SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Introduction to
Philosophy of the
Human Person
Quarter 1- Module 2
Method of Philosophizing (Part II)

Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

 OVERVIEW
Hello dear learners! Welcome to this module on Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human
Person. This module will help you understand the meaning and process of doing philosophy
of the human person as an embodied being in the world and the environment as a means
towards a holistic understanding of life. It contains activities that will help you reflects on a
concrete experience in a philosophical way and demonstrates various ways of doing
philosophy and evaluate opinion. The module is self – instructional and allows you to learn in
your own space, at your own pace. So, relax and enjoy learning.

To the teacher:

This lesson assume that the teacher has already introduced to his/ her learners knowledge
about philosophy and its importance as discipline and a means of understanding life.

The primary goal of this module is to help learners engaged in some simple activities in order
to have necessary skills and understanding and reflects on a concrete experience in a
philosophical way.

To the Learners:

At the end of this module, you will be able to reflect on your daily experiences from a holistic
point of view and acquires critical and analytical thinking skills so that you can apply this critical
and analytical thinking skills to the affairs of your daily life and should be able to demonstrate
a capacity for a critical and analytical reflection from the perspective of a holistic and profound
vision of life.

In order to achieve the objectives of this module, it is necessary to have completed all the
module for you to fully understand the activities and discussions.
 WHAT’S IN?

 Opinions are statement that go beyond providing facts.

 A conclusion is a judgment based on certain facts.
 Beliefs are statements that expresses convictions that are not easily and
clearly explained by facts.
 Explanations are statements that assume the claim to be true and
provide reasons why the statement is true.
 Arguments are series of statements that provide reasons to
convince the reader or listener that a claim or opinion is truthful.
 Fallacies are arguments based on faulty reasoning.
 Bias is disproportionate weight in favor of or against an idea or thing,
usually in a way that is closed-minded, prejudicial, or unfair.

The facts that form the bases of a conclusion may not be disputed but the
conclusion itself could still be contested or questioned. To judge the truthfulness of
belief, we must also consider things such a person’s experiences and views.

Facts are statements that are observed to be real or truthful. Claims are
statements that require further examination to determine their truthfulness. Some
arguments may contain fallacies. We must be aware of the various kinds of
fallacies as these affect the validity of arguments. Opinions are often influenced by
bias. We must be aware of bias so that we can objectively and critically examine
points of view.

Opinion is something intermediary between knowledge and ignorance.

While Public opinion is the intermediate faculty which seizes the things that float
between the two extremes (Plato).

Opinion applies to what, being true or false, may be other than it is: in fact,
opinion is the apprehension of an immediate and unnecessary premise (Aristotle).

Opinion, founded in the probable, perhaps also the name of knowledge

(Leibniz).

Opinion is a belief that is conscious of being insufficient both subjectively

and objectively (Kant).

An opinion gives for truth something that has been said, although
sometimes they are absurd words, which mean nothing, impossible to understand
(Hobbes).
 Public opinion is the convergence of the opinions of the greatest number of
people in a community, so that they form a common and dominant feeling,
exerting diffuse pressure (Freund).

The following are the examples of fallacies.

Fallacy Characteristics
Attacking the person presenting the argument instead of the
Ad hominem argument itself.
Using the threat of force or an undesirable event to advance
Appeal to force
an argument.
Appeal to emotion Using emotions such as pity or sympathy.
The idea is presented as acceptable because a lot of people
Appeal to the popular
accept it.
Appeal to tradition The idea is acceptable because it has been true for a long
time.
Assuming the thing or idea to be proven is true; also known
Begging the question
as circular argument.
Assuming “cause-and-effect” relationship between unrelated
Cause-and-effect
events
Fallacy of composition Assuming that what is true of a part is true for the whole
Fallacy of division Assuming that what is true for the whole is true for its parts.

The following are the examples of biases.

Bias Characteristics
Tendency to judge a person’s personality by his or her
Correspondence bias
actions, without regard for the external factors or
or attribution effect
influence.
Tendency to look for and readily accept information
Confirmation bias which fits one’s own beliefs or views and to reject ideas
or views that go against it.
Focusing on a certain aspect of a problem while ignoring
Framing
other aspects.
Tendency to see past events as predictable, or to ascribe
Hindsight
a pattern to historical events.
A person or group is connected to or has a vested interest
Conflict of interest
in the issue being discussed.
Analyzing an event or issue based on one’s cultural
Cultural bias
standards.
 Critical Thinking is the careful, reflective, rational and
systematic approach to questions of very general interest.

Critical thinking means understanding if philosophy and

refraining from merely giving claims but through careful thought, one
reasons through to argumentation.

The scientific method also leads to wisdom and truth because

it uses an evidence- based approach to come up with its conclusion.
In this method, all truths are supported by facts that can easily be
tested or proven again through experiments, logical reasoning, or
observation.

WHAT I KNOW?

Direction: Give a brief answer to the following question.

Write your answer on the space provided.

1. How will you determine the truth from an opinion?

An understanding of opinions and facts and the mean to

distinguish one from the other can further improve our understanding
and appreciation of varied views and ideas.

The ability to determine truth goes hand in hand with the

holistic perspective and enables us to make wiser decisions,
especially in choosing then ideas and views which we find
acceptable.

A critical mind aided by philosophy can help us from our own

personal point of view that can guide us in making decisions and
actions when we faced with a problem.

Philosophy can help us determine ideas that are truthful and

acceptable, which we can use to form our own views regarding
certain matters.
 For Maboloc and Pascua (2008) critical thinking is a lifelong
process of self- assessment that further consists of:

a. Defining, analyzing, and devising solutions.

b. Arriving at reasonable and informed conclusions.
c. Applying understanding and knowledge to new and
different problems.
d. Willingness to say “I don’t know.”

The attributes of a critical thinker include;

a. Looks for evidence to support assumption and beliefs

b. Adjusts opinion
c. Looks for proof
d. Examines the problem
e. Rejects irrelevant and innocent information

WHAT IS IT?

Both the Socratic and dialectic method are based on a

discussion between two or more people who may carry differing
views but wish to pursue the truth by seeking an agreement with one
another. Meanwhile, the scientific method is a process of determining
truth or knowledge through experimentation, inductive and deductive
reasoning, and hypothesis or theory testing.

The scientific method, also called empirical method, is a

process of determining truth or knowledge through experimentation,
inductive and deductive reasoning, and hypothesis or theory testing.

Logic is the truth based on reasoning and critical thinking. It

includes analysis and construction of arguments. It serves as path to
freedom from half-truths and deception.
 TYPES OF REASONING

DEDUCTIVE REASONING INDUCTIVE REASONING

http://images.slideplayer.com/28/9351128/slides/slide_2.jpg

Deductive Reasoning
In this type of reasoning, conclusion comes first, followed by
main points, and the last will be the supporting data, facts, examples,
and evidences. General idea comes first before the specific or
particular idea.

Inductive Reasoning
In this type of reasoning, supporting data, facts, examples, and
evidences come first followed by the main points and conclusion will
be the last part. This is the vice versa of the deductive reasoning
because particular idea comes first before the general idea.
 WHAT’S MORE

Direction: Read the conversation below and answer the following question.
Write your answer on the space provided.

LOVER’S QUARREL
Shanon: Did you hear about what happened between Angel and her boyfriend?
Vanvan: What happened?
Shanon: They got a huge fight last night. Angel called me up. She was crying and
she said that Mike hit her.
Dean: Wait, what? That’s not right? Mike came by my place last night and he was
pretty shaken up. He had scratch marks on his arms and a bite on his left hand. He
said Angel just attacked her and was accusing him of seeing another girl.
Shanon: No! Angel said it was Mike who started to hit her and she had to defend
herself!

Question: As friend of Angel and Mike, how will you react to the statements
given?