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Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person – Grade 11

Quarter 3 – Module 2: The Different Branches of Philosophy
First Edition, 2020

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 11
Introduction of Philosophy
of the Human Person

Quarter 3
Self-Learning Module 2
The Different Branches of
Philosophy
Introductory Message

For the Facilitator:

Welcome to the Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person Grade

11 Self-Learning Module on The different branches of Philosophy!

This Self-Learning Module was collaboratively designed, developed and

reviewed by educators from the Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its
Officer-in-Charge Schools Division Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A.
Agustin, in partnership with the City Government of Pasig through its mayor,
Honorable Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto. The writers utilized the standards set by the K
to 12 Curriculum using the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) in
developing this instructional resource.

This learning material hopes to engage the learners in guided and

independent learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims
to help learners acquire the needed 21st century skills especially the 5 Cs, namely:
Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Character while
taking into consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the
body of the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies
that will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them
to manage their own learning. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist
the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
 For the Learner:

Welcome to the Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person Self-

Learning Module on The different branches of Philosophy!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You
will be enabled to process the contents of the learning material while being an
active learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

Expectations - This points to the set of knowledge and skills

that you will learn after completing the module.

Pretest - This measures your prior knowledge about the lesson

at hand.

Recap - This part of the module provides a review of concepts

and skills that you already know about a previous lesson.

Lesson - This section discusses the topic in the module.

Activities - This is a set of activities that you need to perform.

Wrap-Up - This section summarizes the concepts and

application of the lesson.

Valuing - This part integrates a desirable moral value in the

lesson.

Posttest - This measures how much you have learned from the
entire module.
 In this lesson, the students are expected to:
a. identify the different branches of philosophy.
b. distinguish the difference of each branches of philosophy.

1. Branch of philosophy that discusses the question “what is the universe made
of?”

a. Ethics c. Metaphysics
b. Epistemology d. Philosophy of Religion

2. Branch of philosophy that does the likelihood of persuasiveness being more

revered than the worth of an argument fall into?
a. Ethics c. Metaphysics
b. Epistemology d. Philosophy of Religion
3. It constitutes a validation process of premises.
a. Ethics c. Metaphysics
b. Logic d. Philosophy of Religion

4. Branch of philosophy delves into the truths of religious beliefs?

a. Ethics c. Metaphysics
b. Epistemology d. Philosophy of Religion

5. Branch of philosophy that defines the abstract term “justice”.

a. Ethics c. Metaphysics
b. Epistemology d. Philosophy of Religion

FILL IN THE BLANK. Complete the sentences in a paragraph by filling up the

missing word or group of words to make it valid. Possible answers can be found at
the Word Bank.
“Real philosophers try to _____________ all forms of _____________ without any
reference to religion, mythology, and tribal beliefs. That is a central characteristic of
_______________. That it relies on _________________. And argumentation is fueled by
__________________. And reasoning is the trademark of philosophy. And this is what
differentiates philosophy from religion, mythology, magic, and traditional beliefs.”

PHILOSOPHER ARGUMENTATION REASONING EXISTENCE

PHILOSOPHY UNDERSTAND JUDGMENT REASONING

The Different Branches of Philosophy

Philosophy tries to determine how far reason alone will take us. The
development of philosophy is such that two fundamental questions lie at its core.
These are:
a. What is the nature of whatever it is that exists?
b. How can we know for sure?

Prying into these questions is the entry doors to the branches of philosophy
known as “ontology” and “epistemology”. In epistemology, Plato searched for
definitions of abstract but morally grounded values of “justice” and “virtue”. Plato
also questioned the nature and substance of the cosmos. He believed that existence
was not only inherent in man, but also in living things and the world around us.
Plato tried to crystallize the idea of “forms” as a characteristic of anything that
exists. To prove his hypothesis of “forms”, Plato wrote his famous “Allegory of the
cave” to illustrate that one’s knowledge of the world is limited to mere shadows of
reality and truth.
The first true philosophers who appeared in Greece some 2,500 years ago
intellectually pursued astronomical existence. They sought explanations about
natural phenomena like earthquakes, eclipses and the inhabitance of the planets,
stars, and the moon, all of which were visibly seen. This now is the branch of
philosophy known as “metaphysics”.

Metaphysics involves asking fundamental questions like:

a. What is the universe made of?
b. What is the nature of whatever it is that exists?
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus tried to seek explanations on the nature of
the cosmos. He hypothesized that a cosmic law governed the universe in which
material elements are held in balance. Heraclitus established the theory of a
balancing of opposites such as night and day, light, and darkness. He states that
there is constant tension between these pairs of opposites leading to a state of
continuous flux.
The philosopher Parmenides deduced that a state of nothing existing is
impossible. Parmenides asserted that something cannot have come from nothing.
That everything must have come from something. That there can be no void.
When it comes to reasoning, there is an indispensable tool known as the validation
of rational argument. This validation process comprises the branch of philosophy
known as “logic”.
The practice and installation of logic as a major skill for true philosophers,
as well as today’s courtroom trial lawyers, has as its great founding exponent the
renowned philosopher Socrates.
Socrates is exalted for putting logic on a pedestal. His greatest philosophical
invention is the Socratic method of questioning. The Socratic method is a
masterpiece of an intellectual process that has propelled the subject of philosophy
to its regal academic position even today.
The other branch of philosophy is ethics. Ethics traces its beginnings as an
astute branch during the golden age of Athens in the fifth century B.C.E. under the
great stalwart of democracy, Pericles. The progress and advancement of the Greek
city state of Athens in many intellectual fields including literature, astronomy,
medicine, the arts have attracted many people from all over Greece. Athens was
governed at that time based on democratic principles and a strict legal system. This
was now a fertile ground for the advent of people who demonstrated expertise on
the law. Since many Athenians who were indicted had to defend themselves in
court, legal advocates emerged who offered their advisory services to whoever could
afford.
There then arose the great Greek lawyer and philosopher Protagoras.
Protagoras lectured in law and became exceedingly prominent. His teachings were
more concerned about human miseries and morality. He devoted himself to
winning civil cases rather than proving philosophical points. He propounded the
idea that belief was subjective. That very often, persuasiveness overrides the worth
of an argument. This style of reasoning was new to philosophy at that time. It also
places human beings at the center.
It also shifted the focus of philosophy from trying to grasp the nature of the
universe, analyzing human behavior. This branch of philosophy is known as
“ethics”.
Theories about the substance of the cosmos was pointless to him. And for
Protagoras, the study of man’s attitudes, conduct and moral values was supreme to
everything else. As Protagoras exclaimed, “man is the measure of all things.”
The branch of philosophy known as the “philosophy of religion” is concerned
with the intellectual examination and argumentations of religious doctrines, beliefs,
and dogmas. The most exhaustively analyzed question of this branch is “does God
exist?”
The great philosophers who were stalwarts of the philosophy of religion
include St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, and St. Anselm.

Activity 1. IDENTIFICATION. Given some important details on the

different branches of Philosophy, identify the different branches, respectively.
Branches Description
intellectual examination and
argumentations of religious
doctrines, beliefs, and dogmas
concerned about human miseries
and morality.
What things really are?
What is the truth of things?
Tool in philosophizing

Activity 2. Mind Mapping. Given the different related ideas/concepts,

identify in what branch of Philosophy they belong to. Write the letter of the correct
answer.

A. METAPHYSICS
B. ETHICS
C. EPISTEMOLOGY
D. PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
E. LOGIC

1. Essence of things
2. Morally Right and Wrong
3. Validity of Truth
4. What God is?
5. Validity of arguments

Among the branches of philosophy, what interest me most is _ (branches of

philosophy) Why? Because
_____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________.
 Understanding ( branch of philosophy) will help me to understand
__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________.

1. Branch of philosophy that answers the question of the nature of things, or the
whatness of things?

a. Epistemology c. Metaphysics
b. Ethics d. Philosophy of Religion

2. In the discipline and practice of reasoning, what does the branch of logic attempt
to validate?
a. moral principles
b. rational arguments
c. truthfulness of things
d. man’s relationship with someone greater than man

3. What is Protagoras’ most acclaimed philosophical assertion?

a. All things are water c. Man is the measure of all things
b. Like is known by like d. There is nothing but change

4. What is the philosophy of religion’s most thoroughly analyzed fundamental

question?
a. What is the underlying principle of all things?
b. What is that something that which nothing exists?
c. Does God exist?
d. Do all things have limitation?

5. The hypothesis of “forms” is an elucidation of which great Greek philosopher?

a. Aristotle c. Pythagoras
b. Plato d. Socrates
 Buckingham, W. (2017). The Philosophy Book. New York: DK Publishing.
Gerstenberg.
Magee, B. (2000). Geschichte der Philosophie: Bryan Magee. Hildesheim:
References
Posttest Activity
2
1. C
2. B A
3. C B
4. C C
5. B D
E
Activity 1 Recap Pretest
Philosophy of Religion UNDERSTANDING 1. C
Ethics EXISTENCE 2. A
Metaphysics PHILOSOPHY 3. B
Epistemology ARGUMENTATION 4. D
Logic REASONING 5. B