The Process of

Doing
Philosophy
INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE
HUMAN PERSON
 Philosophy has opened doors for
debates over many concerns such as
the purpose of life, the existence of
good and evil, and the way to the
truth. Even as a young student, you
have already been introduced to
philosophy as a discipline.
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 As you proceed to higher levels of your
study, you will encounter more philosophical
issues that are more advanced and
complicated to resolve. Learning philosophy
requires learning to look into all available
perspectives and work on their relationship to
come up with sound, logical, and valid
conclusions.
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In this lesson, you will be able to learn
how to distinguish holistic perspective
from partial point of view which helps you
develop your skill of broadly looking at the
situation first before concluding anything.
Furthermore, it can be applied in day-to-
day activities and life perspectives,
because it involves an evaluative process
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that allows a person to make better
decisions and act accordingly to situations
with the help of various philosophical
skills. You will also learn the importance of
using philosophical reflection which
enables thought to be looked into using
deeper, holistic perspective. In effect,
actions are directed towards greater
sources of wisdom and truth.
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 Objectives

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

K- Distinguish holistic perspective from partial point

of view.

S- Make a poster showing a holistic point of view of

your life.

A- Realize the value of doing philosophical reflection

from various situations. PRESENTATION TITLE 6
WORDSCAPES ACTIVITY:
Direction: Unscramble the set of
words below, based on the
definition provided in each
number.

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1. comes from the Latin
verb, “scire”, which means
“to know”; possessing a
certain kind of knowledge.

SCIEENC
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1. comes from the Latin
verb, “scire”, which means
“to know”; possessing a
certain kind of knowledge.

SCIENCE
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2. The science of beings in
their ultimate reasons, causes,
and principles acquired by the
aid of human reason alone.

PHYLOPHISO
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2. The science of beings in
their ultimate reasons, causes,
and principles acquired by the
aid of human reason alone.

PHILOSOPHY
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3. Application of
knowledge

WIDSOM
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3. Application of
knowledge

WISDOM
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4. sufficient ground or
explanation of
something

RAESNO
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4. sufficient ground or
explanation of
something

REASON
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THE BLIND MAN
AND THE
ELEPHANT

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THE BLIND MEN
AND THE
ELEPHANT

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 Once upon a time there were six blind men.
They lived in a town in India.
They thought they were very clever. One day an
elephant came to their town. The blind men did
not know what an elephant looked like but they
could smell it and they could hear it. “What is
this animal like?” they said. Each man touched a
different part of the elephant.

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 Once upon a time there were six blind men.
They lived in a town in India.
They thought they were very clever. One day an
elephant came to their town. The blind men did
not know what an elephant looked like but they
could smell it and they could hear it. “What is
this animal like?” they said. Each man touched a
different part of the elephant.

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 The first man touched the elephant's body. It
felt hard, big and wide. “An elephant is like a
wall”, he said.

The second man touched one of the

elephant's tusks. It felt smooth, hard, and

sharp. “An elephant is like a spear,” he said.

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 The third man touched the elephant's trunk. It
felt long, thin, and wiggly. “An elephant is like a
snake,” he said.

The fourth man touched one of the legs. It

felt thick, rough, hard and round. “An

elephant is like a tree,” he said.

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 The fifth man touched one of the

elephant's ears. It felt thin and it moved.

“An elephant is like a fan,” he said.

The sixth man touched the elephant's tail.
It felt long, thin, and strong. “An
elephant is like a rope,” he said.
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 The men argued. It's like a wall!
No, it isn't! It's like a spear! No it
isn't! It's like a snake! They did not
agree.
The king had been watching and
listening to the men.
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 The king had been watching and listening to the
men.
“'You are not very clever. You only touched part of
the elephant. You did not feel the whole animal. An
elephant is not like a wall or a spear or a snake, or a
tree or a fan or a rope.”
The men left the town still arguing. A little girl heard
them and said “Each of you is right but you are
all wrong … but I know what you are talking about!”

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Guided Questions:
1. What happens in the story when each blind
man "sees" the elephant? Why were there six
different ideas about the elephant? Were any
of the men right about the elephant? Were any
of them completely wrong?
2. What did the blind men learn from the king?
What does the storyteller want us to learn from
this tale?
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Guided Questions:
1. What happens in the story when each blind
man "sees" the elephant? Why were there six
different ideas about the elephant? Were any
of the men right about the elephant? Were any
of them completely wrong?
2. What did the blind men learn from the king?
What does the storyteller want us to learn from
this tale?
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3. Do problems like this happen in real life?
Think of the times when arguments or
misunderstandings have occurred because
people saw situations from different points of
view. Describe what happened.
4. How does it feel when another person
doesn't "see" something the way you do? How
can you address those differences in
perceptions?
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5. What if the men in this story were not
blind? Would they still have different
perceptions about elephants? Why or why
not?
6. Does the story give you any ideas
about how these problems can be solved?
What are some steps you can take to
understand why another person doesn't
see things the way you do?
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 WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
The word philosophy comes from two Greek
words: philos (love) and sophia(wisdom). The
ancient Greeks used this term to refer to "love of
wisdom" and theysoon applied it to the study or
discipline that uses human reason to investigate
theultimate causes, reasons, and principles which
govern all things.

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WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
People who engage in philosophy are called
philosophers or "lovers of wisdom." Among the
ancient Greeks,the philosophers became pioneers in
various fields of knowledge such as history,
biology,medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and even
physics. It was quite common to hear ofancient
philosophers who were "experts" in various fields of
learning.

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Ancient Notable Greek Philosophers

Pythagoras (570 BCE to 495 BCE) – A

mathematician and scientist, he was credited
with formulating the Pythagorean theorem. His
work earned him many followers, and he
established a Community of learners who were
devoted to the study of religion and philosophy.

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Ancient Notable Greek Philosophers

Heraclitus (535 BCE to 475 BCE)- He

proposed that everything that exists is based
ona higher order or plan which he called logos.
For him, change is a permanent aspect of the
human condition as he was credited with the
saying, "No man ever steps in the same river
twice,"
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Ancient Notable Greek Philosophers

Democritus (460 BCE to 370 BCE) - He

devoted himself to the study of the causes
of natural phenomena. He was among the
first to propose that matter is composed
oftiny particles called atoms.

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Ancient Notable Greek Philosophers

Diogenes of Sinope (412 BCE to 323 BCE) - He was a

known advocate of living a simple and virtuous life, For
Diogenes, one should not only talk of virtue but should
show it in words and actions. His emphasis on austerity
and simplicity often went to the extreme, and he was said
to have lived like a beggar. He was also known to be a
vocal critic of well known philosophers such as Plato and
Aristotle. His teachings and views were later developed by
his followers and influenced the development of several
schools of philosophy such as Cynicism and Stoicism.
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Ancient Notable Greek Philosophers

Epicurus (341 BCE to 2 70 BCE) -He believed

that philosophy COuldenable man to livea life
of happiness. His views gave rise to
Epicureanism -a school of philosophywhich
believes that wisdom and simnple living will
result in a life free of fear andpain.

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Ancient Notable Greek Philosophers

Epicurus (341 BCE to 2 70 BCE) -He believed

that philosophy could enable man to live a life
of happiness. His views gave rise to
Epicureanism -a school of philosophy which
believes that wisdom and simple living will
result in a life free of fear and pain.

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Ancient Notable Greek Philosophers

Socrates (470 BCE to 399 BCE) - He was considered the

foremost philosopher Of ancient times. He made great
contributions to the field of ethics. Socrates was a known critic of
intellectuals during his time but he himself did not claim to be
wise“ and merely considered himself a "midwife" that helped
inquiring minds achieve wisdom. He also believed that
philosophy could enable a man to live a life of virtue He was
credited with formulating the Socratic Method - a means of
examining atopic by devising a series of questions that let the
learner examine and analyze his knowledge and views regarding
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Ancient Notable Greek Philosophers
Plato (427 BCE to 347 BCE) –A student of Socrates he wrote down his
mentor’s teachings and incorporated some of his own ideas into them.
His teachings and writings were considered the foundation of Western
philosophy. Plato's most significant ideas included his Theory of Forms.
which proposes that everything that exists is based on an idea or
template that can only be perceived in the mind; these nonphysical
ideas are eternal and unchanging. He also focused his studies on the
ideal society and proposed an ideal model of government and society
which is ruled by wisdom and reason, Plato is also known for his
dialectic – a method of inquiry where two opposing ideas are discussed
in an attempt to arrive at new knowledge. Plato's lasting contribution to
learning was his founding of the Academy, an institution of higher
learning which was the first of its kind in the Western World.
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Ancient Notable Greek Philosophers

Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE)Heattended the Academy, and was a

prominent Student of Plato. Aristotle. however disaCreed with
Plato's theory of forms and tookd ditterent stance in interpreting
reality Eor bim all ideas and views are based onperception and
our reality is based on what we can sense and perceive. Ihis
Viewgreatly influenced the study of the physical sciences. Aristotle
was involved in agreat variety of disciplines such as zoology,
pSychology, ethics, and politics. He alsoproposed a system for
the classification of plants and animals. His studies in logicled to
the formulation of a formal process of analyzing reasoning which
gave rise todeductive reasoning - the process by which specific
statements are analyzed toreach a conclusion or generalization.
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Why Is there a need to
Philosophize?

1.Sense of Wonder
2.Doubt
3.Experience

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1. The Greek philosopher Plato traced man's need to
philosophize to his sense of wonder. Whenever we are
confronted with an experience, we always wonder how it
came about. Man's over bounding curiosity drives him to
ask questions, some of which have no definite answers.
Where did we come from? Why do we exist? For what
purpose were we created? Consider a small child's curiosity
about all the things around him, most of which he
encounters for the first time. This perspective drives the
need of a philosopher to question, examine, and learn
more.
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2. The 15th-century French philosopher Rene Descartes
traced the need to philosophize to doubt. Descartes was
famous for rejecting or questioning established ideas, and he
even went as far as doubting his own ideas. His method of
examining ideas and perspectives became the basis of
critical thinking and analysis in the sciences. For example, a
scientific hypothesis must first be tested and verified before
it is accepted as truth. In life, we will be faced with several
ideas and arguments which present themselves as "truths."
A critical and questioning perspective is necessary to
determine if indeed these ideas or views are Correct or true.
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The 20th-century Swiss-German philosopher Karl
Jaspers saw the need to philosophize because of
experience. Jaspers believed that man is often
confronted by experiences which challenge his ideas
and frameworks. Jaspers called these experiences limit
situations, and these are often accompanied by
feelings of helplessness, anxiety, or dread. For Jaspers,
philosophy provides us a means to understand adverse
or challenging conditions, and to rise above them and
gain new knowledge and perspectives.
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Discuss
1. What are the reasons that compel a
person to engage in Philosophical
thinking?
2. How can as a person benefit you from
philosophizing?

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How do we Characterize
the Study of
Philosophy?

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1. As Analysis of Framework
-A framework is defined as away of
thinking about the world and is
composed of the views and beliefs
of a person
- Internal questions
- externa questions
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2. As an examination of
knowledge
- the central principle in
philosophy is the examination and
questioning, and this is often
applied in the analysis of the
frameworks of other sciences
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3. As a discipline
- Philosophy itself is a distinct
area of knowledge with its own
goals, concerns and ways of
doing things

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Discuss:
Based on the characteristics of
Philosophy, would it be possible
for any person to engage in
philosophical discussion? Why or
why not?

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What is the Difference
between Holistic Thinking
and partial Thinking?

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Holistic thinking refers to a
perspective that considers large-scale
patterns in systems. This is often
described as looking at the "big picture"
when describing and analyzing a
situation or problem. A holistic
perspective requires an individual to
have an open mindset and an ability to
get the general sense or impression
regarding a situation.
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Partial thinking, on the other hand,
focuses on specific aspects of a situation.
The partialview is an important
component of analytical thinking, as an
individual focuses on certainareas or
aspects of a problem in order to
understand it. Though partial thinking is
useful,philosophy utilizes holistic thinking
in making sense of problems and issues
related to thehuman experience.
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Discuss:
1.Cite a situation where you adopted
a holistic view in looking at a
problem or situation. How did
adopting a holistic view help you
make a sense of the situation?
2.How can having a holistic view help
us better individual
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HOW DOES ONE ENGAGE IN
REFLECTION

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Reflection requires a person to be
willing to examine one's
thoughts, feelings, and actions
and to learn more about one's life
and experiences. One can reflect
on almost any subject. For
instance, the moment you wake
up you can already reflect upon
the things that you plan to do for
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This will enable you to set your
daily goals and set you on the
path off thinking of ways to
achieve them. Seemingly
simple or mundane actions
take a whole new meaning
when one engages in
reflection. When buying
clothes, for example, think of
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 What are the practical uses of
philosophy in our lives?
Philosophy has an important place in our daily lives. Engaging in
philosophical
reflection leads to the development of beneficial skills that
individuals can apply in
everyday situations.

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Philosophy enables a person to engage in critical analysis
and interpretation of concepts, definitions, arguments, and
problems. It also trains us to be critical of our own ideas as
well as of others - meaning, we don't simply accept or reject
whatever is presented to us. One can apply this critical and
analytical mindset in processing information gained from
media and addressing certain issues encountered in life.
Critical thinking skills can help us avoid being tricked by false
claims or manipulative schemes.

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Philosophy also improves problem-solving
and decision making. The ability to analyze
a problem or dilemma, identify its
significant aspects, and come up with
alternative solutions is an important skill
learned through philosophy.

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A philosopher is a good communicator who can clearly and
adequately present his or her ideas. Discussion and debate
require skills in presenting and communicating ideas.
Philosophy can also help us be more open to new and
different ideas. Communication skills are also enhanced by
the study of philosophy because it trains us to be very clear
and precise about our thoughts and sentiments in order to
exactly what we want to say.

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Wisdom is one intended product of
philosophizing, and this refers to a person’s
ability to apply knowledge to daily life
particularly in making sound choices and
judgment.

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Finally. knowledge of Philosophy can contribute to self-development.
One can be a better student, scientist, artist, professional, and citizen
if he or she has the capacity for inquiry, critical thinking, and
reflection. In addition, philosophy encourages a person to know
oneself. his or her strengths and weaknesses, establish an identity,
and determine his or her purpose in life. Self-knowledge also grows
along with one's understanding of the world self. These are tools to
develop one’s world and this is essential to the realization of the own
ideas and views and engage fully in useful activities in the community,
nation, and the world at large.

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Reflect
1. Among the needs that drive man to philosophize,
which is most relevant to you?
2. What Philosophical questions do you wish to be
answered as you study this course? List down five.
3. Describe a situation in your life when you were
able to engage in philosophy. What circumstances
or dilemma brought about your need to
philosophize? How did philosophy help you
address your situation?
4. Reflect on your life so far. Can you say that you
have lived a meaningful life, considering all your
experiences and achievements? What do you
consider as the “highlights” of your life? What
things are you looking forward
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Task 1:
Make a creative poster showing a
holistic view of your life. Come up
with a creative visualization that will
show your life in its totality and how
your various experiences
contributed to give meaning to your
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