WHY BECOME A

PHILOSOPHER?
WHY BECOME A PHILOSOPHER?
• The goal of the 21st century education
is inclusivity due to globalization
• DIVERSITY (Ethnicity, Culture,
Family, Beliefs, Geography and
Religion)
• With this at hand, it cause behaviors that
limit us to accept others as who they are.
COMPARATIVE
ANALYSIS OF
WESTERN TO
NON-WESTERN
TRADITION
 Western
1. Linear Manner Thinking
2. Philosophy and Religion is
separated
3. It accepts the division of
theory and practice
Eastern/Oriental
1. Cyclical Manner of Thinking
E.G: The concept of Rebirth
(Samsara & Nirvana)
2. Philosophy is religion and
Religion is Philosophy
(Philosophy is Thought and
Religion is life in action)
3. It does not accept the
division of theory and practice.
EMERITA QUITO (1991)

• It is not accurate to judge that Asia is poor

because of religion, rather, it is poor because it
cannot accept the polarization or division of
theory and practice of Philosophy and Religion.
My suggestion is that if Asia could find a means
of adjusting its vision by making religion and
speculation go together, by reconciling elusive
theory with practice, then Asia too, could
become progressive like the West.
 Western Eastern/Oriental
4. It follows a structure 4. It does not follow any
structure

5. Theorize and Speculate and 5. The need not just to

no application to life is Theorize and Speculate but
necessary. also for the application to life is
necessary.
What is the hallmark of the mind of an
Asian?

(Emerita Quito, 1991)

• The concept of “all-at-once-ness”
• The line of reasoning and understanding
is raised from fragmentary to the total.
Meaning the Asian accepts at the
“illogical” pertaining to a fragment
or part of a whole
THE KNOWER AND THE KNOWN: EAST AND
WEST DISTINCTION
THE KNOWER AND THE KNOWN: WEST AND
EAST DISTINCTION

KNOWER
Knower
KNOWN

Known
So what does the diagram mean?

• For the Eastern Philosophy, the mode of

thinking is ORIENTAL meaning holistic
(There is a unity between the subject and
the object)
• For the Western Philosophy, the mode of
thinking is CONVENTIONAL meaning
independent (There is a separation
between the subject and the object)
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT EASTERN
PHILOSOPHY?
• If logic is no longer able to solve a life problem,
Oriental thinking resort to the use “INTUITION”
in Filipino its “SAPANTAHA”
• E.G: Third Eye
 THE FILIPINO
THINKING:
From Local to Global
 THREE DIMENSIONS OF
FILIPINO PHILOSOPHY:
• Loob (Kagandahang-loob, Kabutihang-Loob and Kalooban)
• Filipino Philosophy of Time
• Bahala na
 LOOB: Holistic and Interior
Dimensions
• Kagandahang loob, kabutihang loob ang kalooban are
terms that show sharing of one’s self to others.
• Loob puts one in touch with his fellow beings.
• The use of intermediaries or go-betweens, the values
of loyalty, hospitality, pakikisama and respect to
authority are such values that relate to persons.
• FILIPINOS BELIEVE IN THE INNATE GOODNESS
OF THE HUMAN BEING.
 LOOB: Holistic and Interior
Dimensions
• In short, Filipinos as individual looks at
himself as holistic from the interior
dimension under the principle of harmony.
The Filipinos looks at himself as self, as a
total whole – as a “person”, conscious of
his freedom, proud of his human dignity
and sensitive to the violation of these two.
 Filipino Philosophy of Time
• The concept of “GULONG NG PALAD”.
• Filipino Time is mistakenly interpreted as always
delayed in the committed time of arrival. This notion
can be misleading since Filipino farmers are early
risers to go to their field and waste no time for work.
The concept of “siesta time” or “power nap” is also
important for Filipino culture that must not be
necessarily considered negative.
 “Bahala na”
• Early Filipinos believe that bathala keeps
the balance in the universe.
• Filipinos put their entire trust in this bathala.
• BAHALA NA literally means to leave
everything to God who is Bathala during the
pre-Spanish period.
 “Bahala na”
• Bahala na (come what may) nonetheless, is
one of the most outstanding Filipino virtues.
• It is in one aspect perceived as courage to
take risks.
• BAHALA NA, on the other hand is fatalistic;
sort of leaving everything to God or to chance
– such is the uncertainty of life.