Introduction to the

Philosophy of Human
Person
Quarter 1 – Module 2:
Doing Philosophy
 Introduction to the
Philosophy of Human
Person
Quarter 1 – Module 2:
Doing Philosophy
 7. Act of philosophizing can liberate us, especially the students, from
ignorance and conformity, thereby encouraging us to live a more
meaningful life.
8. As a lover of wisdom, a philosopher must always search the truth and
eventually the value of wisdom.
9. Philosophy cannot help us become wise.
10. With the emergence of science and technology, every question can be
answered through scientific method of inquiry.

Activity 2. Reflect and Share. Write your answer on a separate answer sheet.

1. How did you find the activity? Did you find it easy to state your
agreement or disagreement? Why?
2. Which item did you find the easiest? Why?
3. Which item did you find the most difficult? Why?

Lesson The Value of Doing

2 Philosophy: Leading to a
Broad perspective on life

What’s In

Activity 3: Connect the dots. Each dot represents a significant philosopher who
contributed on the development of philosophy. All of them paved the way to
provide us understanding of the value of doing philosophy.

He claimed that fundamental substance of reality is the

infinite or the APEIRON (it has no precise characteristics
or attributes. It is ageless and eternal, and it
encompasses all the worlds). This is highly speculative
and abstract rather than based on observation.
https://greatestgreeks.wordpress.com/2016/03/11/thales-of-miletus/

Thales

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 His main idea is that the fundamental substance or
primary constituents of reality is WATER.
He was the first to assume that the earth is flat, such that
when you reach the edge of the horizon, you will fall.

https://www.philosophybasics.com/philosophers_anaximander.html

Anaximander

He believes that the only thing that is permanent in this

world is CHANGE (flux or becoming).
He was the first philosopher who wrote about the idea
of change. He used the flames of fire to emphasize the
idea of change.

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/567664728022494813/

Anaximenes

He proposed that the only thing that is permanent in this

world is BEING, that is reality is made up of one
continuous object or plenum called being. Change is only
an illusion.
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/669980882043540937/

Pythagoras

He concluded that the fundamental substance must be

AIR. According to him, air holds our soul together, it
encompasses the whole world.

https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2015/12/logos-of-heraclitus.html

Heraclitus

He gave importance to the contemplative life for this

cathartic process of purification. We are elated when we
were able to solve difficult mathematical problems.
He believed that the primary constituents of reality was
NUMBERS.
http://totallyhistory.com/parmenides/

Parmenides

He believed that there is not just one element that reality

is made of. For him, there are many seeds or elements
as there are kinds of things. Matter becomes infinitely
divisible. Whenever you divide matter, each separated
part will contain elements of everything else.

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https://www.geni.com/people/Empedocles/6000000043177272592

Empedocles
He was the proponent of the notion that reality is made
up of the four elements, namely, earth, air, fire, and
water. He was regarded as a pluralist (opposite of
monist) because he had four elements as his fundamental
substances that reality is made of, instead of only one
substance.
https://www.philosophybasics.com/philosophers_anaxagoras.html

Anaxagoras

What’s New

Activity 4: Watch a 4:40 minute Video Clip. After watching, answer the following
questions. Use a separate answer sheet for this activity.

Link: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIYdx6lDDhg)

1. From a distance, philosophy seems irrelevant, weird, boring and yet also just
a little intriguing. What is philosophy really for?
2. How did the ancient Greeks define philosophy?
3. Do you agree with these five things that make people not very wise? Explain
your answers briefly:
a. We don’t ask big questions.
b. We are vulnerable to errors of common sense.
c. We are mentally confused.
d. We have muddled ideas about what makes us happy.
e. We panic and lose perspective.
4. Based on the video presentation, how should you value philosophy and why
should you value it?

What is It

To realize the value of doing philosophy in obtaining a broad perspective on

life, let’s try to understand the Three Disciplines in Philosophy based on the
Philosophical Enterprise World of Philosophizing. John Kavanaugh narrates these
three disciplines in philosophy as:

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1. Discipline of Questioning

Like the Pre-Socratic philosophers, particularly the Milesians and other Greek
thinkers, we can also obtain a broad perspective on life once we start to have an
attitude of awe and wonder about the things that we observe around us. When
Thales started to investigate on the composition of things and concluded that
everything was water, other thinkers also begun to ask. Eventually, philosophy came
into existence. Kavanaugh stated that the act of questioning, of wanting to know, is
the initiation of philosophy. Furthermore, when we ask the questions: “Why am I
here?” and “Who am I?”, which means that we are in search for the meaning of our
existence, and purposively wanting to understand our identity, then we are engaged
into an act of philosophizing. Hence, the statement that philosophy is only for
philosophers is denied and we affirmed that we are also philosophers the moment
we ask philosophical questions.

A philosophical question does not have a definite or ready answer. It is a kind

of question that endures. And it makes sense of our experiences.

2. Discipline of Liberation

Based on the video that you have just watched, the first thing that make
people not very wise is “we don’t ask big questions”. Kavanaugh, in explaining
discipline of liberation, stated that (by act of philosophizing) we are liberated from
the chains of unquestioning acceptance of whatever is at hand, and eventually we
began to resist the currents which pull us toward thoughtless conformity.
Furthermore, it was stated that to philosophize means to view life in diversity rather
than conformity.

Now that fake news are rampant particularly in the social media platforms,
act of philosophizing can liberate us, especially the students, from ignorance and
conformity, and as Kavanaugh put it, thereby encouraging us to live a more
meaningful life.

3. Discipline of Personhood

From the etymology of the word philosophy, i.e., two Greek words Philo which
means love and Sophia which means wisdom, we can easily understand philosophy
as a love of wisdom, and therefore, a philosopher as a lover of wisdom. As a lover of
wisdom, a philosopher must always search the truth and eventually the value of
wisdom. Kavanaugh argued that If I am to be a philosopher then it is I who must
philosophize. Act of philosophizing is something that is connected with one’s
personhood. As Kavanaugh put it: “If we look at ourselves or listen to the testimony
of other men, we can see that the human person is driven by his very personhood,
to know and to do something about himself.

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 What’s More

Activity 5: Share a Picture. Look for a picture with your best friend. Paste it on
the upper half of a clean short typewriting paper. At the bottom, write and answer
the following questions:

1. When did your friendship start?

2. How did it start?
3. Why did you become friends?
4. How did you know that you were already friends?

What are your realizations after doing the activity? Briefly discuss your
realizations. Write them on a separate answer sheet.

1. Have you realized that the meaning of philosophy is learned and

understood while doing the act of philosophizing?
2. Have you realized that the act of philosophizing begins when one becomes
aware of his own experiences?
3. Have you realized that as you reflect on your experiences, you found the
meaning and purpose of your own existence?
4. Have you realized that the ends of philosophizing are: being aware of one’s
own experience, and finding its meaning for his life?
5. Have you realized that the act of philosophizing must change yourself?

What I Have Learned

Activity 6: Check your understanding. Express your perspectives on the following

issues about the role of philosophy in our lives. Write your answers on a separate
work sheet.

1. Analyze the responses of a scientist and a philosopher on the question: “What

is life?”
Scientist: Life is about organic compounds, something related to Biology,
survival, reproduction, evolution, etc. It’s about cells, DNA, taxonomic
classifications, etc.
Philosopher: Life is something like the human experience, the meaning
behind existing, the questions we ask ourselves about existence, and the
guidelines we tend to employ to live our lives to the fullest, etc.

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 - Which answer is more relevant? The scientific example or the
philosophical example? Why?

2. Stephen Hawking: “Why are we here? Where do we come from? Traditionally,

these are questions for philosophy, but philosophy is dead”. It means that
science has replaced the functions of philosophy, and that scientific method
and empirical data has replaced philosophy.
- Do you agree with him? Why?

3. In your opinion, what is the role of philosophy in society and in our individual
lives? Can science explain some very important questions in our lives? For
example: Why is it wrong to kill? What is theft? What should I do with my life?
What is truth?

What I Can Do

Activity 7: Act what you think. Construct at least five philosophical questions
from the scientific data presented below. Write your answers on a separate work
sheet.

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Example: Why does God allow COVID-19 to exist, and even the death of more than
three thousand eight hundred people?

Assessment

A. Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on
a separate sheet of paper.

1. Is philosophy only for philosophers?

A. Yes, because philosophy is for people who love wisdom.
B. Yes, because only a few can appreciate its value.
C. No, because anyone can do an act of philosophizing.
D. No, because philosophy can be taken as a course by any person.

2. If the question, “Why am I here?” is philosophical, which answer supports it?

A. I am here to continue my SHS in spite of pandemic.
B. I am here to socialize with others as a person-for-others.
C. I am here to realize the meaning and purpose of my existence.
D. I am here to acquire knowledge and skills through experiences.

3. Which denies the argument that philosophy is dead because its functions are
already replaced by science?
A. There are questions that scientific method cannot provide answers.
B. Philosophical questions do not exist because everything can be discovered
and answered through scientific method and empirical data.
C. Philosophy is now just part of a tradition in search for knowledge
D. Taking up philosophy is irrelevant, weird, and has no practical value.

4. Which denies that the meaning of philosophy is understood by just looking into
its etymological definition?
A. It’s sufficient to note that philosophy’s etymology can easily give a clear
understanding of its meaning.
B. It’s not sufficient because the meaning of philosophy is well understood by
doing an act of philosophizing.
C. It’s sufficient to note that the Greek philosophers had proven themselves
to be real lovers of wisdom.
D. It’s not sufficient because the meaning of philosophy is not confined within
its root words alone.

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5. Which does not describe a philosophical question?
A. Philosophical question has a definite and ready answer for everything.
B. Philosophical question is a kind of question that endures.
C. Philosophical question makes sense of our experiences.
D. None of these

6. How does doing philosophy help us in obtaining broad perspective on life?

A. By doing philosophy we can develop the discipline of questioning.
B. By doing philosophy we can develop the discipline of liberation.
C. By doing philosophy we can develop the discipline of personhood.
D. All of these

7. How does discipline of questioning help us?

A. By asking questions about reality, we can arrive at a certain truth.
B. By asking questions about reality, there’s liberation.
C. By asking questions about reality, self-identity is gained as well.
D. All of these

8. Which supports the idea that doing philosophy can liberate us?
A. To philosophize means to search for life’s meaning.
B. To philosophize means to view life in diversity rather than conformity.
C. To philosophize means to discover one’s identity.
D. To philosophize means to love wisdom.

9. Which supports the idea that doing philosophy is discipline of personhood?

A. To philosophize means to search for life’s meaning.
B. To philosophize means to view life in diversity rather than conformity.
C. To philosophize means to discover one’s identity.
D. To philosophize means to love wisdom.

10. Which of the following does not belong to things that make people not very wise?
A. We don’t ask big questions.
B. We are vulnerable to errors of common sense
C. We are mentally confused.
D. We have not muddled ideas about what makes us happy.

11. The following are human activities that emanated from deliberate reflection
Based on the question: “Why am I here?” except ________.
A. Searching for the meaning of my existence
B. Complying with the demands of academic requirements
C. Defining my purpose in life
D. Discovering my possibilities

12. How valuable is doing philosophy in obtaining a broad perspective on life?

A. Without doing philosophy is to go through life confused and lost.
B. Things we encounter in this world that are simply puzzling and unsettling
will not be solved and settled without doing philosophy

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 C. The search for answers only begins the moment we engage into doing
philosophy.
D. All of the above

13. What is the etymological meaning of Philosophy based on the Greek words:
Philia and Sophia?
A. It means science of beings C. It means love of wisdom
B. It means wise men D. It means study of wisdom

14. Which states the real definition of Philosophy?

A. It means love of wisdom.
B. It is a science of sciences of all that exist, in their ultimate causes and
principles through the help of human intellect alone.
C. It uses reason as its ultimate tool.
D. It is a systematic body of knowledge which is not only based on the ideas,
theories, and hypothesis but on knowledge that conforms to reality.

15. Which shows the value of philosophizing?

A. Philosophizing helps us to look at life from a partial point of view
B. Philosophizing helps us to look at life from a holistic perspective
C. Philosophizing helps us to look at life from our own perspective
D. Philosophizing helps us to look at life from our cultural perspective

Additional Activities

Activity 8: Think to Act. Write a reflection on this topic: “The Value of Doing
Philosophy: A Philosopher’s Way in Obtaining a Broad Perspective on Life”.
Follow this format:

I. What I learned: Write a statement or phrase that has great impact on you
II. What I experienced: Narrate a true-to-life story/event that you recalled
because of the topic discussed.
III. What I realized: State your insight. It must be related to I and II.
IV. What I plan to do: Enumerate plan of actions that you want to
accomplish to apply your learning of this topic.

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 Rubric for Essay

Excellent Proficient Basic Below Basic

Mechanics
5 4 3 2

-Specific -Specific -Specific -Specific introduction

introduction and introduction and introduction and and conclusion
conclusion conclusion conclusion -No sequence in
-Sequenced -Sequenced -Sequenced material
Organization material within material within material within the
the body the body body is
-Cohesive -Cohesive inconsistent
presentation presentation
content content

-Enhance the -Support the -Not interesting -Unclear

effectiveness of effectiveness of the -Partially support -Minimally support
the presentation presentation the effectiveness of the effectiveness of
-Correct -Correct grammar the presentation the presentation
grammar -Appropriate to -Correct grammar -Occasional mistakes
Language -Appropriate to audience -Appropriate to in grammar
audience -Very few audience -Appropriate to
- No pronunciation Some audience
pronunciation mistakes pronunciation -Several
mistakes mistakes pronunciation
mistakes

-Good posture -Good posture -Intermitted good -Poor posture

-Eye contact -Frequent eye posture -Seldom eye contact
with the contact with the -Occasional eye with the audience
audience most of audience contact with the -Not enough or too
the time -Appropriate audience much gesture and
-Appropriate gesture and -Appropriate expression
Delivery
gesture and expression gesture and -One-person
expression -Almost full group expression presentation.
-Deliverance participation -Partial group
with confidence presentation
-Full group
participation

-Student -Student -Student discusses -Student discuss the

discusses the discusses the the subject with a subject with very
subject in great subject with some few details. minimal details.
details. details. -Student do not -Students do not
-Student -Student outlines outline their outline what they
describes in their finding finding have learnt
Content detail about their -Student show -Student's -Students still sound
findings what they have misconceptions are confused on this topic
-Student indicate learnt still seen
what they have
learnt

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References

Bernardo, Juanito Philip V (2016). Introduction to Philosophy of the Human

Person: JFS Publishing Services, Manila.
Guevarra, Geoffrey A (2016). Pambungad sa Pilosopiya ng Tao (Batayang Aklat):
Rex Book Store, Inc., Manila.
Sioco, Maria Paula and Vinzons Ignatius (2016). Introduction to the Philosophy of
the Human Person: Vibal Group, Inc., Quezon City.
Kavanaugh, John. Philosophical Enterprise. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
https://www.slideshare.net/leofrixasturias/the-philosophical-enterprise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nwEpv6LLLA
https://greatestgreeks.wordpress.com/2016/03/11/thales-of-miletus/
https://www.philosophybasics.com/philosophers_anaximander.html
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/567664728022494813/
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/669980882043540937/
https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2015/12/logos-of-heraclitus.html
http://totallyhistory.com/parmenides/
https://www.geni.com/people/Empedocles/6000000043177272592
https://www.philosophybasics.com/philosophers_anaxagoras.html

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