Value of Philosophy
uncertainty of truth, as everyone
Problems in Philosophy
Metaphysics
 What is Real?
 How will you know if that is real?
 What we perceived is Partial
Knowledge
 When you know something, it is
expected that you can verify it.
 Verification is always connected to
what is real and is suggested to be
true.
 Is knowledge always true?
Ethics
 Another problem in Philosophy is
about ethical truths.
 Can there be an objectivity in the
rightness or wrongness of actions
that are considered under the lens of
morality?
 Can saying the truth sometimes be
the unethical to do?
Value of Philosophy
 Contributes to the quality of
knowledge acquired by people and
how such knowledge enhances the
mind’s ability to reason.
- Knowledge is on high quality if
it’s presented clear, consistent
and no contradictions.
 The value of philosophy is in the
philosophizes and seeks answers, it
opens a person to a wider
perspective of the possible answers
that are free of dogmatism and are
results of deliberate activity involving
reason.
Dogmatic
- "I'm right! You're wrong!"
 Philosophizing will motivate you to
dig deeper into what you believe and
seek whether what you conceived
about who you are or what the world
is are based on something more
substantial than simply passed on by
authority.
 Engaging in philosophy means
engaging in contemplation (religious
meditation). This reflective activity is
suspending who you are, what you
believe and what you value.
- Remaining in the belief that
you hold what is certain and
definite means closing
yourself to other possibilities
that may broaden your
perspective.
 As Socrates once claimed, “The
Unexamined Life is not Worth
Living”. Philosophical inquiry is the
venue for pursuing unexamined life
by reflecting upon issues and
problems in life, which are
philosophical in nature.
- This way you will gain a
deeper and broader
perspective in life about how
you live, what you live for and
why you live not because of
the definitive answers but
through the process of
reflecting and contemplation
and inquiry
 Philosophy has to be studied not for
the sake of definite answer to each
question since no definite answers
can, as a rule, be known to be true,
but rather for the sake of the
questions themselves.
 Enlarge our conceptions of what is
possible. Finding answers to these
question gives us the opportunity to
explore endlessly in everything, all
methodologies, ways and means to
satisfy our inquiries.
 Enrich our intellectual imagination –
is utilized when considering and
developing hypotheses from different
pieces of information or pondering
over various issues of meaning say
in the areas of philosophy,
management, or politics, etc.
 Diminish the dogmatic assurance
which closes the mind from
speculation.
 Philosophy demands an open mind
because there are views which are
different from yours.
The Philosophical Methods of Inquiry
Methods of Inquiry
 Each method is integral in arriving at
holistic perspective in any subject of
philosophical inquiry.
 In this method we will be using our
senses and mind to be able to grasp
the act of philosophizing itself.
- Speculation
- Critical Thinking
- Reflective Thinking
Speculation
 Specula - Watch Tower
 Vision above that of an ordinary
person
 Allows you to expand your
perspective as well as your way of
thinking by encouraging you to see
the bigger picture.
o Detached activity best done alone
and in isolation. It is often a result
of contemplation which you can
do on your own.
o What helps you to take the
broadest possible perspective on
a subject of inquiry
 o To speculate also means to
participate in the world and use
the experience as basis or
resource of ideas.
Critical Thinking
 To criticize means to judge and/or to
analyze.
 Any and all of knowledge and
principles that may be gained
through speculation.
 If the insight is clearly stated, if it is
consistent with itself, and in the
world.
Modes of Critical Thinking:
Linguistic
- Meaning of words are analyzed
(clarity and consistency)
- Clear definition of words (to avoid
ambiguity or vagueness)
Logical
- Careful analysis
- Statement is reduced to its simplest
form (elementary sentence)
Philosophical Inquiry:
 Speculation
 Insights are formed
 Critical thinking
 Insights are clearer
Reflective Thinking
 Meaning-Making
 Moves a learner from one
experience into the next with a
deeper understanding.
 Value the personal growth of oneself
and others.
 A thinking process through which
individuals examine their
experiences to better understand the
assumptions and implications of
events and actions in their lives
(Wallace, 1996)
o The process of reflective inquiry
entails asking penetrating
questions, challenging
assumptions, and carefully
examining the implications of
their actions and choices.
Philosophizing
Intellectual Exercise - Whole being of a
person
 Speculation Criticism Reflective
- Creativity and attitudes
Additional Methods:
Systematic Doubt
- Skeptical attitude in looking at ideas,
events, or things
- Each aspect of the topic in questions
is analyzed to determine its validity
or truthfulness.
Argument
- Philosophers engage in discussion
and debate on their idea
- Various perspective on a topic is
taken into consideration and
examined.
- Varied and differing ideas and
perspective are analyzed
- Information gathered
- New ideas and views are formulated
Quiz [Pascal (40/46)]:
False - The value of philosophy is in the
certainty of truth, as everyone
philosophizes and seeks answers, it
opens a person to a wider perspective.
Ethics - seeks to formulate sets of
standards and norms of acceptable,
correct, and good behavior which are
applied in the daily life.
Inquiry - we will be using our mind and
senses.
False - Speculation is derived from
Greek word speculare which means
watch tower.
False - In Philosophy, Critical Thinking
is a method that allows you to expand
your perspective as well as your way of
thinking by encouraging you to see a
bigger picture.
False - In Philosophy, we need to have
a limited perspective so we can be free
from dogmatism.
True - In Philosophy, we need to have a
limited perspective so we can be free
from dogmatism.
Certainty - The question "Are the things
we know are true" falls on question of?
Philosophical Reflection - Is the
process by which a person undergoes a
reflective state or evaluates his or her
experiences first before making any
related action.
True - Speculation is what helps you to
take the broadest possible perspective
on a subject of inquiry. Thus, it will help
you explore and take in a variety of
perspective about human person.
Metaphysics - addresses questions
regarding reality.
Inquiry - is a close examination of the
matter for information or truth (Webster
Collegiate Dictionary)
True - One of the modes of critical
analysis is logical analysis, where
philosophical problems are solved
through a careful analysis of the logical
structure of the philosophical assertion.
Critical Analysis – Through this,
insights are formed.
Reflection - Is a thinking process
through which individuals examine their
experiences to better understand the
assumptions and implications of events
and actions in their lives.
Skeptical Attitude – Philosophers
employ this in looking at ideas, events,
or things. Each aspect of the topic in
questions is analyzed to determine its
validity or truthfulness.
Speculation - as a philosophical
method allows you to expand your
perspective as well as your way of
thinking by encouraging you to see the
bigger picture.
False - If white lies help to manage
healthy relationships and nurture others
then lying could be the unethical thing to
do after all
False - Knowledge is on high quality if it
is inconsistent.
Reality - refers to the state of existence
of things independent of human
consciousness.
True - The process of reflective inquiry
entails asking penetrating questions,
challenging assumptions, and carefully
examining the implications of their
actions and choices.
Logical - Of critical thinking that
provides careful analysis.
True - Speculation is a detached activity
best done alone and in isolation. It is
often a result of contemplation which
you can do on your own.
False - Speculation involves interaction
with others in the process of thinking
and learning.
Causality - Refers to causes of events
and phenomena.
Origin - Closely related to the concept
of causality are questions regarding the
_____ of things.
True - Philosophy as critical thinking or
analysis, questions, judges and evaluate
any and all of knowledge and principles
that may be gained through speculation.
True - Verification is always connected
to what is real and is suggested to be
true.
True - Philosophy contributes to the
quantity of knowledge.
Linguistics - Requires a clear definition
of words to ensure clarity.
Major Questions of The Philosophers
- Causality
- Reality
- Ethics
- Certainty

Types of Philosophical Reflection

- Secondary Reflection
- Primary Reflection

Philosophical Methods of Inquiry

- Speculation
- Reflective Thinking
- Critical Analysis

Metaphysics - Is Life Meaningful?

Epistemology - This research work is
not valid.
Metaphysics - God Exist but why there
are evils?
Ethics - Is it right to eat without using
your hands?
Epistemology - Cheating is wrong.
Metaphysics - Does water has color?