Philosophical Reflection on a Concrete Situation from a Holistic

Perspective
Determine or formulate the principle (a broader perspective) of the
metaphorical idioms or salawikain. Follow the example.
 Salawikain –Huwag mamangka sa dalawang ilog.
 Principle – One cannot be in two places at the same time.
Insight is the understanding of specific cause and effect in a specific context.
The term insight can have several related meanings:
 a piece of information
 the act or result of understanding the inner nature of things or of
things intuitively
 an introspection (understanding own feelings, thoughts, self-
assessment)
 the power of acute observation and deduction, penetration,
discernment, perception called intellection or “noesis” (exercise of
reason)
 an understanding of cause and effect based on identification of
relationships and behaviors within a model, context, or scenario
 an insight that manifests itself suddenly, such as understanding how to
solve a difficult problem. It is also known as epiphany
“Doing with Insight” or “Insight Method” is expounded by Roque Ferriorls
(Dy, 2001).
 It starts from (1) getting an insight just as Literature experts get from
or infuse into the story or poem the “lesson” and jokers drive their
“joke” or wit in the delivery of their story.
 It is the process of abstracting or thinking of an insight.
 An insight is also a philosophy, proposition, a concluding statement
supported by evidences.
 From the insight, a moral principle (rule) can also be lifted as a guide.
  Philosophizing continues by asking (2) what to do with the insight.
 Ferriorls defined insight as “seeing not without the eyes but with the
powers of thinking.”
 Insight (in-sight) comes from two words:
 in (mind) and sight (senses),
 so that insight is a sight from within.
 Philosophizing deals with a subject matter using a particular method
of response. Speculate or theorize about fundamental or serious issues
especially in tedious or pompous way. It explains or argue (a point or
idea) in terms of one’s philosophical theories.
 Philosophical reflection is the careful examination of life situations.
This involves the weighing of several alternatives and using specific
standards to evaluate one’s action. A man reflects philosophically
when he is able to build on previous actions, events or decisions.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION
CHARACTERISTICS OF PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION:
1. They have answers which remain unanswered, therefore disputable
Examples:
 What does freedom mean?
 What does love mean?
 What is true happiness?
2. They cannot be settled by science or common sense.
Examples:
 Are lovers really blind?
 Do high scores measure intelligence?
 36-24-36, why is it considered as a perfect measurement?
3. They are of perennial intellectual interest.
Examples:
 Why does man exist?
 What does freedom mean when we have no choice sometimes?
 Where do we go when we die?
4. For philosophizing is searching for meaning.
Examples:
 Why is the moon round?
 Why do we cry when we are sad?
 Why are promises broken?
INSIGHTS FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES:
1. Conceptual idea or knowledge means a kind of idea or learning one derives
from sharing of minds and experiences or from reading printed materials. It
may come as a form of information which consequently becomes an idea.
 Example: Ordinarily in some meetings or seminar articles or bible
passages are read for the participants to get a striking idea in relation
to what they heard or derived from the passage.
2. Perceptual kind refers to knowledge derived through the senses. In certain
cases, during mental exercises, reflection is done with certain instrumental
music or an episode presented.
3. Intuition refers to the learning or knowledge one obtained through feelings
independent of the cause.
 Example: One feels he is being cheated by his spouse without any
basis but one simply derived unfounded such from feeling.
THREE BASIC FACTORS TO CONSTITUTE LEARNING
1. Reasons tell the truth and objectivity of the matter appealing to one’s
common sense or judgement.
Examples:
 A father is a male parent.
 A dead person is not alive.
2. Experience refers to the information or knowledge gained through
perception or awareness of mental lives.
Examples:
 One gets hurt being rejected or turned down.
 Receiving flowers on Valentine’s Day makes us feel appreciated.
3. Memory pertains to mental activity of restored ideas.
Examples:
 A girl remembers an early childhood memory of a pet.
 “Highschool life is the best time to enjoy life”, said by a grown up
who has three kids.
MODULE 4
DIFFERENCE ABOUT TRUTH AND OPINION
a. Truth
-This pertains to something that is true about a subject and can be tested or
proven.
Characteristics of a TRUTH:
1. Can be proven true or false through an objective evidence
2. Uses measurable or verifiable numbers, dates, statistics and measurements
a. OPINION
-This refers to what someone thinks, feels or believes. It is not based on
evidence.
Characteristics of an OPINION:
1. Cannot be presently verified
2. Can mean different things to different people
3. Uses value judgement words and comparisons such as best, most
Module 5
Methods of Philosophy Lead to Wisdom and Truth
What is a Fact?
Fact
• A fact generally refers to a statement and can be objectively verified
or proven true or false.
• Verification is possible based on research and actual evidences.
Here are some questions that you can used to identify about facts:
• 1. Can the statement be proved or demonstrated to be true?
• 2. Can the statement be observed in operation? How does it happen?
• 3. Can the statement be verified by evidences or documents?
What is an Opinion?
Opinion
• An opinion is a statement that cannot be proven based on the
perception and judgement of people about particular thing.
• An opinion can be argued through one’s thinking, feelings, and
beliefs.
• Verification is not possible because the source are merely assumption
or personal view.
Here are some qualifiers and biased words that you can used to identify
about opinions:
Bad worse worst good better
best worthwhile worthless always likely never
might
seem possibly probably should

What are the methods of philosophizing?

1. Logical Analysis
-Knowledge may be proven in two ways, by the use of logic and by the
use of sense experience.
Example of Logical Analysis
All spiders have eight legs.
Black Widows are a type of spider.
Therefore, Black Widows are spiders.
Example of Informal logic
Mhelais saw a black cat on the way to school. In school, Mhelais fell
down the stairs. Therefore, black cats are bad luck.
This is a generalization that cannot be verified.
2. Analytical Analysis
-It is a rejection of traditional philosophy which is too speculative,
idealistic, and abstract as exemplified by the common early metaphysical
questions:
• What is the nature of being?
• What is real, mind or matter?
Examples of Analytical analysis
• What has to be broken before you can use it?
• What goes up but never comes down?
 • There’s a one-story house in which everything is yellow. Yellow
walls, yellow doors, yellow furnitures. What color are the stairs?
• The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the
door.
• -Frederic Brown (1948)
3. Phenomenology
Seeks to understand the outside world as it is interpreted by and
through human experience and consciousness.
Individuals will be influenced by others, but not the same
experience.
Examples of Phenomenology
• What is it like to be bored?
• What is it like to experience a heart transplant?
• What is it like to experience pain?
4. Existentialism
 It is concerned with a search for self and the meaning of life
through free will, choice, and responsibility.
 People are searching to find out who and what they are as they
make choices based on their experiences, beliefs, and outlook.
Examples of existentialism
• What’s our biggest mistake as a human?
• How do you know that you are not dreaming right now?
• If you could watch everything that happened in your life until now,
would you enjoy it?
Remember:
“In philosophizing, you ask questions because you desire to know and find
satisfaction upon discovery of truth. You learned that it is important to study
the methods of philosophizing to know and be careful with what you say to
others. If it will continue to teach this until the next generation, it enhances
your knowledge on how to deal with properly.
MODULE 6
TRUTH AND OPINION
TRUE
• You eat apples because it is scientifically given that is contains
vitamins that are vital for health.
• It is also true that the sun can damage the skin that is why when you
go out under the sun you use cap, umbrella or sunblock.
• It is true that the earth is spherical because there are pictures from
outer space that prove it.
OPINION
• Everyone may say an opinion but not everyone has the same opinion
on a certain subject.
• Some opinions are well balanced because references were weighed
and accurately put to consideration.
• However, some opinions are weakly made because of biases and
influence of people and media.
• For example, the way that the drug war of the Philippine government
was executed triggered different opinions, there are those who
investigated before they talked or decided to post a statement while
there are others who simply agree to what they hear from the media.
• An opinion is a statement of judgement that are in need of further
justification. Opinions will have to be defended with better reasons
and basis to strengthen them.
• To strengthen opinion you should learn to listen to both sides of the
subject.
• An argument is a group of statements that serve to support a
conclusion.
 • Therefore, if someone says, “There is no hope in the Philippine
government.” it is not yet an argument. It is rather an expression of an
opinion.
• If you want to convince another person that your opinion is true, then
you must provide reasons to support your claim.

FALLACIES
• Groups of statements that appear to be arguments but fail to support
conclusion.
• FAKE ARGUMENTS
“There is no hope in the Philippine government because the Philippines is a
tropical country.”

• If you analyze the statement, the stated reason, the Philippines is a

tropical country, fails to support the logical claim, there is no hope in
the Philippine government.

• The example above is only a simple representation of fallacies.

• Some types of fallacy is more complex and is trickier.

• Sometimes, you mistake them for a sound argument because they

are guised as an articulated argument.

• If you are not keen and critical enough, they can fool your tests of
justification.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FALLACIES

1. Argumentum ad Hominem
(argument against the person)

-This is a fallacy used when people convince others that someone’s

argument should be rejected because of the person’s personal
background (his/her history, nationality, race, socio-economic status,
family, associations, religion and other circumstances.) This argument is a
fallacy because the person claiming it should not affect the rightness and
wrongness of a claim.

• The judgement of the people is fallacious because their opinions

seeks to alter the harassment that has been done by focusing on the
personal background of the victim. If we are to take it the right way,
the mistakes of the person in the past do not lessen the rights she
innately possesses.

2. Argumentum ad Baculum
(appeal to force)

-This is an argument used by people who want to win a conflict by issuing

threats to their opponents.

• This argument is fallacious because it is problematic. Instead of

convincing the student that the teacher is right by giving good
reasons, the teacher forced them to believe and accept whatever he
says. The students are made to say yes to the claim even if in their
minds they have doubts.
3. Argumentum ad Misericordiam
(appeal to pity)

-This is also called appeal to emotion. It is an argument used by people

who want to win people over by manipulating their emotions. This is a
favorite tactic of politicians during campaign periods.

4. Argumentum ad Populum
(bandwagon fallacy)

-This fallacious argument is a favorite marketing strategy by advertising

agencies. If they want their products to sell, they will get the most
popular personalities to model their products. This results to fans and
avid followers of those personalities buying the product.

• It is a fallacy because the effectiveness of a product is technically not

reliant to the actor endorsing it but on how it is made. It is also
important to note that popularity is not equal to quality.
 TRUTH

OPINION

FALLACIES

Argumentum Argumentum
Argumentum Argumentum
ad Hominem as
ad Baculum ad Populum
(Argument Misericordiam
(Appeal to (Badwagon
against the (Appeal to
force) fallacy)
person) pity)
THE HUMAN PERSON AS AN EMBODIED SPIRIT

 A man is a physical body, a living soul, and a spirit.

 Soul (inner self: mortal)

 Spirit (life-force: immortal)

Man is different from animals, he must have something higher, and that
higher thing is the spirit. Nowhere in the Scriptures that we read of an
animal possessing a spirit.

This is the best theory which explain their levels of consciousness in all men,
that of self-consciousness in all men, (through the soul), world-consciousness
through the body, and God-consciousness (through the spirit).

This theory holds that man consists of three distinct elements, BODY, SOUL
and SPIRIT.
1.What Language Shows
a. Pneuma. Greek word of spirit which means “breath”. The lung
“pneumonia” takes its name from the term.
b. Psuche. The Greek word for “soul”. Psychology therefore is the
study of the soul (mind) of man.
c. Soma. The Greek word for “body”. “Psychosomatic” (soul-body)
diseases are disorders of the body which are caused by mental and
emotional (soul related) problems.
2. How They Function
SPIRIT function to play in the well-being of every person. It relates upward to
God and is energized by God’s spirit when we are filled with the spirit.

FUNCTIONS OF THE SPIRIT

a. Revelation from God

b. Prayer to God
c. Communion with God

d. Worship with God

e. Witness to man

f. Conscience: to judge

g. Fellowship with God

h. Discernment of spirits

i. Spiritual warfare

j. Seedbed for the fruits of the Holy Spirit

k. Reception area for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

SOUL is the part of man which is aware of himself-self-awareness. It is the

center of the ego or personality. It relates inward to himself.

FUNCTIONS OF THE SOUL

a. Memory- to recall

b. Curiosity- to inquire

c. Perception- to interpret

d. Reason- to think

e. Imagination- to create

f. Emotion- to feel

g. Volition- to will

The BODY is the part of the man which is aware of and reacts with the
outside world-world awareness. The body relates outward to the world.

FUNCTIONS OF THE BODY

a. Reception- Information is received from the world by way of sense

(external and eternal senses).
b. Reaction- The body reacts through the mobility (muscle) system by words
and actions.

c. Expression- The body can express to the world by thoughts, feelings and
decisions of the soul.

How the Human Person Body Imposes Limits and Possibilities for
Transcendence

A. Hinduism: Reincarnation and Karma

Karma- in an action, not a result. The future is not set in stone. You can
change the course of your life right now by changing your volition acts
and self-destructive patterns.

Everything in this life, say the Hindus, is a consequence of actions performed

in previous existence. Only in building up a fine record, or “karma”, can final
salvation be achieved.

B. Buddhism: Nirvana

Nirvana means the state in which one is absolutely free from all forms of
bondage and attachment. It means to overcome and remove the cause of
suffering.

C.St. Augustine and St. Aquinas: Will and Love

For St. Augustine, physically we are not free, yet morally bound to obey the
law. The eternal law is God Himself. According to this law, humanity must do
well and avoid evil, hence, the existence of moral obligation in every human
being.

CONCEPTS ON THE LIMITATIONS OF THE HUMAN BODY

1. The Concept of Dread

-Man is simply thrown into the world and is left alone to face what he
can do because he did not will for it.

2. The Concept of Being-Others-Related

 -He has to establish relationship with others in the world. One
cannot live without the help of others.

3. The Concept of Concern

- Human person’s relatedness to entities is basically things which he

encounters in the world. He always stays “together” with others.

4. The Concept of Guilt-Feeling

-In philosophy, guilt-feeling is something that is lacking or missing in a

person. As such, human person is a guilty creature.

5. The Concept of Conscience

- Conscience plays a primary role in recovering from being “lost or fallen” in

the world.

6. The Concept of Resoluteness

- Resoluteness is man’s readiness to be called by conscience.

7. The Concept of Temporality

-Temporality imposes limits to one’s human body.

8. The Concept of Death

-The human person’s temporal existence will find its end on death.

ACHIEVING GREATNESS

Limitations of the Human Persons

Human persons are biologically deficient beings. This means that we not
equipped with the best physical attributes among all the beings in the world.

• Human beings do not have the ability to fly.

• Human beings do not have the ability to breathe under water without the
aid of a breathing apparatus.

Possibility is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as:

• A chance that something might exists, happen, or be true

• The state or fact of being possible

• Something that might be done or might happen

• Something that is possible

• Abilities or qualities that could make someone or something better in the

future

Transcendence means

• Exceeding usual limits or surpassing;

• Extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experiences;

• In Kantian philosophy: being beyond the limits of all possible experience

and knowledge

The Human Person as Embodied Spirit

• As an embodied spirit, it provides us numerous opportunities to explore

everything around us and even within us. Though we enjoy a number of
advantages compared to other beings, still there are a number of things that
we naturally cannot do

• Despite these natural limitations, we have used our intellect to devise

means to achieve several feats. We now use airplanes to fly, employ scuba
gear to swim underwater for extended periods, and invented tools and
machines to lift gear weights and perform other feats well beyond our
physical capabilities.

•The ability to surpass is called transcendence. Our mind is an important tool

that allows us to go beyond many of our physical limits. As persons, we are
able to exercise our imagination and reflection to go beyond our thoughts
and experiences.

• Although we have physical limitations, we can transcend them because of

our spiritual dimensions. Being physically limited in our abilities does not
prevent us from hoping for or aspiring to greater things.
• Transcendence also means overcoming oneself of being in control even if
the body reminds us of certain tendencies. Although these tendencies are
felt, the person can govern them and ensure that they are exercised within
the bounds of reason.

EXAMPLE

• A person who has no control over his/her eating habit eventually

becomes unhealthy and develops an eating disorder.

• A person who allows the pleasure of dangerous drugs to rule over

him/her becomes a drug addict.

It is proper to evaluate our human limitations and how can we transcend

them. Many of us would experience any of the following; for emerging
from deep within and felt a sense of being in tune with the mystery of
our own being, and with the mystery of life that transcends us.

Let us consider the following examples (Edwards 1983)

A. forgiveness
When we forgive. We are freed from our anger and bitterness
because of the actions and/or words of another.
On the other hand, the hardness of our heart is reinforced by whole
series of rational arguments.
B. The Beauty of Nature
- There is perfection in every single flower.
For a hug, for every sunrise and sunset, to eat together as a family,
are our miracles. These kinds of experiences can be truly moments of
grace. They touch as deeply and the human heart is spontaneously
lifted.
C. Vulnerability

-To be invulnerable is somehow inhuman. To be vulnerable is

to be human. We need to acknowledge the help of other people in our
lives. Such moments of poverty and dependence on others are not sign of
weakness but being true with ourselves.

D. Failure
 -Our failures force us to confront our weakness and limitations.
When a relationship fails, when a student fails a subject, when our
immediate desires are not met, we are confronted with the possibility of
our plans, and yet we are forced to surrender to a mystery or look upon a
bigger world.

Such acceptance of our failures makes us hope and trust that all can
be brought into good. Even if we have sinned, as Saint Augustine had,
there is hope and forgiveness.

E. Loneliness

-Our loneliness can be rooted from our sense of vulnerability and fear of
death. However, it is our choice to live in an impossible world where we
are always “happy” or to accept a life where solitude and companionship
have a part. With our loneliness, we can realize that our dependence on
other people or gadgets is a possessiveness that we can be free from.

F. Love

-To love is to experience richness, positivity and transcendence.

Whether in times of ecstatic moments or struggles the love for a friend,
between family members or a significant person, can open in us something in
the other which takes us beyond ourselves. Life is full of risks, fears and
commitment, pain and sacrificing and giving up thing/s we want for the sake
of the one we love.

You and the environment

◦ As John Donne said, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”

◦ Throughout the discussion, you will find out about how the human
being like yourself, contribute to health, well-being and sustainable
development through environmental philosophy.

Environmental Philosophy

◦ The discipline that studies the moral relationship of human beings

with the environment and its non-human contents.
 ◦ Philosophers believe that the human person has the ability to change
the environment to suit his purposes.

◦ It is in an orderly environment where human persons thrive best.

◦ As a rational being, the person is not only capable of transforming

the world, but also of understanding the laws which govern nature. It
can be said that the world is a text which the person can read and
understand in order to live a better life. He may treat it as:

1. A source of raw materials to be used in any way he pleases

2. As something that envelops and surround him, and thus have a unique
relationship with it.

THREE MAJOR VIEWS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY

1. Anthropocentrism
◦ Focuses on the significant role of humankind in the world and
considers nature as the means by which humans are able to meet
their needs and survive.
◦ This view believes that humans are the most important species on
the planet and they are free to transform nature and use its
resources.
◦ Human person has the ability to change the environment to suit his
purposes.

Example:
◦ Cutting trees to build a house.
◦ Animals are often treated very cruelly during the normal course of
events in medical research and agriculture.
2. Biocentrism
- Believes that humans are not the only significant species on the
planet, and that all other organisms have inherent value and
should be protected.
- This view advocates ethical treatment of animals.

Example:
◦
 ◦

Most people believe that it is acceptable to take the life of an animal in order
to provide sustenance, but it would be wrong to kill a human for the same
reason.

3. Ecocentrism

- Places great value on ecosystems and biological communities.

-This view believes that humankind is a part of a greater biological

system or community and that we have a significant role as stewards
or guardians of nature.

-This view promotes the idea that order and balance in nature brings
about stability and beauty.

Example:

◦ A tree has value because it contributes to our community or

environment.

◦ A botanical garden where endangered plants are captured and

conserved to avoid extreme extinction.
 The influence of humanity on the environment can be best
understood if we consider the individual person as a dynamic source
of change within his particular environment.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

This concept focuses on reconciling human activities and economic

development with the protection of the environment.

Major ideas:

1. We must make wise decisions regarding the use of natural resources to

ensure that there is still enough left for future use

2. The misuse of resources often means that other people do not get to
benefit from it.

PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY

Environmental Integrity

◦ Refers to maintaining the state of the environment. This means that

human activities should not unduly disrupt the ecosystems and
human communities located in the area.

Example:

◦ Food webs

◦ Natural disturbances

◦ Nutrient cycling

◦ Other natural processes

Economic Efficiency

◦ Refers to prudence in decision-making regarding the use of resources

to ensure that there is minimum to zero waste.

Example:
 ◦ Recycling old resources into new products.

◦ Reducing production costs.

Philosophers believe that persons have a special relationship with nature

because of their rationality. They are not only part of nature, but they
can also shape, transform, and cultivate it. However, this also means that
they are also capable of inflicting the most harm on it.

There are two diagrams below that can show two ways of how a human
interacts with his/her surroundings.

Prudence and Frugality Toward Environment

HUMAN PERSON

• is a living being that contain real and existing to direct his own
development toward fulfilment through perfect, unconditional and
infinite love, goodness, beauty and unity.

ENVIRONMENT

• the sum total of living organism such as the plants and animals and
the non-living natural components such as the water, sunlight and air
 which provides conditions and influences in our growth and
development as well as danger and damage.

Psychologist Erich Fromm proposed a new society that should encourage

the emergence of a new being that will foster the virtues of prudence in
all activities and moderation or frugality toward environmental issues.

VIRTUES -are behaviors showing high standards.

FRUGALITY-is usually used in money, also food and other resources; a

thriftiness or a quality of being economical with money.

If this term is applied towards the environment, this simply means that you
have to conserve, save as well as protect the environment.

PRUDENCE-simply means intelligent, creates a better livable environment.

You will act, use and harness all available resources possible in our
environment conservatively and intelligently, and of course, with all due
respect to the society and human life as well with no hidden environmental
costs.

ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS-are costs connected with the actual or potential

deterioration of natural resources/assets due to economic activities.

Below are the few functions of Erich Fromm’s envisioned society. It can be
summarizing in two virtues: Prudence and Frugality

1. Trying to reduce greed, hate, and illusions as much as one is capable

2. Making the full growth if oneself and of one’s fellow beings as the supreme
goal of living

3. Not deceiving others, but also not being deceived by others; one may be
called innocent, but not naïve

4. Freedom that is not arbitrariness but the possibility to be oneself, not as a

bundle of greedy desires, but as a delicately balanced structure that at any
moment is confronted with the alternatives of growth or decay, life or death

5. Joy comes from giving and sharing, not from hoarding and exploiting
6. Developing one’s capacity for love, together with one’s capacity for critical
unsentimental thought.

PRUDENT-A wise and good decision making is called prudent.

A prudent person does not overestimate the amount of revenues recognized

nor underestimate the amount of expenses.

Frugal-A frugal person always finds a way to minimize the monetary cost of
their action while trying to keep it lower than their useful needs.

Example 1

The person decides to buy rice and eggs, he buys it in bulk to minimize the
cost and at the same time he gains nutrition. The level of consumption of a
frugal person is lower than that of a typical consumer. Thus the person is less
subjected in worsening the natural resources or environment.

Example 2

There is an Ilocano man working as an employee in Manila City Hall. His

friends known him to be a “Kuripot”. He has a car but takes the bus going to
work. This person is a Kuripot (thrifty/frugal) but helps save the environment
by not contributing pollution from his car. He is prudent by using carpooling
system.

Carpooling offers many benefits. Not only will you be saving, but you will also
help reduce the costs we all pay towards the construction of new roads, road
maintenance and air pollution related health costs. Having fewer cars on the
road means reduced Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and improved air
quality.