INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN
PERSON
MODULE 1
PHILOSOPHY
Traditionally philosophy is defined as love of
wisdom because it came from two Greek
words philos (love) and sophia (wisdom).
Philosophy is the sum of all men’s beliefs and
views about the world which guide their actions
Philosophy is a rational critical thinking or
more or less systematic kind about conduct of
life, the general nature of the world, and the
justification of belief.
Philosophy is the science of things by their
ultimate principles and causes, as known by
natural reason alone.
Philosophy is the only science that
investigates all things in their ultimate causes,
views and principles through reason alone.
PERSON
The term “Person” is defined in many ways
based on one’s purpose.
In law, it refers to a corporation, organization,
partnership, association or other entity
construed to be governed by particular law.
In grammar, a person is any of the three
groups of pronouns with corresponding verb
inflections that distinguish the speaker, the
individual and the individual or thing spoken of.
In Christianity, it is any of three separate
individualities constituting the trinity: the first
person (The Father), the second person (The
Son), and the third person (The Holy Spirit)
HUMAN
Human is defined as a rational being endowed
with composite characteristics (physical,
mental, spiritual and emotional) as distinct
from lower animals.
Human person is used together to distinguish
it from other kinds of persons such as
corporate person, ecclesiastical person,
person in grammar, etc.
ORIGIN OF PHILOSOPHY
Greece is the birthplace of philosophy in the
West.
To be more precise it is the ancient Greek city
of Miletus in the Western coast of what is now
Turkey that gave birth to philosophy.
Thales is the Father of Philosophy in the
Western civilization. He lived between 624 and
546 BCE a contemporary of the Lydian king
Croesus and the statesman Solon
What made Thales a philosopher is his desire
to know the ultimate stuff that makes up the
different things we perceived.
Thales approach highlights the difference
between religion and philosophy. Religion
rests on faith while philosophy rests on reason.
PHILOSOPHICAL ACTIVITY
First in terms of scope philosophy involves the
widest generalizations
Second philosophy is all about fundamentals.
A fundamental is the root cause that explains
almost everything in a given context.
Third philosophy is driven by the desire to
integrate things into a one coherent whole. As
the celebrated philosopher Georg Wilhelm
Friedrich Hegel said “The true is the Whole
THE BIG THREE IN GREEK PHILOSOPHY
• Socrates
• Plato
• Aristotle
 Socrates
Socrates was the big-city philosopher in
ancient Athens.
Socrates didn't write books; he just liked to ask
probing and sometimes humiliating questions,
which gave rise to the famous Socratic
Method of Teaching.
Plato
An aristocratic man with plenty of money and
a superb physique, Actually, the man's real
(and little known) name was Aristocles; Plato
was just a nickname given to him by his
friends, whose original connotation made
reference to his broad shoulders.
He believes in the pre-existence. and
immortality of the soul, holding that life is
nothing more than the imprisonment of the
soul in a body. In addition to the physical world,
there is a heavenly realm of greater reality
consisting in Forms, Ideals, or Ideas (such as
Equality, Justice, Humanity)
Aristotle
Aristotle was Plato's best student. He went on
to become the very well-paid tutor of Alexander
the Great -probably the highest paid
philosopher in history.
This great thinker was called a peripatetic
philosopher (peripateo = "to walk around")
because he liked to lecture to his students
while taking a walk. Another group of
philosophers were called stoics because they
preferred sitting around on porches (stoa)
when they shot the breeze. A key theme in
Aristotle's thought is that happiness is the goal
of life.
He voluntarily went into exile from Athens
when conditions became a bit politically
dangerous for him, in his words, "lest Athens
sin twice against philosophy." The founder
of logical theory, Aristotle believed that the
greatest human endeavor is the use of reason
in theoretical activity. One of his best-known
ideas was his conception of "The Golden
Mean "avoid extremes,"
MODULE 2
MAJOR BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY
COGNITIVE BRANCH
• Logic
Deals with the nature of thinking and reasoning
it uses empirical support and information which
are reliable valid and objective.
It is the science of correct thinking, there are
two types of logic:
- Deductive Reasoning - Universal
truth to particular
- Inductive Reasoning - Particular to
universal
• Epistemology
It concerns with the definition of knowledge
and related concepts such as courses and
criteria of knowledge. There are two
contending schools of thought:
- Rational School - The main source of
knowledge is deductive reasoning.
Based on self-evident principles or
actions
- Empirical School - The source of
knowledge is sense-perception
• Metaphysics
It is concerned with the nature of ultimate
reality. Reflect on the subject of appearance.
NORMATIVE BRANCH
• Ethics
It is the science or art of correct doing. It is the
study of what is right and what is wrong in
human behavior in the pursuit of beauty and
goodness of life. It can be regarded as the
technology of philosophy; it is because it tells
us human beings ought to function as human
being
 • Aesthetics
Derived from the Greek work “aisthetikos”
which means one who is perception of things
through his sensation, feelings and intuitions.
It is concerned with the essence of
perceptions, objectives, judgement of beauty
and nature of things.
MODULE 3
HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE:
THE PHILIOSOPHERS WAY
Holistic Perspective
is the concept of “whole as greater than the
sum of its parts”
Holistic Thinking
It refers to a perspective that considers large-
scale patterns in systems. All aspects are tied
in together to form a general overview of the
problem or situation.
This is often described as looking at a “big
picture” when describing and analyzing a
situation or problem. The word holistic comes
from the Greek word “holos” which means
whole.
Partial Thinking
It focuses on specific aspect of a situations.
Conclusions are made based on considering
some, but not all sides of the problem or
situation
Holistic Point of View
Looks at all aspects of the given problem or
situation
All aspects are given importance when making
conclusions & tied in together to form a general
overview of the problem or situation.
Partial Point of View
Looks at only a limited number of aspects of
the given problem or situation
Conclusions are made based on considering
some, but not all, sides of the problem or
situation.
HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND EMANATING
CONCRETE SITUATION FROM A HOLISTIC
PERSPECTIVE
The Human Person is a unique individual
different from the rest. He is in charge of his
own life, his intellect, freewill, possessing
dignity and is "created in the image of likeness
of God".
The human person must accept that he is not
alone in this world. As a social and political
being he is oriented towards other people and
their company.
THE VALUE OF DOING PHILOSOPHY
The main purpose in the study of Philosophy
of the Human Person is to see human life as
a meaningful whole or in its holistic
perspective.
The Philosophy of the Human Person seeks
to obtain a unified and consistent world view of
the human person.
The Philosophy of the Human Person is of
little worth and strength if everything is certain
in this world.
Philosophy of the Human Person lies in the
"visions of things large enough to generate a
life plan, a direction" on the purpose and
existence of the human person.
THE SPECIFIC VALUE OF PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy as a subject enables the student
to study, learn and master the various
branches and divisions of philosophy and the
theories and beliefs of philosophers.
Philosophy as an activity enables the
student to think, conceptualize, analyze,
compare, evaluate and understand things.
MODULE 5
METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING
• Truth
The quality of words, statements, beliefs,
ideas, or propositions that are stated, in
everyday conversation, to concur with the facts
or to state the case is known as truth in
metaphysics and in the philosophy of language
Most frequently, it refers to faithfulness to an
original or standard as well as being in line with
fact or reality. In contemporary situations, the
concept of "truth to self" or authenticity is often
used to describe truth.
• Propositions
is a statement about the world or reality.
Propositions may or may not carry truth.
• Knowledge
Knowledge is the clear awareness and
understanding of something. It is the product
of questions that allow for clear answers
provided by facts.
• Facts
Are propositions or statement which are
observe to be real or truthful
• Claim
Is a statement that is not evidently or
immediately known to be true. This means that
any claim can be proven by verification and
experimentation.
In philosophy, systematic doubt is employed
to help determine the truth. This means that
every statement, claim, evidence, and
experience is scrutinized and analyzed.
Doubt has a very important purpose in
philosophy as it drives our desire to discover
the truth.
A belief is true if it can be justified or proven
through the use of one’s senses. Another basis
for determining truth is a belief or statement is
true if it is based on facts
DISTINGUISH TRUTH FROM OPINION
• FACT
is something concrete that can be proven. You
can find facts in legal records, scientific
findings, encyclopedias, atlases, etc. In other
words, facts are the truth and are accepted as
such
• OPINION
is less concrete. It’s a view formed in the mind
of a person about a particular issue. In other
words, it is what someone believes or thinks,
and is not necessarily the truth.
- Plato
Opinion is something intermediary
between knowledge and ignorance.
While Public opinion is the
intermediate faculty which seizes the
things that float between the two
extremes
- Aristotle
Opinion applies to what, being true or
false, may be other than it is: in fact,
opinion is the apprehension of an
immediate and unnecessary premise
- Kant
Opinion is a belief that is conscious of
being insufficient both subjectively and
objectively
- Hobbes
An opinion gives for truth something
that has been said, although
sometimes they are absurd words,
which mean nothing, impossible to
understand
 - Freund
Public opinion is the convergence of
the opinions of the greatest number of
people in a community, so that they
form a common and dominant feeling,
exerting diffuse pressure
MODULE 6
FALLACIES AND BIASES
• FALLACIES
- a false or mistaken idea
- an often-plausible argument using
false or invalid inference.
Philosophers are constantly using the word
fallacy. For them, a fallacy is reasoning that
comes to a conclusion without the evidence to
support it.
• BIASES
Prejudice in favor of or against one thing,
person, or group compared with another,
usually in a way considered to be unfair.
Examples of Fallacies
• Ad Hominem
- Attacking the person presenting the
argument instead of the argument
itself
• Appeal to Force
- Using the threat of force or an
undesirable event to advance an
argument.
• Appeal to Emotion
- Using emotion such as pity or
sympathy
• Appeal to Tradition
- The idea is acceptable because it has
been true for a long time.
• Begging the Question
- Assuming the thing or idea to be
proven is true; also known as circular
argument.
• Cause-and-Effect
- “Cause-and-effect” relationship
between unrelated events
• Fallacy of Composition
- Assuming that what is true of a part is
true for the whole
• Fallacy of Division
- Assuming that what is true for the
whole is true for its parts.
Examples of Biases
• Correspondence bias or attribution
effect
- Tendency to judge a person’s
personality by his or her actions,
without regard for the external factors
or influence.
• Confirmation Bias
- Tendency to look for and readily
accept information which fits one’s
own beliefs or views and to reject
ideas or views that go against it.
• Framing
- Focusing on a certain aspect of a
problem while ignoring other aspects.
• Hindsight
- to see past events as predictable, or to
ascribe a pattern to historical events.
• Conflict of Interest
- A person or group is connected to or
has a vested interest in the issue
being discussed.
• Cultural Bias
- Analyzing an event or issue based on
one’s cultural standards.
 METHODS OF PHILOSOPHY LEAD TO
WISDOM AND TRUTH
Critical Thinking is the careful, reflective,
rational and systematic approach to questions
of very general interest.
Critical thinking means understanding of
philosophy and refraining from merely giving
claims but through careful thought, one
reasons through to argumentation.
For Maboloc and Pascua (2008) critical
thinking is a lifelong process of self-
assessment.
EVALUATE TRUTH FROM OPINION IN
DIFFERENT SITUATIONS USING THE
METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING
A method of philosophizing is a process of
determining the truth or drawing conclusions
from a statement using various philosophical
methods, such as: Socratic, dialectic,
scientific, and historical.
The scientific method is a process of
determining truth or knowledge through
experimentation, inductive and deductive
reasoning, and hypothesis or theory testing.
The scientific method, also called empirical
method, is a process of determining truth or
knowledge through experimentation, inductive
and deductive reasoning, and hypothesis or
theory testing.
Logic is the truth based on reasoning and
critical thinking. It includes analysis and
construction of arguments. It serves as path to
freedom from half-truths and deception.
• Deductive Reasoning
In this type of reasoning, conclusion comes
first, followed by main points, and the last will
be the supporting data, facts, examples, and
evidences. General idea comes first before the
specific or particular idea.
• Inductive Reasoning
In this type of reasoning, supporting data,
facts, examples, and evidences come first
followed by the main points and conclusion will
be the last part. This is the vice versa of the
deductive reasoning because particular idea
comes first before the general idea.
NINE (9) METHODS OR TOOLS OF
PHILOSOPHY
• Conceptual Analysis
- Science analyzes facts through
observation, experimentation and
sense experience. Facts are known
but concepts are understood.
• Logical Analysis
- It is a method of determining whether
the assertion offered as reason for
accepting the assertion justify that
acceptance in the way the speaker
intended.
- The benefit of this approach is
multifaceted.
- it gives the arguers a relatively high
level of confidence in their work, so
long as they have reason to presume
their premises to be true.
• Method of Systematic Doubt
- The "doubt" as a method of philosophy
is called the methodological doubt or
indubitable or sometimes referred to
as Cartesian doubt advocated by
Rene Descartes (1596-1650), a
French philosopher.
• Phenomenological Method
- This method of philosophy was
associated with Edmund Husserl
(1859-1938), a German philosopher
who postulated transcendental
phenomenology. The word
phenomenon is derived from a Greek
word phaenesthai, which means "to
appear". In phenomenological
method, we describe ourselves and
the world around us on the basis of
subjective experience, which is often
referred to as "lived experience".
- In using this method, we suspend our
categorical commitments and
describe what appears in this world,
such that our observations
presuppose our categories and
theories.
- This method is useful when
encountering a field of philosophy for
the first time. This can be combined
with the self-directed deconstruction
method.
• Philosophical Dialogue
- A person who employs this method
must employ the other methods listed
here in order to conduct the
conversation
- The usefulness of this method is that it
brings a philosopher into contact with
many ideas in a short period of time,
especially when there are more than
two opinions being argued.
• Historical Method
- In this method, there is value in
explaining the implications of an
argument in a society. However,
negative implications do not simply
imply an absence of truth nor do
positive ones imply its presence.
• Comparative-Descriptive Method
- This is a valuable learning tool, since
we often come to understand
concepts in relations to what we are
already know.
• Comparative-Constructive Method
- This is a very useful method for
creating new ideas, which are
extremely important to the process of
truth seeking.
• Deconstructive Method
- This method is useful in specific
situations. Its value is that it allows a
thinker to challenge his own cultural
preconceptions and thus gain a
somewhat, more objective point of
view.
MODULE 7
HUMAN PERSON AS EMBODIED SPIRIT
Allegory of the Cave
The story demonstrates that Plato wants us to
remember two worlds: the world of ideas and
the world of senses.
The world of senses is depicted within the
cave, showing us that the world we live is but
a reflection of the true world. The outside of the
cave represents the world of ideas, from which
all imitations of the cave originate.
Plato said that our bodies are made up of two
distinct realities, including the one from the
previous sentence. In specifically, a human
body is made up of both a physical body and a
soul, with the physical body existing in the
world of senses and the soul emerging from
the world of thoughts.
According to Plato, the body and the soul are
distinct in that after death, the soul returns to
the world of ideas while the body stays in the
world of senses where it deteriorates. The soul
is perfect because it came from the world of
ideas, where it had the capacity to know
everything.
The thought that the soul is constrained by the
body—like the prisoners in the cave—or,
obviously, imprisoned inside a body—hits us
hard when the reality of the body comes in.
Because of this, a man's body is actually
constantly constrained and flawed.
DEFINING MAN, HUMAN, HUMAN BEING,
PERSON, PERSONHOOD, AND HUMAN
NATURE
• Man
- By definition, it is generally and
commonly defined to represent the
entire human race.
• Human
- A term used to refer for various
classifications and species. For a
living man, human is under the
classification of Mamalia.
-
 • Human Being work The Republic wherein Plato compared
- A term used to separate man from the human person into a state.
other Human Classifications like
Plato’s idea of a good life is a life ruled by
animals.
reason, as rational part controls. It is logical
• Person
indeed to have our life controlled intellectually
- Refers to an individual who possess
by our own reasoning.
self-awareness, self-determination,
rational mind, and the capacity to
interact with other and with
himself/herself.
• Personhood
MODULE 8
- A general term refers to the state of
being a person with unique, sacred HUMAN PERSON IN THEIR
and ethical status within him/herself. ENVIRONMENT
• Human Nature
- A general term refers to the deepest
and natural behavior of a person that ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY
distinguish human from animals.
is the discipline that studies the moral
- A collective trait that formed and
relationships of human beings with the
considered the very essence of
environment and its non-human contents
humanity.
According to Payne (2010) there are two
frameworks where humans can be related
THE HUMAN PERSON

A human person is typically with a body which • Anthropocentric Model.

- Based on the anthropocentric model,
is tangible and has three components
humans are superior and central to the
composed of SOUL, MIND and SPIRIT.
universe, thus, it is human centered
• Ecocentric Model.
- It is the ecological or relational
TWO GENERAL KINDS HUMAN PERSON integrity of the humans that provides
• Cognitive Self meaning of our morals and values and
it is nature centered. Devoted to
Are the essential components of a human preserving the totality of Earth’s
persons that deals with THE WHAT OF A biodiversity and the functioning of its
PERSON which includes human persons’ life –supporting system
belief, desire, dreams, and intentions.
ENVIRONMENTAL DISORDER
• Physical Self
Occurs when the order of things is disrupted.
Which deals with the essential features of the
In order to for us to help maintain its order of
human way of life or THE WHO OF A
things we have to apply
PERSON which includes his/her body type,
strength and appearances - Environmental Aesthetics

The field of Philosophy that studies ways in

which humans experience the world through
Human limitations do exist. It is essentially
their senses
normal to a lot of people.
Philosophical view that believes maintaining
Apparently, Plato’s concept of the body and
order in the environment will bring out the
soul directs us to his ideal man – the man that
natural beauty of the surroundings and
is rational and governed by his own
contribute to the well-being of the people and
intellect and will. This is evidently seen in his
other organisms living in it.
The appreciation of natural beauty brings
about the concern for the environment and
helps people relate more effectively with
nature.
Environmental Aesthetics focuses on
philosophical questions concerning
appreciation of the world as a whole.
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
This is a moral approach that analyzes the
relationship between humans and the
environment. It also discusses environmental
problems caused by human activities and
social issues that impact the environment.
It serves as a basis for reflecting on how our
actions show our regard for nature. It also
guides us in upholding the welfare of the
environment and everything in it
ENVIRONMENTALISM
This perspective advocates to address the
growing environmental problems. It has
become an important issue in international
politics as governments and international
organizations have devoted efforts to discuss
environmental issues and formulate plans to
address them.
ANCIENT THINKERS
• Anaximander
- a pre-Socratic philosopher and
scientist said about the creation-
destruction. According to him, the
sketch of the genesis of the world
(cosmology), the evolution of the
world begins with the generation of
opposites in certain region Nature.
Nature is indeterminate-boundless in
the sense that no boundaries between
the warm and or the moist and dry
regions are originally present within
• Pythagoras
- “Universe is a living embodiment of
nature’s order, harmony and beauty.
He sees our relationship with the
universe involving biophilia (love of
other living things) And cosmophilia
(love of other living beings)
MODERN THINKERS
• Immanuel Kant
- ‘Beauty is ultimately a symbol of
morality (goodness). He believes that
the orderliness of nature and the
harmony of nature with our faculties
guides us toward a deeper religious
perspective’
• Herbert Marcuse
- Said about the power of humans over
nature, while George Herbert Mead
tackled about our duties and
responsibilities.
Human kind is a part of the world, and we
significantly affect our environment in the
same way that changes in our environment
affects us.
MODULE 9
HUMAN PERSON IN THEIR
ENVIRONMENT
• Deep Ecology
Is an ecological philosophy developed by
Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess in the
early 1970’s asserting that all life forms have
equal right to exist, and human needs and
desires have no priority over those other
organisms. Believes that the living
environment should be respected and
regarded as having rights to flourish,
independents of its utility to humans
• Social Ecology
It is critical theory founded by American
Anarchist and libertarian socialist author
Murray Bookchin. Conceptualized as a critique
of current social, political, and anti-ecological
trends, it espouses a reconstructive,
ecological, communitarian, and ethical
approach to society.
 • Ecofeminism

It is also called ecological feminism, branch of

feminism that examines the connections
between women and nature. Its name was
coined by French feminist Francoise
d’Eaubonne in 1974 A philosophical idea that
combines feminism and ecology concerns,
emphasizing that both suffer from their
treatment by male dominant society.

Comes from the idea that women and nature

have significant connections, since women
most often have a close association with
nature in many societies due to the nature of
their traditional roles

Prudence is defined as the ability to have

good judgment that allows avoidance of
dangers and risks. Meanwhile, frugality is the
act of using money or other resources wisely
and practically.

Prudence

- covers good judgment, considering

the consequences of an action, using
common sense and discretion,
exercising caution, and conforming to
reason and decency

Frugality

- The quality of being thrifty, sparing or

economical in the consumption of
resources and avoiding waste,
lavishness, or extravagance