Introduction to the

PHILOSOPHY OF THE
HUMAN PERSON
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the one hour session, learners will be able to:
1. Identify the difference between holistic and partial point
of view of philosophy,

2. Reflects on their own personal philosophy, and

3. Appreciate the meaning and importance of philosophy.

 K W L Chart
Name:________________________ Grade and Section:______________ Date: _________
TOPIC: Philosophy

What We Know What We Want To Know What We Learned

Based on our KWL, the importance of philosophy in us are?

1.

2.
Personal Philosophy

1 Timothy 4:16 “Watch your life and

doctrine closely. Persevere in them,
because if you do, you will save both
yourself and your hearers.”
Share YOUR PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OR MOTTO in life.
Introduction: Doing Philosophy
The unexamined life is not worth living.
— Socrates, fifth century BCE
Know thyself!
— Oracle at Delphi (Socrates’ motto)
Philosophy is all about our beliefs and attitudes about
ourselves and the world. Doing philosophy, therefore, is first
of all the activity of stating, as clearly and as convincingly as
possible, what we believe and what we believe in.

The Big Questions.pdf page 3

Introduction: Doing Philosophy
Philosophy is the development of these ideas, the attempt
to work them out with all their implications and
complications. It is the attempt to see their connections and
compare them with other people’s views—including the
classic statements of the great philosophers of the past.

It is the effort to appreciate the differences between one’s

own views and others’ views, to be able to argue with
someone who disagrees and resolve the difficulties that
they may throw in your path.

The Big Questions.pdf page 3

NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
a) Meaning of philosophy: The word ‘Philosophy’ involves
two Greek words – Philo meaning love and Sophia
meaning knowledge. Thus literally speaking, philosophy
means love of wisdom. Man is a rational animal. Desire for
knowledge arises from this rational nature of man.
Philosophy is an attempt to satisfy this very reasonable
desire. Philosophy signifies a natural and necessary urge in
human-beings to know themselves and world in which they
live, move and have their being. It is impossible for man to
live without a philosophy.

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY – A GENERAL OUTLINE OF INDIAN AND WESTERN PHILOSOPHY.pdf

page 3
NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
What is Philosophy?
Defining philosophy is as difficult as trying to define love.
The word philosophy is not much help. Philosophy is a
combination of two Greek words, philein sophia, meaning
lover of wisdom. In ancient times a lover of wisdom could
be related to any area where intelligence was expressed.
This could be in business, politics, human relations, or
carpentry and other skills. Philosophy had a "wholeness"
approach to life in antiquity. In contrast to this, some
modern definitions restrict philosophy to what can be
known by science or the analysis of language.

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY BY DALLAS M. ROARK Chapter I page 1

NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
b) The origin of philosophy: According to Aristotle,
philosophy arises from wonder. Man experiences rains and
drought, storms, clouds, lightning. At times, he is greatly
terrified. Then the events of life and death mystify him. He
begins to reflect over the events. The sun, moon and the
stars appear to him wonderful and beautiful. As a result of
his reflection, he thinks that the events can be explained by
powers akin to man. He proposes to control them by means
of magical spells. This magic gives way to science,
philosophy and religion in due course.

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY – A GENERAL OUTLINE OF INDIAN AND WESTERN PHILOSOPHY.pdf

page 3
NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
c) The subject matter of philosophy : Philosophy is the rational
attempt to have a world-view. It endeavors to reach a conception
of the entire universe with all its elements and aspects and their
interrelations to one another. It is not contented with a partial view
of the world. It seeks to have a synoptic view of the whole reality:
it tries to have a vision of the whole. The different sciences deal
with different departments of the world Mathematical sciences
deal with numbers and figures. Physics deals with heat, light,
motion, sound, electricity and magnetism. Chemistry deals with
chemical phenomena. Psychology deals with the phenomena of
mental life. Sociology deals with the structure and growth of the
society and its institutions. Economics deals with welfare and
wealth of man. Politics deals with the structure and functions of
the State and its various organs .

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY – A GENERAL OUTLINE OF INDIAN AND WESTERN PHILOSOPHY.pdf

page 3
NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
d) Philosophical problems: The basic problems of philosophy
have been same in the East as in West. A general characteristic
of these problems was that they were concerned with general
and universal questions and not with the questions of particular
nature. In this sense the philosophical problems are different
from scientific problems which have their origin in particular
questions. Some examples of philosophical problems are: What
is knowledge? What is world? Who has created this world? Is
there a God? Who am I? What is the aim of my life? Why should
I live? What is the purpose of the world? etc.

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY – A GENERAL OUTLINE OF INDIAN AND WESTERN PHILOSOPHY.pdf

page 4
Holistic perspective and partial
point of view of Philosophy
Based on its nature, how can we distinguish a holistic
perspective from a partial point of view of philosophy?

Holistic point of view Partial point of view

 A general characteristic of • The different sciences deal
philosophical problems was with different departments
concerned with general and of the world.
universal questions and not
with the questions of
particular nature.
Create a group with five members each and make an organizer
which represents all the ideas you’ve learned about philosophy of
the human person. Formulate a question using 5W’s and H Web.

Philosophy
Philosophy
is.. is..