And I still believe
that the biggest danger is not inaction. The real danger is when politicians and
35
CEOs are making it look like real action is happening when in fact almost nothing Your reaction paper must consist of 500 words. Write it in a short bond paper that
is being done apart from clever accounting and creative PR. will be attached with this activity sheet. A rubric for grading is given below. (30
points)
(05:08)
I have been fortunate enough to be able to travel around the world. And my DESCRIPTION/INDICATION
experience is that the lack of awareness is the same everywhere, not the least CRITERIA 10 7 5 3
amongst those elected to lead us. There is no sense of urgency whatsoever. Our Content The insights The insights The insights The insights
were discussed were discussed are unclear, are irrelevant
leaders are not behaving as if we were in an emergency. In an emergency you
clearly and clearly but the and the output to the given
change your behavior. If there is a child standing in the middle of the road and concisely. output is too is too wordy. concept.
cars are coming at full speed, you don’t look away because it’s too uncomfortable. wordy.
You immediately run out and rescue that child. And without that sense of urgency, Grammar and The insights The insights There are The output has
how can we, the people understand that we are facing a real crisis. And if the Vocabulary were explained were explained minimal errors too many
people are not fully aware of what is going on, then they will not put pressure on using proper using correct in grammar errors in
grammar and spelling of and spelling of grammar and
the people in power to act. And without pressure from the people our leaders can correct spelling words. words. spelling.
get away with basically not doing anything, which is where we are now. And of words. However,
around and around it goes. there are some
errors in
(06:36) grammar.
In just three weeks. We will enter a new decade, a decade that will define our Mechanics The task The task The task The task
future. Right now we are desperate for any sign of hope. Well, I’m telling you, outcome outcome outcome outcome
there is hope. I have seen it, but it does not come from the governments or showed that showed that showed that showed that
the student the student the student did the student did
corporations. It comes from the people. The people who have been unaware, but
followed all followed most not follow the not follow any
are now starting to wake up. And once we become aware, we change. People can the of the instructions instruction
change. People are ready for change. And that is the hope because we have instructions instruction correctly. correctly.
democracy and democracy is happening all the time. Not just on election day, but correctly. correctly. Some parts are
every second and every hour. It is public opinion that runs the free world. In fact, either missing
or unclear.
every great change throughout history has come from the people. We do not have
to wait. We can start the change right now. We the people. Thank you.
36
ASSESSMENT Name:______________________________________ a. Meditative Thinking

Strand and Section:____________________________ b. Calculative Thinking
Date:_______________________________________ c. Critical Thinking
Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer. Use black/blue pen only. Any 7. What does Heidegger’s ‘Crisis of Homelessness’ supposed to mean?
form of cheating is prohibited. Submit on the scheduled date given by the a. Housing Shortage
instructor. b. Human Thoughtlessness
c. Global Warming
1. In the first sub-topic of this module, what does ‘war in nature’ means?
8. It is because of human’s _______ that we are deemed ‘bestial’ and
a. Bombing of Other Countries
‘inhumane’ by Kohäk.
b. Survival of the Species
a. Intervention in Nature
c. Cold War between the Superpowers
b. Gratification of Greed
2. Because of calculative thinking, chickens, pigs, and cows are not treated as
c. Overly Consumption
_____.
9. Dwelling calls us to become what we truly are with respect to nature:
a. Source of Entertainment
______ that are capable of subordinating greed to love and utility to
b. House Pets
responsibility.
c. Food Source
a. Stewards
3. The ‘human-centered view’ seeing nature not only as a scene to behold or
b. Consumers
an experience to partake in, but as a _____.
c. Leaders
a. Home
10. What is the original meaning of the Latin word ‘cultus'?
b. Sanctuary
a. Environment Dwellers
c. Resource
b. Nature Peace-Keepers
4. Our wasteful and environmentally-unsustainable way of life can be
c. Cultivators of Nature
considered as ______.
a. Mass Suicide
b. Luxury
c. Ignorance
5. With the amount of fossil fuel we consume globally by this time, our known
deposits could run out in over _____.
a. 8 ½ years
b. 64 years
c. 53 years
6. The way of thinking which acknowledges the effect of technology but still
using it responsibly and in balance.
37
INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON PROJECT
“The Philosophy Map: A Timeline of Great Ideas and Thinkers”
1. This is an individual project. Students can choose in two different mediums:

A. Softcopy – for those who have access to any gadgets (i.e.,
smartphones, tablets, or laptops)
B. Hardcopy Material – 1/8 illustration board
2. The idea is that they will make a timeline of the history of philosophy (it’s
up to the instructor if it’s eastern or western, or both). Examples of a
timeline is given below:
38
3. Make sure you get information from credible sources. If the student has Sequence of Events are Almost all Most (-75%) Most events
chosen medium A, the timeline should be passed in one of the following Content placed in events are of the events are
file formats: JPEG or PNG file. If the student has chosen medium B, he/she proper order. placed in are placed in incorrectly
should make the timeline on a 1/8 illustration board and pass it on the proper order. proper order. placed on the
scheduled date of submission. timeline.
Dates An accurate, An accurate, An accurate Dates are
4. Assure that your timeline is neat and organized. BE CREATIVE. This project complete complete date has inaccurate or
date has date has been missing for
will then be graded by this rubric:
been been included for several
included for included for almost every events.
each event. almost every event.
Category 10 8 6 4 event.
Quality of Included Most of the Some events Many major Sentence Events are Events are Events are Events are
Content events are included included are events are Fluency clearly described not described described
important events are trivial, and excluded, and described well. But well and using vague
and important or major events too many using language is language is language or
interesting. interesting. are missing. trivial events accurate and sometimes often vague inaccurate
No major are included. vivid vague or or inaccurate. information.
details are language. inaccurate.
excluded.
Quality of The timeline The timeline The timeline The timeline
Facts contains of 8- contains at contains at contains SUGGESTED COMPUTATION:
10 events least 6-7 least 5 events fewer than 5 Suppose a student got the following score:
related to the events related to the events. A. Quality of Content: 8/10
topic being related to the topic being B. Quality of Facts: 10/10
studied. topic being studied. C. Accuracy of Content: 8/10
studied. D. Sequence of Content: 8/10
Accuracy of Facts are Facts are Facts are Facts are E. Dates: 10/10
Content accurate for accurate for accurate for often F. Sentence Fluency: 6/10
all events almost all most (-75%) inaccurate for Total Score: 50/60
reported on events of the events events 50 ÷ 60 = 0.83
the timeline reported on reported on reported on 0.83 × 100 = 83
the timeline. the timeline. the timeline.
= 𝟖𝟑
39

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4.

2 Dwellers within Nature: Beyond Utility,

Doing philosophy can be applied to day-to-day activities and life perspectives.

Socrates. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2018, February 6) retrieved from

What is Philosophy, retrieved from https://philosophy.fsu.edu/undergraduate-

It is important to view a situation in a holistic perspective rather than in

B: Considering the ways others view a situation or a question is a skill that

a. Both statements A and B are true.

2.3 Truth As varieties of rational inquiry, it is

Aesthetics, Branch of Philosophy, retrieved from

Ethics, Philosophy, retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/ethics-

Facts and Opinions, (Lammer-Heindel, 2016) retrieved from -

Metaphysics, Branch of Philosophy retrieved from

Methods in Philosophy, PPT (2016) retrieved from

Philosophy of Logic, retrieved from

Directions. Based on the chapter’s discussion, identify ASSESSMENT Name:______________________________________

4. Consider the statements below.

a. Only statement A is true while statements B and C are false.

b. Only statement B is true while statements A and C are false. b. Empiricism

10. It regards reason as the chief source and test of knowledge.

When asked to describe someone, or even ourselves, we ought to give descriptions

Soul interfering with

To end this chapter, it is safe to conclude that: REFERENCES

I am not just my body too:

3. My body is not just something that I have, my body is also I am.

Rubric for Grading: ASSESSMENT Name:______________________________________

4. He is a Greek philosopher who disagreed with some of his teacher’s idea.

7. When we are asked to describe someone, we ought to give descriptions

8. My body being is an _____; this means that I am connected to the world

4. THE HUMAN PERSON IN THEIR it were a different world− an innocent,

When Will Fossil Fuels Run Out? retrieved from https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-

ASSESSMENT Name:______________________________________ a. Meditative Thinking

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON PROJECT

“The Philosophy Map: A Timeline of Great Ideas and Thinkers”

1. This is an individual project. Students can choose in two different mediums:

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