Objective:

At the end of the lesson the learners will be able to

1. Distinguish a holistic perspective from

a partial point of view.
O PLHHYIPOS
Group Activity

Discuss
the difference between
Wisdom and Knowledge
Etymology of Philosophy
( an explanation of where a word came from: the history of a word)

 Philo (Greek)- means "love of"

 Sophia (Latin)- means "wisdom"
 Philosophy therefore is the love of
wisdom or the love of truth.
Strict definition of Philosophy

In it’s very essence, Philosophy is also

defined as the science that by natural
light of reason studies the first causes or
highest principle of all things. Under this
definition, four things are to be
considered:
A.Science - it is called science because the investigation is
systematic. It follows certain steps or it employs certain
procedure. In other words, it is an organized body of
knowledge just like any other sciences.

B.Natural light of reason - philosophy investigates things,

not by using any other laboratory instrument or
investigative tools, neither on the basis of supernatural
revelation, otherwise it becomes theology; instead, the
philosopher uses his natural capacity to think or simply,
human reason alone or the so called unaided reason.
C. Study of All Things- This sets the distinction between
philosophy from other sciences. All other’s sciences
concern themselves with a particular object of
investigation. For example, anthropologist study human
beings in relation with society, sociologist study society, its
form, structures, and functions; botanists focus their
attention to plants; linguists limit themselves with
language; theologians investigate God; whereas,
philosophers studies human beings, society, religion,
language, God, and plants, among other concerns.
D. First Cause or Highest Principle - a principle is that from
which something proceeds in any manner whatsoever. Principles
are;
1. Principle of identity - whatever is is; and whatever is not;
everything is what it is. Everything is its own being, and not being is
not belong.
2. Principle of Non-Contradiction - it is impossible for a thing to be and
not to be at the same time and at the same respect.
3. Principle of Excluded Middle - a thing is either is or is not,
everything must be either be or not be, between being and not
being, there is no middle ground possible.
4. Principle of Sufficient Reason - nothing exists without a sufficient
reason for its being and existence.
• Principle of Identity – whatever is is; and
whatever is not is not; everything is what
is. Everything is its own being, and not
being is not being.

Example:
• A soccer ball is a soccer ball and not basketball.
• If Manila is the capital of Philippines, then it is true
that Manila is the capital of Philippines
• Principle of Non-contradiction – it is
impossible for a
thing to be and
not to be at
the same time,
and at the same
respect.
• Principle of Excluded Middle – a thing is either
is or is not; everything must either be or not
be; between being and not-being, there is no
middle ground possible.
• Principle of Sufficient Reason – nothing exists
without a sufficient reason for its being and
existence. Every fact has an explanation.

Example: What is the very purpose of life?

Answer: To pass on what was learned

in order to survive.
Importance of the study of philosophy
 It leads us to a broader understanding of man and
experience
 It gives man a pleasure or satisfaction
 It serves man a better understanding of himself
and his fellow human beings.
 It acquaints a person to the various philosophical
thinkers of the past and of his time
 It will guide in making day to day decision of life
and experiences.
 It gives other sciences a sense of meaning.
Group Activity
-share your ideas from your group mates, and
collaborate your own understanding.

Education is Kindling of flame

not the filling of a vessel“

by Socrates
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson the students should be able to;

Recognize human activities that

emanated (spring) from deliberate
reflection
Realize the value of doing philosophy
in obtaining a broad perspective in life.
Motivation
 Afterexamining the definitions of philosophy, this section
distinguishes its branches from where recognition of various
human activities emanated from deliberate reflection and
dialogs. Many of the most vital issues of philosophy are still
disputed ( controversy) and have unsettled questions today
 Nevertheless, one of the greatest needs of anyone seeking
“Wisdom” is a genuine sympathy and an understanding of all
the most diverse points of view (holistic perspective). A
narrow provincialism ( local word) of mind, limited to the
ideas and outlook of a single party or a single age ( partial
perspective), is wholly incompatible with the real
philosophical attitude.
The Branches of Philosophy
 1.Metaphysics - the part of philosophy that is
concerned with the basic causes and nature of things.
- Is really only an extension of a fundamental and
necessary drive in every human being to know what is
real. The question is how to account for this unreal thing
in terms of what you can accept as real. Thus, a very big
part of the metaphysician’s task is to explain that part of
our experience, which we call unreal in terms of what
we call real. (i.e. ghosts)
Metaphysics
 The study of reality or what is real?
 The study of the most general aspects of reality,
such as substance, identity, the nature of mind,
and free will. It is a study of nature and the
nature of the world in which man lives.
 It encompasses everything that exists, as well as
the nature of existence itself. It says whether the
world is real, or merely an illusion. It is a
fundamental view of the world around us.
Plato, Socrates’ most famous student, is a
good example of a metaphysician who draws
the sharpest possible contrast between reality
and appearance. Nothing we experience in the
physical world with our five senses is real,
according to Plato. Reality, in fact, is just the
opposite. It is unchanging, eternal, immaterial,
and can be detected only by the intellect.
Plato calls these realities as ideas of forms.
 Philosophical questions asked in metaphysics

What is reality?
Are people basically good or bad?
What is the nature of the world in which we
live?
Is it one thing or many different things?
Can reality grasped by the senses or is it
transcendent?
 ( going beyond the limits of ordinary experience; far better or greater than what is usual.)
Reflections, Meditations, and
Conversations..

ByWhat Values Shall I Live in the

World?
 Thisleads up to the famous simile of the cave or
den. According to which those who are destitute
of philosophy may be compared to prisoners in a
cave who are only able to look in one direction
because they are bound and who have the fire
behind them and the wall in front. Between them
and the wall, there is nothing; all that they see
are shadows of themselves and objects behind
them casted on the wall by the light of the fire.
2. Ethics- the study of the good or human action.

 explores the nature of moral virtue and evaluates human

actions.
 How do we tell good from bad or good?
 Right from wrong?
 Generally,is a study of the nature of moral judgements.
Philosophical ethics attempts to provide an account of our
fundamental ethical ideas.
2. Ethics- the study of the good or human action.

 Whereas religion- has often motivated individuals to obey

the moral codes of their society, philosophy is not content
with traditional or habitual ethics but adopts a critical
perspective. It insists that obedience to moral law be given
a rational foundation. In the thought of Socrates, we see
the beginning of transition from a traditional, religion-
based morality to philosophical ethics.
Is it important to our lives?
What makes it important? Or Why is it important?

 It has been said that values, morals and ethics are

inseparably connected or associated with. Values are
what we learn from childhood; the ‘stuff’ we grasp from
our parents and our environments. Morals are the
fundamental beliefs established from the value systems
of how we should act in any certain condition. Ethics,
on the other hand, are how we actually do act in the
aspect of complicated situations that check our moral
character.
Is it important to our lives?
What makes it important? Or Why is it important?

 The Importance of Values, Morals and Ethics are

the rules we live in a civil and unprejudiced
society. We use them to guide our dealing with
others, with our friends and family, in our
businesses and professional
 3. Epistemology – the study of knowledge
and what we can know. Specifically,
epistemology deals with nature, sources,
limitations, and validity of knowledge (Soccio
2007).
 Is the study of our method of acquiring
knowledge.
Philosophical questions asked in Epistemology

 What is knowledge?
 What is truth?
 When did knowledge originated?
 How do we learn?
 How we know what we claim to know?
 How we can find out what we wish to know? and;
 How we can differentiate truth from falsehood?
Importance of Epistemology

 Distinguish truth from error

 Consequences are obvious
 Flaws in Epistemology will make it harder
to accomplish anything.
4. Logic - the term “logic” comes from the greek word
logike and was coined by Zeno, the Stoic (c.340-265 BC).
Etymologically, it means a treatise on matters pertaining
to the human thought. It is important to underpin that
logic does not provide us knowledge of the world
directly, for logic is considered as a tool, and therefore,
does not contribute directly to the content of our
thoughts. Logic is not interested in what we know
regarding certain subjects. Its concern, rather, is the truth
or the validity of our arguments regarding such objects.
5. Aesthetic - is the science of the beautiful in its
various manifestations including the sublime
(very beautiful or good: strong feelings of admiration or
wonder; complete or strong),comic, tragic, pathetic, and
ugly.
 It is relating to art and beauty.
 ( When humanity has learned to make something that
is useful to them, they begin to plan and dream how
to make it beautiful).
 Importance of Aesthetics

1.It vitalizes our knowledge. It makes

our knowledge of the world alive and
useful.
2. It helps us to live more deeply and
richly.
3. It brings us in touch with our culture.
Hans-George Gadamer, a German
philosopher, argues that our tastes and
judgement regarding beauty, work in
connection with one’s own personal
experience and culture. Gadamer believes
that our culture consists of the values and
beliefs of our time and our society. That is
why a “dialog” or conversation is
important in interpreting works of art
(White 1991).