INTRODUCTION TO

PHILOSOPHY OF THE
HUMAN PERSON
BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY
• Metaphysics: This branch of philosophy deals
with questions about the nature of reality. It
explores concepts such as existence,
causality, time, space, and the nature of the
universe. In simple terms, metaphysics is
concerned with understanding what exists
and how it works.
• Epistemology: This branch of philosophy
focuses on knowledge and belief. It asks
questions about how we acquire knowledge,
what we can know, and how we can be
certain about what we know. Epistemology is
concerned with understanding the nature
and limits of human knowledge.
• Ethics: Ethics is the branch of philosophy that
deals with moral principles and values. It
explores questions about what is right and
wrong, good and bad, and how we should
behave in various situations. In simple terms,
ethics is concerned with understanding how
we ought to live our lives.
• Logic: This branch of philosophy is
concerned with reasoning and
argumentation. It studies how to construct
arguments, identify fallacies, and evaluate
the soundness of reasoning. Logic is
concerned with understanding how to think
critically and make valid arguments.
• Aesthetics: This branch of philosophy deals
with questions about beauty and art. It
explores concepts such as taste, perception,
and the nature of art. In simple terms,
aesthetics is concerned with understanding
what makes something beautiful or
aesthetically pleasing.
PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS
• Metaphysics: This branch of philosophy explores
the fundamental nature of reality. It asks
questions like: What is the nature of existence?
What is the relationship between mind and
matter? An example of a metaphysical question
might be: Do ghosts exist?
• Epistemology: This branch of philosophy is
concerned with knowledge and how we
acquire it. It asks questions like: How do we
know what we know? What counts as
evidence? An example of an epistemological
question might be: Is it possible to know
anything with absolute certainty?
• Ethics: This branch of philosophy is
concerned with moral values and principles.
It asks questions like: What is right and
wrong? How should we behave? An example
of an ethical question might be: Is it ever
morally justifiable to lie?
• Aesthetics: This branch of philosophy is
concerned with beauty, art, and taste. It asks
questions like: What is the nature of beauty?
How do we judge art? An example of an
aesthetic question might be: Is graffiti art or
vandalism?
LAWS AND PRINCIPLES IN
PHILOSOPHY
• Law of Non-Contradiction: This law states that
something cannot both be and not be at the
same time and in the same respect. For example,
a car cannot be both red and not red at the same
time. This law is important in logic and reasoning,
as it helps us to avoid contradictions.
• Law of Identity: This law states that
something is what it is, and not
something else. For example, a cat is a
cat, and not a dog. This law helps us to
understand the nature of things and
their essential characteristics.
• Law of Causality: This law states that every
effect has a cause. For example, if a glass
falls and breaks, there must have been a
cause for it, such as someone accidentally
knocking it over. This law helps us to
understand how events are related to one
another.
• Law of Moral Responsibility: This law states that
individuals are responsible for their own actions
and their consequences. For example, if someone
breaks a law, they are responsible for the
consequences, such as going to jail. This law is
important in ethics and helps us to understand
the consequences of our actions.
• Law of Supply and Demand: This law states
that the price of a good or service is
determined by the supply and demand for it.
For example, if there is a high demand for a
certain product, its price will increase. This
law helps us to understand how markets
work and how prices are set.
PHILOSOPHERS
• Socrates was a philosopher from ancient Greece who believed in
the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom as the highest goal of
human existence. He is best known for his method of questioning,
which is often called the "Socratic method." Through this method,
Socrates sought to expose contradictions in the beliefs of his
interlocutors and challenge them to critically examine their own
beliefs. He believed that knowledge is not something that can be
taught but rather something that is discovered through a process
of questioning and dialogue. Socrates' contribution to philosophy
is his emphasis on the importance of critical thinking and self-
examination as a means of arriving at the truth.
• Plato was a student of Socrates and a philosopher in his
own right. He is known for his theory of Forms, which
suggests that there is a realm of abstract entities that exist
beyond the physical world. These Forms are eternal and
unchanging and provide the basis for understanding the
physical world. Plato also believed in the immortality of the
soul and the existence of a higher reality that is beyond the
reach of our physical senses. His contribution to philosophy
is his emphasis on the importance of reason and the search
for truth as a means of attaining knowledge.
• Aristotle was a philosopher who studied under Plato and
later became a teacher himself. He believed in the
importance of empirical observation and the scientific
method in understanding the natural world. He also
believed that knowledge is acquired through experience
and that human beings have a natural desire to understand
the world around them. Aristotle's contribution to
philosophy is his development of a systematic approach to
understanding the natural world, which he called "natural
philosophy" or what we now call "science".
• Descartes was a philosopher and mathematician who is often
regarded as the father of modern philosophy. He is best
known for his statement "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore
I am), which suggests that the existence of the self can be
known through the act of thinking. Descartes also believed in
the separation of mind and body and the importance of
reason and skepticism in arriving at knowledge. His
contribution to philosophy is his emphasis on the importance
of individual reasoning and the development of the scientific
method as a means of understanding the natural world.