Unit Two: Methods of Philosophizing

Lesson 1:
Determining Truth
from Opinion
Introduction to the Philosophy
of the Human Person 1
TRUTH
 Truth is connected with the
pursuit of knowledge.
Because the very meaning of
the phrase “to know” is to
have in one’s mind the truth
about the object one is trying
to know. To know is to have
the truth.
 “How to Think About the Truth”
by Mortimer Adler
1. To know something is to doubt (Skepticism)
2. Truth is dependent on the person (Relativism)
3. Truth is what works (Pragmaticism)
4.Truth is what corresponds from the mind with the
reality (Realism)
Is truth eternal or
does it change?
 Truth is eternal,
it doesn’t change
Rationalism vs. Empiricism
 Rationalism
Necessary Truth
A-Priori
Knowledge is based on reason
Existence of innate ideas
Rene Descartes; Baruch Spinoza;
Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz;
Immanuel Kant; G.W.F Hegel
 Empiricism
Empirical Truth
A-Posteriori
Knowledge is based on experience.
Tabula Rasa
John Locke; George Berkeley; David
Hume; John Stuart Mill; Bertrand
Russell
OPINION
 Opinion
-It is a kind of judgment that is
based on someone’s
viewpoint.

-It is a statement that holds an

element of personal belief. It is
not based on evidence.
 Opinion
- It is not always true but
rather it may or may not be
true and mostly used in an
argument.
 Indicators to
Determine Opinion
1. Statements opener such as:

‘like for
example’ ; ‘I
think’ ;
’I believe’ ;
‘I feel’ ;
 Indicators to
Determine Opinion
2. Adverbs and Adjectives such as:

‘Ugly’ ; ‘Always’ ;
‘Disgusting’ ;
‘Probably’ ; ’Maybe’ ;
’Least’ ;
‘Perhaps’ ; ‘Most’ ;
‘’Best’ ; ‘Possibly’.
OPINION VS KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge consists in having
the truth and knowing that you
have it, because you know why
what you think is true is true.

Opinion consists in not being

sure that you have the truth,
not being sure whether what you
say is true or false.
 Opinions can be true or false.
Opinions can be right or wrong.

Knowledge can’t be false,

knowledge can’t be wrong. If
something is knowledge, it’s
impossible for it to be false
knowledge or wrong knowledge.
 TRUTH:
Philippines is in Asia.

OPINION:
Philippines is the best country
in Asia
 TRUTH:
Most classrooms
have desks and
chairs.

OPINION:
I think classrooms
should have couches.
 TRUTH:
Math is the study of
numbers.

OPINION:
Math is the hardest
subject.
 TRUTH:
I am a Filipino.

OPINION:
Filipinos are
hospitable.