Lesson 2-

Philosophical Tools
and Processes
LOVELYA.AZUNAR
▫ Philosophy uses reason to arrive at a certain
knowledge or truth.
▫ Greek philosophers gave us how to use our intellect
to understand realities around us. The tools that they
frequently utilized are the following:
1. Philosophical Questions. Philosophy was born
because of ignorance. If one is ignorant, he asks
questions and if he keeps on questioning the more
knowledge he acquires.
 3

▫ In our daily struggles, one needs to ask questions

simple, serious and deep questions that we have
to who has an
cope with. A philosopher is like a child
inquisitive mind who never stops asking questions
and finding answers.
 4

▫ Simple Questions (influenced by curiosity and sense

of wonder):
1.What is this?
2.What does this do?
3.Why are trees tall?
4. Why is the sky so far
away?
 5

▫ Serious Questions (influenced by our experiences and

circumstances):
1.Why do I have to study?
2.What do I need to get better grades?
3.What should I do to achieve my goals in
life?
4. What can I do to be better?
5.How do I deal with difficult people?
 6

▫ Deep Questions (influenced to search for meaningful

answers):
1.Where can one find true happiness?
2.Why do good people suffer?
3.What can we do to make the world a better
place?
4. Why do I have to be a good person?
5.Is love worth giving up everything?
 7

▫ Socrates is considered the foremost

philosopher of ancient times.
▫ He is known for Socratic Method, a
form
of cooperative
between individuals,
argumentative
based ondialogue
asking
and answering questions to stimulate
critical thinking and to draw out ideas
and underlying assumptions.
 8

Dialectics -term used to describe

method ofaphilosophical argument that
involves some sort of contradictory
process between opposing sides.
(Example: extension of MECQ or imposing
GCQ; life imprisonment or death penalty)

As a dialectical method, it is discourse

a
between two or more people holding
different points of view about a subject
but wishing to establish the truth
Karl Marx known for his
through reasoned arguments. Dialectical Method
 9

▫ 2. Logical Reasoning. In philosophy reasoning is the

process of thinking about something in a logical way in
order to form a conclusion or judgement.
Reasoning is the method we use in doing philosophy
All branches of philosophy employ reasoning
in
explaining their arguments.
 10

▫ One type of logical reasoning is the deductive reasoning:

Example:
Premise 1: All human beings are mortal
Premise 2: But the President of the
Philippines is a
human being
Conclusion: Therefore, the President of the
Philippines is mortal.
DEDUCTIVE- General/
Particular argument- Universal argument to Specific/
Conclusion
 1
1

Inductive reasoning: begins with a particular/ specific

statement to universal/general argument
Example:
Premise: Student A, B, C, D, E, F….. are wearing School
ID. Conclusion: Therefore, All students are wearing ID

INDUCTIVE- Particular/ Specific argument to

Universal argument- Conclusion
General/
12