INTRODUCTION TO

PHILOSOPHY OF THE
HUMAN PERSON

(Branches of Philosophy)

Module and Worksheet

Name JENAR S. ATIENZA
Section 12 – ST. ALEXANDER

WHAT IS THIS MODULE ALL ABOUT?

This module serves as a learning resource material in understanding the

target competency expected in the curriculum.
TOPIC: Branches of Philosophy
CONTENT STANDARD: The learner understands the meaning and process
of doing philosophy.

LEARNING COMPETENCY: PPT11/12-Ia-1.1

Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view.

The presented activities or exercises and texts are developed in

order to meet the following objectives:

1. Identify the different branches of Philosophy.

2. Compare and contrast among the branches of Philosophy.

3. Apply each branch in real life setting.

 LET’S SEE WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW

Try to answer the following questions.

1. What do you recall about the meaning of Philosophy?

2.

Can cite some characteristics of Philosophy?

3. What perspectives or approaches in Philosophy you already know? List

them down.
4.

How are these perspectives or approaches in Philosophy important in our

day-to-day life?

LET’S LEARN

In the previous module, the definition of Philosophy and its salient features
were discussed. In this module, the branches of Philosophy will be tackled.
 Knowing only the meaning of Philosophy and some of its
characteristics are not enough if we are in search for true wisdom. For a
narrow and partial mind is wholly incompatible with the real philosophical
attitude that manifests holistic point of view. The discussion below on
branches of Philosophy is intended to broaden one’s perspectives and skills
in doing philosophical discourses.

There are 5 branches of Philosophy: Metaphysics, Ethics,

Epistemology, Logic and Aesthetics. Metaphysical philosophy accounts on
investigating the unreal entities in terms of the real world that we
experience through our senses. The well-known Philosopher, Plato,
enlightened the field of metaphysics by contrasting reality and appearance.
He stated that our experience with the real world is not real. Reality
according to him is how we perceive the world. Therefore, what is real is
just products of our perception through the mind. For example, we see a
yellow chair because we perceive it as yellow chair. But others may
perceive a different color when light affecting the appearance of the chair is
obstructed.

Ethics as another branch of Philosophy deals with the evaluation of

human actions and the nature of moral virtue. As such, ethical philosophy
accounts for the nature of our moral judgements and it also attempts to
investigate our fundamental ethical ideas. From these contentions arise the
idea of right versus wrong and evil versus good. Discourses like feminism
(equal opportunities among genders) and law-making become areas where
ethical philosophy is employed. Socrates pointed out that knowledge is not
merely theoretical nor speculative but also practical. It means that
knowledge on rules of right living is not sufficient when it is not actually
being practiced. One historical example that exemplifies ethical philosophy
is that issue laid down by William Du Bois. He argued that there must be
equal rights between black and white Americans.
 Epistemology as philosophical perspective concerns itself with the
nature, sources, limitations and validity of knowledge. Some of the basic
questions raised by Epistemology are: how do we know what we know, how
do we know what we want to know and do we distinguish true from what is
not true. Knowledge, according to this perspective, can be acquired
through induction (empiricism) and deduction. Induction is a process of
knowledge-forming by investigating particulars (also known as empirical
evidences) in order to arrive at general idea. Conversely, deductive process
employs generally accepted ideas in order to arrive at specific ideas.
Advocates of deductive method are called rationalists. Rene Descartes is
well-known rationalist.

Another method used under Epistemology is pragmatism. William

James and John Dewey are famous pragmatists. They believe that value in
use is the real test of truth and meaning.

Logic is another branch of Philosophy. Unlike any other philosophical

perspectives, logic does not concern itself in what we know regarding
certain subjects. Thus, logic does not provide us knowledge of the world
directly. It only serves as tool to guide one’s arguments or discourses so as
to keep them valid and true. Aristotle was the first philosopher who
employed logical method. He claimed that truth exists when there is
agreement between knowledge and reality. This can only take place when
mental ideas correspond to the objective world. This is where logical
reasoning comes in.

Reasoning is very important in our everyday lives. Decision making

can make or unmake us. Thus the quality of our logical capacity affects our
well-being. A person equipped with logic can reason far better than those
who are not.
 Finally, Aesthetics as philosophical perspective concerns itself with the
notion of beauty. Whenever we created a devise or equipment we
consequently aim to improve (or beautify) it after some time. It only goes
to show that aesthetics accounts for the criteria of beauty.

Aesthetics can be used to explain matters regarding culture and arts.

It is in these fields where beauty can best be explained with the use of
aesthetical philosophy. Embedded in our culture is our capacity to
distinguish beautiful from what is not. Arts as part of our cultural milieu
manifests our ideas regarding beauty.

What benefits can students get from aesthetical knowledge? As

students, the importance of aesthetics are: it vitalizes our knowledge
making the world more useful and alive, it helps us live more deeply
and richly for appreciation of work of arts arises, and it keeps us in
touch with our culture.

LET’S TRY THIS AND SELF-CHECK

Below are situational cases where each needs particular philosophical

perspective in order to understand the issues inherent within each of them.

Read each case and think of a particular branch of Philosophy that can

appropriately address the issue at hand.

Case 1

The resources that supply our daily needs come from the environment. The
amount of resources that we demand affects environmental condition.
Increasing our demand raises the pressure on environment. Conversely,
the condition of environment influences the quality of life that we have. An
environment in good condition sustains life. While degraded environment
brings forth social problems.
What kind of treatment should we accord to the environment that supplies
our needs then?

Case 2
For some reasons, there has been an increasing incidence of
teenage pregnancies. Despite efforts exerted by stockholders of
school community in preventing such phenomenon to happen, still
it exists. Why do teenagers engage to this kind of issues?

Case 3

Most of us are Facebook users. As such, we cannot deny the fact

that some posts or comments seen on it lack validity or reliability.
Sometimes, we are fooled to comply to some posts.
Sometimes, we are unaware that we believe on some
opinions making such ideas become part of our
consciousness. The danger of which it reflects the kind of
personality that we have. What can you say about this?

LET’S STUDY AND ANALYZE THESE

1. What philosophical perspective or branch of Philosophy can best
explain case 1? Write your arguments on the space provided below.

The branch of Philosophy that can best explain case 1 is

2. What philosophical perspective or branch of Philosophy can best

explain case 2? Write your arguments on the space provided below.

The branch of Philosophy that can best explain case 2 is

3. What philosophical perspective or branch of Philosophy can best

explain case 1? Write your arguments on the space provided below.

The branch of Philosophy that can best explain case 3

LET’S LEARN
Holistic perspective enables us to understand better the world that we live

in. Thus, having equipped with the different philosophical perspectives

discussed above contributes to one’s wellbeing. Employing a particular

perspective, though, requires the element of Natural Light of Reason as

explained in the previous module. Having the knowledge on branches of

Philosophy gives us some edge compared to those who didn’t have the

opportunity to learn them no matter how difficult choosing which perspective

to use on a particular situation or subject matter.

Six Blind Men and the Elephant

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_poems_of_John_Godfrey_Saxe/The_Blin

d_Men_and_the_Elephant

LET’S SEE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

Philosophical perspectives can be used to analyze some issues happening in

the fields of Economics, Religion, Mass Media, Government/Politics, Social

Relations, Work Place and many others. It is only up to us which among

these philosophical perspective is appropriate to use. Can you list down

current issues happening in our country which can be explained using any of

the philosophical perspective?

Write your answers below.

1. Metaphysics

2. Ethics

3. Epistemology

4. Logic

5. Aesthetics

POST TEST
Read the following items carefully. Write the letter of your answer.

1. We cannot see the underlying matter itself but we can see the things
made of that matter. What branch of Philosophy sees things like this?

A. Metaphysics
B. Aesthetics
C. Logic
D. Epistemology

2. As a branch of Philosophy logic does not provide us with knowledge

directly. Etymologically, it means a treatise on matters pertaining to
the human thought. As a branch of Philosophy logic does not provide
us with knowledge directly. What then is the role of logic in
Philosophy?

A. Logic enhances appreciation of arguments.

B. Logic is used in some disciplines like mathematics.
C. Logic offers opportunities discovering new knowledge.
D. Logic serves as tool concerning the validity of our arguments.

3. A fundamental and necessary drive in every human being is knowing

what is real. Which among the branches of Philosophy accounts for
the unreal in terms of what we accept as real?

A. Logic
B. Aesthetics
C. Metaphysics
D. Ethics

4. A branch of Philosophy deals with what is right or wrong. Another

branch focuses itself with the non-observables. What does
epistemology deal with?

A. Epistemology deals with the other branches of Philosophy

 B. Epistemology concerns itself with how to make arguments more
valid and essential.
C. Epistemology deals with the nature, sources, limitations and
validity of knowledge.
D. Epistemology focuses on discovering new knowledge unknown
to men.

5. Examination of unobservable entities is the focus of metaphysical

discourses. Which of the following statements exhibits such
character?

A. Beautiful designs like arts enhances the way we think.

B. If all backboned animals are called vertebrates, then a dog is a
vertebrate.
C. All objects contain water.
D. Exercise of freedom should always be accompanied with
responsibility.

6. It is not what we know that logic is interested in. Rather, it concerns

itself on the truth and validity of our arguments. Who was the
philosopher who devised the first logical method?

A. Socrates
B. Plato
C. Zeno
D. Aristotle

7. The establishment of criteria of beauty is the function of aesthetics.

Which of the following statements shows the importance of aesthetics
to us?

A. It helps us understand better the nature and origin of

knowledge.
B. It brings us in touch with our culture and the arts.
C. It serves as a tool in unraveling the unknown.
D. It enables us to make plausible arguments.
8. Some philosophers believe that general ideas are formed from the
examination of particular facts. What method is employed in this kind
of generating idea?

A. deduction
B. induction
C. epistemological
D. logical

9. How do we understand the difference between good and evil or right

from wrong? This basic question is a concern of what branch of
Philosophy?

A. Epistemology
B. Logic
C. Ethics
D. Metaphysics

10. Ethics investigates the nature of moral virtue and evaluates

human actions in order to arrive at knowledge. Which of the following
statements exemplifies the value of ethics in Philosophy?

A. Women are not inferior to men and that both must complement
each other.
B. All matters are composed of atoms.
C. Ideas are forms of thought representing the real objects.
D. No man is an island
 LET’S REMEMBER

Below is a comparative presentation of the branches of philosophy

especially made for you in order for easier recall.
Branch of Perspectives / Proponents / Sample Statements
Philosophy Philosophers
Focus

A. > accounts for the > Plato > All terrestrial objects are made up of
Metaphysics unreal thing in matter.
terms of what
accepted as real > Objects like chair only becomes real
> discourses focus when we think of it as it is.
on the
unobservable
entities like mind
and
matter
B. Ethics > explores the > Socrates > Equal opportunities for all regardless
nature of moral of gender.
> Edward
value and > Law making must include ethical
Burghardt
evaluates human considerations
Du Bois
actions
> knowledge is not
only theoretical nor
speculative but also
practical
C. > deals with the > Rene > deductive method: If all objects
Epistemology nature, sources, Descartes contain water, then human beings have
limitations and water.
> John Locke
validity of
> William > inductive: Any object around us is
knowledge
James composed of an element or combination
> puts forward of elements. Therefore, elements are
induction > John Dewey the main composition of anything.
(empiricism) and
deduction as
methods of
acquiring
knowledge

D. Logic > serves as tool in > Aristotle

 making valid >Zeno of
arguments Citium
> does not directly
>Cicero
contribute to
knowledge but
focuses more on
the method how
knowledge is
created
E. > deals with the > > A work of art is like a great man.
Aesthetics establishment of Schopenhauer Stand before it. Wait patiently and it will
criteria of beauty speak.
> Hans-Georg
>gives importance Gadamer
to culture and arts
for they manifest
social behavior