Lesson 1.
1: Background of Philosophy philosophy is about wisdom in relation to
Have you ever struggled with the
question, “Who am I”? or thought about
who you might become in the future?
These questions have been discussed
throughout history particularly by many
philosophers in the search for knowledge
about the nature of being human. Such
questions as, “What does it mean to be a
person?”, “Do I matter?”, “Is it the
truth?”, that we still grapple with today.
Philosophy is a discipline of
questioning, both dynamic and
personal. Dynamic in a sense that the act
of questioning is an unending process;
and personal because the human person
as a thinking being.
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.
Philosophy is the science of the first
causes because it seeks to know and
clarify the very source of which all the
chain of causes ultimately all goes back to.
A person acquired science when he or she
knows the reason for the fact. Science,
therefore, is about clarified facts which can
only be attained through intellectual
inquiry.
Philosophy involves thinking, evaluating
and engaging in arguments. It is not just
accepting everything as is. Man is a
rational being. We can always agree to
disagree on almost anything and
everything. Philosophy is working out and
justifying reasons the best way we
know how to deal with life. Therefore,
our search for truth.
NOTABLE PHILOSOPHERS:
PYTHAGORAS
One of the wisest men and philosopher
of ancient Greece who coined the word
“Philosophia” or “Philosophy” because
of his love of wisdom. He’s also the
famous Greek mathematician who laid
down the foundation of the Pythagorean
theorem.
Three Kind of Men:
1. Those that love PLEASURE
2. Those that love ACTIVITY/ SUCCESS
3.Those that love WISDOM
SOCRATES
He was credited in history as one of the
forefathers of Western philosophy, a
Greek philosopher who was the primary
moral philosopher of the western
ethical tradition of thought.
PLATO
He was considered the most pivotal
figure in the development of philosophy
especially the Western tradition. Also,
the founder of the Academy in Athens—
the first institution of higher learning in
the Western world.
ARISTOTLE
He was a Greek philosopher. According to
him, “all men seek wisdom”, meaning all
men are philosophers
THREE KINDS OF LOVE
1. EROS “Passionate love”- Love of
Desire. A kind of love that is passionate.
2. PHILIA “Brotherly love”- Involves a
fondness and appreciation of the
qualities of the beloved.
2.1 STORGE “Parental love”- A deep and
caring bond that develops naturally
between parent and children. Storge love
is a protective love that can withstand
hardships and trials.
3. AGAPE “Unconditional love”-
Represents the absolute and unconditional
love of God for us.
Philosophy: The Quest for Truth
Questions that may be asked in
philosophy had no limits. One can ask
anything and everything under the heat of
the sun in his pursuit for truth. It even tried
to prove the existence of a Higher Being in
the hope to alleviate doubts and
consequently understand the meaning of
one’s life.
Lesson 1.2: The difference between
Holistic and Partial Point of View
Holistic Thinking- It refers to a
perspective that considers large-scale
patterns in systems. The word holistic
comes from the
Greek word “holos” which means whole.
This is often described as looking at the
“big picture” when describing and
analyzing a situation or problem.
 WHOLE
 BIG PICTURE
 TOTAL
 COMPLETE
 ALL ASPECTS
 Example: Holistic doctors don’t just
provide the patients with
medications instead they look at
ways to improve life balance and
remove health problems from the
root source such as high stress or
bad nutrition.
Partial Thinking- It focuses on specific
aspects of a situation. The partial view
is an important component of analytical
thinking, as an individual focuses on
certain areas of a problem in order to
understand it.
 SPECIFIC
 PART OF A WHOLE
 PARTICULAR
 NOT COMPLETE
 Example: Doctors often focus on a
specific set of symptoms to
determine the cause of a patient’s
illness. Once a particular cause has
been identified, the doctor then
prescribes the appropriate medicine
and other treatment to address the
illness.
Philosophical Reflections- It requires a
person to be willing to examine one’s
thoughts, feelings, actions, and to learn
more about one’s life experiences. One
can reflect on almost any subject.
Lesson 1.3: Branches of Philosophy
Metaphysics
The study of the “ultimate reality” that
focuses on “how things really are.”
Epistemology
The study of the nature and foundations
of knowledge mainly with reference to its
limits and validity, knowing how to
determine if we really know something.
 Example: Plato’s Allegory of the
Cave
Ethics
A set of moral principles and the
discipline dealing with what is good and
bad.
 Example: The Trolley Dilemma
Logic
The science of the formal, prescribed
and proper principles of reasoning.
 Informal Logic
 Example: Premises: Nikki saw a
black cat on her way to work. At
work, Nikki got fired.
Conclusion: Black cats are bad luck.
Explanation: This is a big
generalization and can’t be
verified.
Premises: My mom is a celebrity. I
live with my mom.
Conclusion: I am a celebrity.
 Explanation: There is more to understanding and application of that
proving fame that assuming it will knowledge.
rub off.
 Formal Logic
 Example: Wisdom is more holistic view of reality.
• Premises: Every person who lives in Seeing things in a broader perspective is
San Pablo City lives in Laguna. what wisdom is all about. Humans possess
Everyone in Laguna lives in The an exceptional ability to reason out his
Philippines. thoughts the way he understands things
• Conclusion: Every person who lives and situations.
in San Pablo City lives in The
Philippines. Example: Money – Knowledge is knowing
• Explanation: Only true facts are how to “Manage your money” by:
presented here. a. Budgeting
• Premises: Bicycles have two b. Spending
wheels. Jan is riding a bicycle. c. Saving
• Conclusion: Jan is riding on two Wisdom is…
wheels. The ability to recognize and understand in
• Explanation: The premises are what way will money impact the quality of
true and so is the conclusion. your life and your future.
Lesson 1.4: Difference of Wisdom from
Philosophizing therefore, is formulating
Knowledge
assumptions or theories about basic and/or
When a person has love for wisdom, it major issues in an intricate or challenging
goes without saying that he has approach.
appreciation for knowledge—the object of
philosophy.
KNOWLEDGE WISDOM
But what is the difference between wisdom
and knowledge? Is wisdom knowing how
to apply knowledge or is it the other way
around?
EXPERIENCE REASON
Knowledge Wisdom
• It is the • It is the gift
accumulation or ability to:
of facts, a. Detect Importance of Philosophy
information b.
and data Distinguish  Improves problem solving skills
gained c. Decide  Improves communication skills
through: • It is  Improves self-knowledge
a. Study therefore  Improves persuasive skills
Hope and Goal of Philosophy
b. Research the ability
c. Actual to apply  Understand oneself
experiences that  Understand the world we live in
• These are knowledge  Understand our values
the as it is  Understand the entirety of existence
particulars deemed around us
and specifics worthy to
that may the greater
have been design that Lesson 1.5: Realize the value of doing
observed in you are philosophy in obtaining a broad
detail. trying to perspective on life
project or
convey. The value of philosophy is a far cry from
While knowledge refers to the values of other disciplines such as
information, Wisdom is the
science and technology, business and
economics. Each have their own value,
importance, and contribution to the society.
Each field has their own set of specialties
to present.

Philosophy does not intend to:

 Present state of the art gadgets
 Provide delicious and nutritious food
 Satisfy man’s desire for luxury and Lesson 2.1
comfort Distinguish Truth From Opinion

The value of philosophy is to provide

food for the mind and nourishment for the Truth
spirit.
It involves both the quality of faithfulness,
Philosophy does not offer exact answers to fidelity, loyalty, sincerity, and agreement.
questions. In fact, a single question can
produce countless answers. Some will
agree while others will react differently. A Justifications for Truth
single person can give conflicting answers
to a single question. Because deep within,
that person is torn between accepting or 1. SCIENTIFIC DOMAIN
opposing such statement or situation and 2. SOCIAL DOMAIN
is trying to analyze it profoundly in his 3. PERSONAL DOMAIN
subconscious.
If you are very keen you would notice that
other sciences can provide exact answers SCIENTIFIC DOMAIN
due to objectivity simply because they are § Truths are tested using empirical
focused on answering the: What? Who? evidence.
Where? How or how long?
SOCIAL DOMAIN
Philosophy’s basic question centers on
“WHY?” So even if you either agree or § Truths are tested against their
disagree on an argument, you have to acceptability to a particular group in a
particular time in history.
justify your reasons for such decision. It is
basically proving your standpoint. Your
philosophy in life is your guiding principle. PERSONAL DOMAIN
Your mindset will permit you to accomplish § Truths are tested against the consistency
something as long as you work for it. And and authenticity of the person who
while certain things cannot be controlled, claims it.
we can control our responses through
reflection. OPINION

So, when it seems like everything is going Opinion is a statement of a judgment of a person
about something in the world and in order to gain
wrong, it’s really up to you to change the
the status of truth, it must be able to pass the test
direction of where things are heading. We
of justifications.
don’t win every struggle but we can learn
from experience and from our mistakes.