Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region III
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF BULACAN
PRES. DIOSDADO P. MACAPAGAL MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
Sta. Cruz, Angat, Bulacan

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Week 2 Module – Doing Philosophy Part 2

Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs):

• Realize the value of doing philosophy in obtaining a broad perspective on life
• Do a philosophical reflection on a concrete situation from a holistic perspective

What do you think is the answer to the question in the cloud?

Do you think that you can immediately answer this question?
Question like this is just an example of the many questions that require in-depth
thinking. During the outbreak of the Covid-19, you must have thought of different questions that seek
elaborated answers. For instance, the question “What will happen to my family if the situation of
pandemic gets worst?” may really bother you because you cannot simply imagine the things that will
happen in the future.
In this lesson, you will find out the importance of doing philosophy in order to reflect deeply on things
that may seem difficult to understand. You already learned in the previous lesson that one must look at
the bigger picture by connecting the experiences in life and to make sense of everything. With the use
of holistic perspective, you will be guided to dive in philosophical process and reflection that will help
you search for the answers to life’s questions.

Answer honestly the following to pre-assess your knowledge of the lesson. Write your answers on your yellow
sheet. Follow the answer sheet format given in the first module. Remember to write the learning task.

A. Identify the following statements. Write the letter (A or B) that corresponds to your choice.
1. This refers to the willingness of the person to examine his/her thoughts, feelings, and actions and learn
more about life and experiences. (A. Reflection B. Philosophy)
2. This is the study or discipline that uses human reason to investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and
principles which govern all things. (A. Reflection B. Philosophy)
3. He is considered as the foremost philosopher of the ancient time and credited the method of devising
a series of questions that let the learner examine and analyze his/her knowledge. (A. Plato B. Socrates)
4. His studies in logic led to the formulation of a formal process of analyzing reasoning which gave rise to
deductive reasoning. (A. Plato B. Socrates)
5. He is known for his theory which proposes that everything that exists is based on an idea or template
that can only be perceived in the mind. (A. Plato B. Aristotle)
6. The process by which specific statements are analyzed to reach a conclusion or generalization.
(A. Deduction B. Abstraction)
7. The word philosophy comes from two Greek words philos which means ____________ and sophia which
means ____________. (A. wisdom B. love)
8. This is the branch of philosophy which deals with correct reasoning. (A. Ethics B. Logic)
9. This is the branch of philosophy that discusses the nature of knowledge. (A. Epistemology B. Ethics)
10. This is an area of philosophy that understands the human person from a philosophical perspective.
(A. Philosophy B. Philosophy of the Human Person)

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Week 2 Module – Doing Philosophy Part 2 1
Developed by Ma. Eloisa Sayo-Mendoza for PDPMMHS SHS Students
 B. Choose four questions that are considered philosophical questions. Write the number of your choices.
Example: 1
1. What is the meaning of life? 4. Who should be responsible for the spread of Covid-19 virus?
2. Why do we dream? 5. How many students are there in SHS of PDPMMHS?
3. Are you a Filipino? 6. When you are broken hearted, which one is in pain - your heart or
your head?

To help you understand the unfamiliar words that you will encounter or have encountered in this
lesson, do the activity below.

Unlocking of Words: Get your dictionary and find the appropriate meaning or synonym of the following words.
Copy the learning task and the given words, and write your answers on your yellow sheet. No. 1 is already
done for you. Remember to write the learning task.

What’s In – Unlocking of Words

1. delve – research or make inquiries into something 5. wisdom
2. conspiracy 6. epiphany
3. purpose
4. unease

Everyday you are challenged to answer different questions in accomplishing your modules. Try to
imagine yourself in this scenario as you answer the questions in the module.

You cannot figure out the answer to a particular item or question and you begin to
wonder by asking yourself “Ano kaya ang tamang sagot para sa tanong na ito ?”. You also
Ano kaya ang ask yourself “Pwede kaya akong magtanong kay Sir/Ma’am tungkol dito?”.
tamang sagot
para sa tanong After a while, you think that you will just send a private message to your teacher through
na ito? FB Messenger about this certain question in the module but you only realize that you do not
have a cellphone. This gives birth to another question in your mind “Ano ang dapat kong
gawin kung wala akong cellphone gayon kailangan ko ito sa aking pag-aaral?”, and this is
followed by another question “Ano na ang mangyayari sa buhay ng mga katulad kong bata
na nakakaranas ng hirap.?”.
Lastly, you may have this question in your mind “Suko na ba o lalaban pa ako para sa
aking kinabukasan?”.
As you notice, the questioning started with finding an answer to one of the questions
in the module. As your thought progresses, one personal question multiplies to several
questions by trying to find the answer. This kind of question is called philosophical question.
Below are examples of philosophical question.
Image Source: www.freepik.com

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Week 2 Module – Doing Philosophy Part 2 2
Developed by Ma. Eloisa Sayo-Mendoza for PDPMMHS SHS Students
 Is Covid-19 a conspiracy?
What is my life’s purpose?
Is life unfair for many people?
Will I see my dog in heaven?

Think of your own philosophical question about life, a question that you think can take you a
long period of time to find the answer. Write it in your yellow sheet. Remember to write the
learning task (What’s New)
My philosophical question:__________________________________________

How far will you go to find the answers to your question?

Earlier, it was said that there are questions in life that you and others cannot immediately provide an
answer. Questions like “What will happen to my family when the pandemic situation gets worst?” and “Suko
na ba o lalaban pa ako para sa aking kinabukasan?” make you pause and think to come up with answers.
These philosophical questions are abstracted from one’s everyday concerns. They begin with a problem and
with an unease. This is a feeling of inner discomfort that comes from the experience of not being able to find
immediate answers to your questions (Corpuz 2016). For instance, you are not at peace (hindi panatag ang
kalooban) because you do not know how to arrive at the correct answer to one of the questions in the
module. You feel helpless because you do not have an access to communicate with your teacher. This
moment of being not at peace may lead you to ask deep questions about your life. The seemingly simple
question becomes serious and deeper one. To illustrate this,

“Ang hirap naman intindihin ng “Pwede kaya akong “Ano na ang mangyayari sa
tanong sa module. magtanong kay Sir/Ma’am buhay ng mga katulad kong
Ano kaya ang tamang sagot para
tungkol dito? Kaya lang wala bata na nakakaranas ng
sa tanong na ito?”
akong cellphone para ma- hirap.? (Buntong hininga)
pm ko s’ya.” Hays…”
Simple Question Serious Question
but Unease

“Suko na ba o lalaban pa ako

para sa aking kinabukasan?”

Deep Question
According to Gabriel Marcel (1889-1973), a French Philosopher, philosophical questioning begins with
a metaphysical unease. This form of unease is described as metaphysical because the scope of the questions
that a person asks cover something broader and deeper than what is immediately before him/her, beyond
what is physically seen. Marcel says that many people have become less sensitive to this feeling of inner
disturbance because of the what the world has become. The modern world has been so designed to have
an instant answer for everything. When you do take time to think about philosophical questions like “What is
the meaning of life?”, people might say that you are wasting your time. Asking philosophical questions is
perceived as waste of time because finding the answers entails a lot of patience and commitment of
openness (Corpuz 2016).

However, as a human person, you are compelled to think and seek answers to the questions you have
in your mind. Even if the world you live in dictates to rush over things, you will always find a moment of wanting
to seek the unknown. With this, you have to take the courage and brace yourself to find the answers to your

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Developed by Ma. Eloisa Sayo-Mendoza for PDPMMHS SHS Students
one philosophical question in life. Aside from being patient and open, you must take the courage to discover
the answers to your question and accept realities. Other people no longer want to seek answers to their
questions because of the fear of knowing the truth that is inconvenient for them. There will be instances that
there is no clear answer to your question. This should not leave you miserable. Soon you will realize that your
effort of finding the answers to this question leads you to discover or unfold another reality in life that is
beneficial for you and the rest of humanity.

Reflection is an important step for you in finding an answer to your question. This requires you to be
willing to examine your thoughts, feelings, and actions and to learn more about your life and experiences.
Reflection is vital in ensuring that your actions and decisions are well thought out and are done with due
regard for their implications and consequences on yourself, others and your surroundings. Reflection helps
you understand yourself and your actions better. When you reflect you can judge whether your actions or
decisions are reasonable or not (Abella 2016). It is through reflection that you can look deeper to your simple
question thus providing you with a conclusion, an epiphany or an “aha” moment.

Who are the Lovers of Wisdom?

You are not alone in questioning and finding answers to so many questions. There are great people
who lived their lives in seeking for answers which led them to knowledge and wisdom. They are known to be
lovers of wisdom or the philosophers. The following are famous philosophers who made great contributions to
the world.
1. Socrates (470 BCE to 399 BCE) – He was considered the foremost philosopher of ancient times. He
made great contributions to the field of ethics. He was a known critic of intellectuals during his time,
but he himself did not claim to be “wise” and merely considered himself a “midwife” that helped
inquiring minds achieve wisdom. He also believed that philosophy could enable a man to live a life of
virtue. He was created with formulating the Socratic Method – a means of examining a topic by
devising a series of questions that let the learner examine and analyze his knowledge and views
regarding the topic.
2. Plato (427 BCE to 347 BCE) – A student of Socrates, he wrote down his mentor’s teachings and
incorporated some of his own ideas into them. His teachings and writings were considered the
foundation of Western philosophy. Plato’s most significant ideas included his Theory of Forms which
proposes that everything that exists is based on the idea or template that can only be perceived in
the mind; these nonphysical ideas are eternal and unchanging. He also focused his studies on the
ideal society and proposed an ideal model of government and society which is ruled by wisdom and
reason. Plato is also known for his dialectic – a method of inquiry where two opposing ideas are
discussed in an attempt to arrive at new knowledge. Plato’s lasting contribution to learning was his
founding of the Academy, an institution of higher learning which was the first of its kind in the Western
World.
3. Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE) – He attended the Academy, and was a prominent student of Plato.
Aristotle, however, disagreed with Plato’s theory of forms, and took a different stance in interpreting
reality. For him, all ideas and views are based on perception and our reality is based on what we can
sense and perceive. This view greatly influenced the study of the physical sciences. Aristotle was
involved in a great variety of disciplines such as zoology, psychology, ethics, and politics. He also
proposed a system for the classification of plants and animals. His studies in logic led to the formulation
of a formal process of analyzing reasoning which gave rise to deductive reasoning – the process by
which specific statements are analyzed to reach a conclusion or generalization.

What is Philosophy?
The word Philosophy comes from two Greek words: philos (love) and sophia (wisdom). The ancient
Greeks used this term to refer to “love of wisdom” and they soon applied it to the study or discipline that uses
human reason to investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and principles which govern all things. People who
engage to philosophy are called philosophers or “lovers of wisdom” (Abella 2016).

What are the Branches of Philosophy?

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Week 2 Module – Doing Philosophy Part 2 4
Developed by Ma. Eloisa Sayo-Mendoza for PDPMMHS SHS Students
 Philosophy itself is a distinct area of knowledge with its own goals, concerns, and ways of doing things.
It is often divided into several branches each of which deals with a particular aspect of life or phenomena.
1. Aesthetics Logic – is the branch of philosophy which deals with correct reasoning.
2. Epistemology – discusses the nature of knowledge and knowing.
3. Ethics – is the branch which deals with moral questions and dilemmas, while knowing.
4. Political Philosophy – studies governments and deals with questions of justice, power and the rights
and obligations of citizens.
5. Metaphysics – is a branch of philosophy which deals with questions regarding reality and existence.
6. Philosophy of the Human Person – is not a branch but an area in philosophy that understands the
human person from a philosophical perspective – integrating and synthesizing the different branches
of philosophy and other fields of study to know the truth about the human person.

What are the practical uses of philosophy in your life?

1. Philosophy enables you to engage in critical analysis and interpretation of concepts, definitions,
arguments, and problems.
2. Philosophy also improves problem-solving and decision making.
3. Philosophy can help you enhance your communication skills because it trains you to be very clear
and precise about your thoughts and sentiments in order to express what you want to say.
4. Philosophy can contribute to your self-development since it encourages you to know yourself, your
strengths and weaknesses, establish an identity, and determine your purpose in life.

Key Points:
• Philosophical questions are questions that require a person to think deeply. These questions
usually give birth to another questions.
• Reflection requires a person to be willing to examine his/her thoughts, feelings, and actions and
to learn more about life and experiences.
• People who are lovers of wisdom are called philosophers.
• Philosophy is the study that uses human reason to investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and
principles which govern all things.

You have learned that when you are faced with a problem you start to ask a question. One question
can actually lead you to so many other questions until you finally have the deeper and even wider
perspective in life. You may go back to page 3, study it again, to help you do the following activity.

Activity:
• Think of your present problem as a grade 12 student.
• Write one question that is connected to that problem.
• Then, have that question progresses in your mind until you arrive to a deep question.
• Write your questions in your yellow sheet. Remember to write the learning task (What’s More).
• An example is given to guide you but you should think of your own questions.

What’s More

Example (These are the questions your teacher has in his/her mind. What about yours?)
Simple Question – What is the help needed by my students?
Serious Question – How can I help them learn despite the challenges of pandemic?
Deep Question – Will teaching make me a better person in the society?

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Developed by Ma. Eloisa Sayo-Mendoza for PDPMMHS SHS Students
 Write what you have learned about the lesson by completing the following sentences. Do this in your
yellow sheet. Remember to write the learning task (What I Have Learned).

What I Have Learned

1. I learned that Philosophy is ____________________________________________________________________ .

2. I feel that Philosophy is important because I learned that Philosophy is ____________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________ .
3. I commit to apply Philosophy in __________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________ .

Go back to the questions that you have written in What’s More. Write a short reflection by answering
your deep question. Do this in your yellow sheet. Remember to write the learning task (What I Can Do). An
example is given to guide you but you should write your own reflection.

What I Can Do - Reflection

My deep question: Will teaching make me become a better person in society?
Answer/Reflection: Teaching is the noble profession. By teaching my students, imparting knowledge
with them, and guiding them to be the best version of themselves will definitely make me a better
person in the society. When I teach, I also use and develop my God-given potentials to help my
students. In the process, I also help myself to be the best version of me. Even if there are challenges
during pandemic, I know that every effort that I put in teaching my students will bear fruit in the future.

Take the short quiz with honesty. Write your answers on your yellow sheet. Remember to write the learning
task (Assessment).
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Week 2 Module – Doing Philosophy Part 2 6
Developed by Ma. Eloisa Sayo-Mendoza for PDPMMHS SHS Students
 Assessment – Short Quiz

A. Identify the following statements. Write the term/name that is being described in each statement.
1. This refers to the willingness of the person to examine his/her thoughts, feelings, and actions and
learn more about life and experiences.
2. This is the study or discipline that uses human reason to investigate the ultimate causes, reasons,
and principles which govern all things.
3. He is considered as the foremost philosopher of the ancient time and credited the method of
devising a series of questions that let the learner examine and analyze his/her knowledge.
4. His studies in logic led to the formulation of a formal process of analyzing reasoning which gave
rise to deductive reasoning.
5. He is known for his theory which proposes that everything that exists is based on an idea or
template that can only be perceived in the mind.
6. The process by which specific statements are analyzed to reach a conclusion or generalization.
7. The word philosophy comes from two Greek words philos which means ____________ and sophia
which means ____________.
8. This is the branch of philosophy which deals with correct reasoning.
9. This is the branch of philosophy that discusses the nature of knowledge.
10. This is an area of philosophy that understands the human person from a philosophical perspective.

B. Write a short letter to your teacher. The letter should contain the important insights that you learned
from this module. Follow the format below.
Dear Sir/Ma’am _____________:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Your student,
Student’s name

Choose a particular topic below. Formulate simple, serious and deep questions to your chosen topic. Copy
the table in your yellow sheet.

Being honest
Virtual/Online class
Ayuda

Simple Serious Deep

Sources: 9.A 10.B B – 1,2,4,6

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person by Roberto D. Abella A - 1.A 2.B 3.B 4.A 5.A 6.A 7.A,B. 8.B
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person by Brenda A. Corpuz, et.al. Answer Key Pre-Assessment
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person by Dep ED NCR

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Week 2 Module – Doing Philosophy Part 2 7
Developed by Ma. Eloisa Sayo-Mendoza for PDPMMHS SHS Students
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Week 1 Module – Doing Philosophy Part 1 8
Created by Ma. Eloisa S. Mendoza for PDPMMHS SHS Students