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Welcome to Chapter II!

METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING

SS03-1 Introduction to the Philosophy of the

Human Person
 Lesson 1
Knowledge,
Wisdom and
Opinion
Chapter II Methods
of Philosophizing

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2 of the Human Person
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In this lesson,
 We will discuss two popular
methods of philosophizing: the
Socratic Method and Descartes’
Methodic Doubt.
 We will also provide an overview of
Plato’s theory of knowledge and his
corresponding metaphysical
system.
SS03-1 Introduction to the Philosophy of the
Human Person
Essential Question in this
lesson:

 How does one philosophize systematically?

Analytic Philosophy
 Two fundamental tasks of analytic
philosophy:
 The analysis and definition of our
fundamental concepts
 The clear and resolute criticism of our
beliefs
 We neglect the nuances in
meaning of the use of concepts in
everyday conversations.
Sometimes, we can avoid controversies, but our
lack of knowledge in analyzing and clarifying
concepts hinder us from attaining this.
Classic example

Fundamental task #1:The analysis and definition of our fundamental

concepts
 Two conditions
 The chicken is needed before you could hatch
its egg.
 You need to have an egg before it can grow as
a full grown chicken.

How do we use
analytic philosophy?
Fundamental task #1:The analysis and definition of our fundamental
concepts
 ‘coming first’
 Reproductive standpoint
What do you mean by
 chicken that?
 Developmental standpoint
 egg
In what sense are you going to use that phrase?

Fundamental task #1:The analysis and definition of our fundamental

concepts
 Examine beliefs based on
prejudice

It is important to subject our

beliefs and biases to constant
criticisms to be able to test
whether or not they are worth
holding on to.

Fundamental task #2: examine & criticize our beliefs and

preconceived notions
Know the point of view
Speculative Philosophy

 Finds explanation for the entirety of reality

 “It aims to reach some general
conclusions as to the nature of the
universe; and as to our position and
prospects in it.
 An attempt to think synoptically –
reminding us of the extreme complexity
of the world
 Pre-Socratic philosophers used
speculative philosophy
 In speculative philosophy, it is the
attempt that counts.
 The process of extracting a unifying
explanation from the multiplicity of
things around them is called
abstraction.
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Plato
 Had
put philosophy in its respective
pedestal as a discipline.

“ The safest characterization of

Western philosophy is that of a
series of footnotes to Plato”
– Alfred North Whitehead
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Plato’s
Metaphysical
System

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Human Person
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Wait! What does metaphysics

mean?

METAPHYSICS - is the branch of

philosophy concerned with the
fundamental nature of reality and
being
- Study of what is outside objective
experience
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Plato’s Metaphysical System

 Thisworld is not the basis for the
attainment of true and real knowledge
 The objects of real knowledge must be
ageless and eternal
 Everything in this world are just
appearances.

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Human Person
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Plato’s Metaphysical System

 Ifsomething is to be accepted as
knowledge, there must be an ultimate
basis (absolute and unchanging)
 The world of senses is the changing world,
thus, unreliable
 Real objects of knowledge can only be
found in the World of Forms and Ideas

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Human Person
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We inherently know everything

 Butthe world of senses provided an
instant limitation to access these pure
forms of knowledge.

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Human Person
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What’s their common

denominator?
 Theproperty of ‘chairness’ is possessed
by each chair.

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Human Person
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A property these things do not

possess.

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To make things
simpler..

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Human Person
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The Allegory of the Cave

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Human Person
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Clear?

Inyek!

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The Socratic Method –An

Exercise in Dialectics
 Embracing and taking on the hypothesis
or view of your opponent as if you see the
point.
 After which, you will try to deduce
contradictory consequences of the same
hypothesis to surface the absurdities
(Reductio ad absurdum)

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Another use of Socratic

Method:
N: Naku! Napaka Pariwara mo talagang bata ka!
B: Paano po ba masasabi na pariwara ang isang
bata?
N: Kapag di sya umuuwi ng maaga, mabababa
ang nakukuha nyang grado at lakwatsa sya ng
lakwatsya.
B: Ano po ba ang depinisyon ng lakwatsya? Kelan
po masasabi na naglalakwatsya ang isang tao.
N: Kapag pumupunta sya sa di mahahalagang
bagay
B: Ano po ba ung mahahalagang bagay?

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The Goal:
 Todeduce pure and unbiased
propositions from the interlocutor.

 Notethat the Socratic Method does not

aim to shame the interlocutor

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Insights regarding the Socratic

Method
Be sure of your stand.

If not sure, be clear Use the terms perhaps,

about being unsure. probably, I think.

How do we avoid being cornered

by a person who uses Socratic method a lot?

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Rene
Descartes

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Methodic Doubt
 Doubting everything that can be
doubted until you arrive at clear and
distinct ideas which are non-sensical to
doubt.
 For something to be accepted as starting
point of knowledge, an idea must be
clear and distinct.

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Cogito, ergo, sum

1. Doubting is a form of
thinking
2. Thinking could not happen
in out of nothingness
3. There must be an owner of
these thoughts
4. Thus, thinking implies that
you exit, at the very
moment of your doubting.
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Wait! What does skepticism

mean?

SKEPTICISM -
is an attitude of doubt or
a disposition to incredulity either
in general or toward a particular
object
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Methodic Doubt –an Exercise

in Skepticism

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Human Person
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What should we doubt?

 Mathematics
 Authority
 Experience

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Foundationalism

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Human Person
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Do you have any questions?

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Human Person
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Thank you!
 wink

SS03-1 Introduction to the Philosophy of the

Human Person