HUMANITIES I

INTRODUCTION TO
PHILOSOPHY
PHILOSOPHY OF
MAN
By:

Marissa A. Sanorjo
Instructor

PPT By: Dr. Magno S. Conag, Jr.

A.B., M.A., Ll.B., Ph.D.
 Philosophy of Man
• Philosophy
“philos” et “sophia” – “Love of wisdom”

-it has been regarded as the sum and the

summit of human knowledge,
or the scientia scientiarum, the science of
the sciences and the compendium of all learning.
 The science of the ultimate
whys
and
wherefores
of MAN and all things.

The best approach to philosophy is first

to know
and
solve
the problems of man.
Branches of Philosophy
Logic –science of correct inferential thinking
Ethics – study of the morality of human person
Epistemology- study of “beings” in general
Cosmology 0 study of the world or universe
Metaphysics – study of beings beyond or above
the human nature
Rational Psychology – study of man as a rational
being
Theodicy – study of God
Animal – Act of man (instinct)
Rational – Human Act (Reason)
Man - Rational Animal –
Walking
Eating
Hearing
Listening
Crying
Laughing
Writing
Dancing
• Confucius founded a philosophy of universal
brotherhood based on JEN (LOVE)
- meditated on the moral and social nature
of man, seeing man as the cosmic citizen of the
earth and heaven,

• Thomas Hobbes
- conceived of Absolute Monarchy as the
only effective power to control man, for mankind
to survive
• Emmanuel Khant
- meditating on the dignity of man as the
crown of creation envisioned a Kingdom
where all men are perfectly free, equal and
happy.

• Paradox of Man
The concept of paradox (inconsistency,
illogicality, contradiction) plays an innovative yet
prominent and pertinent role, and permeates and
pervades our discussions, particularly in solving the
problems of man
• The method in solving the problems of man is
employed ---
to resolve conflict, reconcile and
harmonize apparently contrasting yet
combinable components of a problem

• MAN is the arch of the study

• Summum Bonum – the Highest Good
(Happiness)
• Golden Maxim –
“Salus Populi est Suprema Lex” – “the welfare
of the people is above the law”

• The Philosophical Method of Inquiry

The rational method means not only
reasoning but also contemplation combined with
and confirmed by experience, observation,
reflection and tradition.
 The Perennial Problem: MAN
• What sort of thing am I?
• Where do I come from?
• Whereto am I going?
• Why am I here?
• What is my future and destiny?
• What must I do to live well and happy?
What, in the ultimate analysis, is the meaning
of human life?
• Specific questions to fine the meaning of
human life:
1. What is the supreme purpose and goal
of human living?
2. What consists man’s greatest perfection
and happiness?
3. What, in the last analysis, is the ultimate
objective of human striving? Is it ever
attainable by man?
 4. What is the summum bonum, the
highest good, of human existence?
5. What is the root cause and remedy to
human suffering?

Most fundamental questions on Man:

1. What is man?
2. Where is he going?
3. What is his goal?
 The Three Oriental Sages
• The philosophers who plumbed deeply into the
problem of human suffering:
• Buddha, Lao-Tzu, and Confucius
they thought that man was originally one
with the Universal Reality (Brahma)
but ever since his birth into this life, man
became an individual seeking, asserting and
serving its own self ONLY.
 Thus..
Man, now is often miserable …..
because of his
selfish inordinate desires
which often make him
frustrated and restless.
 Therefore..
The only way for man to be happy
is
to free himself from the slavery of
his selfishness,
and
inordinate sensual desires.
The Metaphysical Basis of Human Life
• Buddha (the “Enlightened One”)
There is only one absolute, universal all-
pervading Reality, Brahma, in which all things
are one.
Man – originally united with Brahma –
called “Brahman”
The individual self is called “Atman” and
identified with mortal body at birth and
separated from universal Brahman self.
 Theory of Reincarnation
• Body – corruptible (nalalapa)
• Soul – incorruptible (hindi nalalapa)
a. birth and rebirth are seen as
punishments
e.g. the imprisonment of the soul to the
body is due to:
misdeeds or
impurities or
imperfections or liabilities
incurred by man during his former earthly life
 b. Birth and rebirths are seen as
purificatory process to free the soul of
impurities or imperfections
- until such time as required to make the
soul fit and worthy to be united with the Most
Pure, Most Holy, Brahma and enter…
Nirvana
-the sinless calm state of mind,
the destruction of earthly yearnings,
the absence of lust, and
the cessation of sorrow.
View: Oscar Wilde

• He assumed that man’s life on earth is

doubly tragic because, in life, man
either gets what he desires or not.
• If he gets what he desires,
he will desire for more and more
and therefore, is restless and suffers.
If one does not get what he desires,
he is frustrated; and life-long
frustration is tragedy.
• Why man is often unhappy in this life?
• Buddha:
–Because of uncontrolled bodily
desires.
–The root cause of human misery and
sufferings are:
a. Selfishness and
b. Uncontrolled fleshy impulses
engendered by the passions
• In order to be happy and acquire
virtue, man must:
a. Liberate himself of this
selfishness; and
b. Subjugate (overcome,
conquer, defeat) his bases
(immoral) instincts by self
restraint or denial.
Buddha: The end and purpose of
human living is the realization of the
virtuous man,
and
it is only through enlightenment of
the true nature of man
and
the constant doing of good deeds that
leads to that realization.
Quotation: LOVE CONQUERS ALL –
“ONMIA VINCET AMOR”
• Lao Tzu – Chinese mystic and philosopher
(Tao Te Ching)
- expounds the postulates of moral conduct for
the achievement of a virtuous life.
- importance of the virtues of:
a. Humility
b. Self-negation and
c. Absolute calm or quietism in the face of
misfortune or calamity or even death.
(Mahatma Ghandi’s principle of active non-
violence or non-resistance
 Buddha and Lao Tzu teach:
• a. Power of meekness (gentleness, humility,
modesty) over evil;
• b. Of love over hatred;
• c. Of non-violence over violence
• Men are often unhappy because:
in life,
in thought,
and action,
they pretend to be what they are not through:
a. hypocrisy,
b. Pretension,
c. insincerity
 d. Pride,
e. Dishonesty,
f. Lust and inordinate worldly
attachments

Lao Tzu advocated the:

Principle of Wu Wei
“Action thru Inaction”
(Bahala Na or Carefree way of
life)
 Tao – the “Way” or “Virtue”
• It implies repeated action
• It tells and teaches man to do his work
with all his best and leave the rest to the
Providence.
• According to Taoism, man should:
a. Avoid display and self-assertion;
b. Be Humble;
c. Be Modest;
d. Be calm
 e. Be ready to meet misfortunes in life; and
f. Be fearless even death
“TAO”
He detests (hates) mere appearance because
he loves sincerity and reality.
He abhors (dislike) adulation (adoration,
praise, admiration) and flattery because these are
hostile to honesty and truth.
He gives generously of his resources,
because the more he gives to others, he has the
more for himself.
 Confucius Philosophy of Man
• Life is not an illusion , a curse, and
misery
but
a. a living reality,
b. a blessing,
c. a natural priceless right and
opportunity to be with your fellows to work
together for your common good and finally
attain destiny: happiness
• To Confucius
• Man’s perfection and happiness is realized and
achieved in social life.

• Reconciliation of conflicts and advocated

harmony among men in society.

• “The life of the moral man is an

exemplification of the universal moral order.
The life of the various man is a contradiction
thereof”
• Buddha harped on conflict between:
a. Body and soul;
b. Man’ individual self (atman) and his
universal Brahman self; and
c. Man’s present state of existence and his
future life.

Man, the Center of Harmony

He is only an infinitesimal atom of the
universe
• The Golden Rule Springs from Justice
Reason and natural law constantly enjoin
man to live righteously, to offend no one and to
give to each one his due.
It is related to the golden rule:
“Treat others as you wish them to treat
you.”
“Do not do unto others what you yourself
do not want like others to do to you”
• Man:
a. transcends in significance to the whole
world because of his moral being.
b. is just a dot but he can think and love.
c. as part of nature, moral man lives in
accordance with the natural law that
governs and guides the movements of all
things.
d. by nature, he is attuned to the rhythm of
the universe and thus enjoys peace and
happiness
• There should be order and harmony in the
inner nature of man.

• Antagonistic components of man’s being:

a. Body and soul;
b. Matter and mind;
c. Reason and passion;
d. Intellect and sense; and
e. Flesh and spirit
• In order that man can enjoy inner peace, harmony
and happiness in himself,
he should at all times, observe Heaven’s first
law enshrined in man’s conscience.

• The Moral Laws Within and Without

• The Moral Law is Everywhere
“There is nothing more real than that which
the eyes cannot see. There is nothing more
audible than that which the ears cannot hear”
• Self Control
- the inner restraint in which man shows
himself first as man, that interior brake without
which, man running with his uncontrolled
passions, would rush headlong into disaster or
tragedy.
“He who conquers other is strong’
He who conquers himself is the greater
victor”
 Passion and Happiness
• Ego
- the greatest obstacle to human happiness
- the center seat of selfishness and selfish
desires fired and fanned by man’s lower
appetites.
In order to be happy:
- man must subjugate the ego;
- must bar and banish from the human
breast all selfishness and selfish desires.
• In short:
a. man must deny himself, and
b. control his passions

This is a necessary prerequisite to the

Practice of Virtue and Attainment of
Perfection and Happiness…..
life is SUMMUM BONUM
• Man to be perfect in a perfect social order,
there must be:
- full flowering and fruition of the human
personality through:
a. Harmonious development
b. Realization and actualization of all of
man’s powers and potentialities– not only of
man’s moral endowment but also his—
 - physical,
- emotional,
- social,
- political, and
- economic aspirations.

Towards a Perfect Human Society

- the necessity of harmony and cooperation
among men despite their:
 a. Differences
b. Conflicting claims, and
c. Interests
Solutions:
a. Maximum tolerance;
b. Constant balancing and reconciliation;
c. A peaceful and harmonious co-
existence whenever possible.
 The Jen
• Jen is equivalent to:
a. to love,
b. law, and
c. harmony
Justice and love always go together
Justice
- is the application and distribution of love
to our fellowmen.
• Love
-is the very blood and current of life, of
family and community life . . . .

without which . . . .

-the family and the nation, withers away or

breaks apart
• LOVE
• is at the very heart of the harmony of all
things
• By practicing Jen (Love)
• By living the Jen (Love)
• By being inspired and guided by Jen (Love). . .
“All men together can achieve:
- universal peace,
- harmony, and
- brotherhood”
 Philosophy of Education
• NATURALISM
• Rooted from Ancient Philosophers such as:
Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes
• Denies everything that has supernatural
significance
• Preserves the natural goodness of man
• Truth can only be found through nature
• Advocated by: J.J. Rousseau, John Locke
and Montaigne
On Education:
Naturalism stands for a:
democratic and universal way
that is:
everyone must be educated in the same
manner

Education is in accordance to:

human development and growth
naturalism

It gives more emphasis on:

the physical development
—formal exercise—and
hygiene of the person
rather than the 3Rs.
Aims to unfold the child s potential
NOT to prepare him for a definite
vocation or social position
BUT to prepare him to adapt to the
changing times and needs.
• Consequently, one s conduct is governed by:

impulse
instinct, and
experience

• It puts the child:

at the center of educational process and
prepares him to experience life as it is
 IDEALISM
Advocated by Philosophers Plato and Socrates
Ideas are the only true reality.
the ultimate truths of the matter is nothing
but just a mere representation of ideas.

It emphasises that:
Knowledge is obtained by speculation and
Reasoning for its tenet is that:
Ideas are the only thing
worth knowing for
IDEALISM

• Its focus is on:

Conscious reasoning of the mind in
order to attain truth…
through:

Introspection
intuition
Use of logic
Idealism

On Education:
It aims to:
1. discover the full potentials of the child
2. Cultivates it in order to prepare him:
` a. for a better position in the society
b. For him to serve the society better
Emphasis is given on subjects that will develop
and enhance the mind of the child such as:
Philosophy, Literature,
Religion, and History
Idealism

• Methods used in teaching includes:

Lecture
Discussion
Socratics Dialogue

Character development is through

emulation of examples
and
heroes
 REALISM
Its advocates are St. Thomas and Jonathan
Herbart

It is concerned with:
Actualities in life..
What is real

The world of physical objects is the Ultimate

reality.
Hence, reality is independent of the human mind.
Realism

On Education:
The most effective way to find about reality is to
study it through:
organized,
separate and
systematically arranged matters

Its emphasis is on the subject matter concerning:

Science and
Mathematics
Realism

Its method of teaching includes:

Recitation
Experimentation and
Demonstration

Character development is…..

Through training in the rules of
conduct.
 EXISTENTIALISM
Rooted from the dehumanization of man by
technology
*Reaction to the traditional Philosophy of
Emmanuel Kant and Hegel

*EXISTENCE PRECEDES ESSENCE*

“Man conceives and makes of himself”

*Known as the Philosophy of Subjectivity

--Proclaims man s freedom in the
accomplishment of his destiny.