CRT LEARNING MODULE

Course Code INTRO. TO PHILO

Course Title INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF

THE HUMAN PERSON

No. of Hours 80 HOURS

Module Title THE MEANING AND METHOD OF DOING

PHILOSOPHY

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 College for Research & Technology of Cabanatuan

HOW TO USE THIS DIGITIZED LEARNING MODULE

Welcome to the module in Starting points for the understanding of culture, society,
and politics. This module contains learning materials and activities for you to complete
this module.

You are required to go through a series of learning activities in order to complete

each learning outcome of the module. Each of the learning outcomes is provided with
Modules. Follow these activities on your own and answer the self-check at the end of
each learning outcome. You may remove a blank answer sheet at the end of each module
(or get the answer sheets from the online facilitator) to write the answers for each self-
check. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask your facilitator for assistance.

This module was prepared to help you achieve the learning objectives set by the
Department of Education. This will be the source of Information for you to acquire
knowledge and skill in this particular trade independently and at your own pace, with
minimum supervision of help from your instructor.

 Talk to your online facilitator and agree on how you will both organize the Training
of this unit. Read each through the module carefully. It is divided into sections,
which cover all the skills and knowledge you need to successfully complete this
module.
 Work through all the information and complete the activities in each section. Read
Modules and complete self-check. Suggested references are included to
supplement the materials provided in this module.
 Most probably your facilitator will be your supervisor or manager. Your online
facilitator will support and correct you.
 Your online facilitator will tell you about the important things you need consider
when you are completing activities and it is important that you listen and take
notes.
 You will be given plenty of opportunity to ask questions and practice on the job.
Make sure you practice new skills during regular work shifts. This way you will
improve both your speed and memory and also your confidence.
 Talk to more experienced workmates and ask for their guidance.
 Kindly the self-check questions at the LMS (EDMODO) to test your own progress.

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 When you are ready, ask your online facilitator to watch you online via Zoom or
Google Meet to perform the activities outlined in this module.
 Ask your online facilitator work through the activities: ask for written feedback on
your progress. Your online facilitator keeps feedback/pre-assessment reports for
this reason. When you have successfully completed each element, ask the
facilitator to mark on the reports that you are ready for assessment.
 When you have completed this module, and feel confident that you have sufficient
practice, your online facilitator will arrange an appointment with registered
assessor’s to assess you. The results of your assessment will be recorded in your
competency Achievement Record.

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 INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

Contents of this Learning Module

No. Module Title Topic Code

1 THE MEANING AND METHOD Doing Philosophy Module
OF DOING PHILOSOPHY 1.1

Ancient Greek Philosophers

The Difference Between Holistic Module

Perspective from a Partial Point of 1.2
View
The Value of Doing Philosophy in Module
Obtaining a Broad Perspective on Life 1.3
The Branches of Philosophy Module
1.4

Doing a Philosophical Reflection on a

Situation from Holistic Perspective

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 MODULE CONTENT

MODULE TITLE : THE MEANING AND METHOD OF DOING

PHILOSOPHY

MODULE DESCRIPTOR:
An initiation to the activity and process of philosophical reflection as a search for
a synoptic vision of life. Topics to be discussed include the human experiences of
embodiment, being in the world with others and the environment, freedom, inter
subjectivity, sociality, being unto death.

Number of Hours:
4 hours

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (from curriculum guide)

At the end of this module you MUST be able to:
1. Reflect on their daily experiences from a holistic point of view
2. Acquire Critical and Analytical Thinking skills
3. Apply their critical and analytical thinking skills to the affairs of daily life
4. Become truthful, environment-friendly and service-oriented
5. Actively committed to the development of a more humane society
6. Articulate their own philosophy of life

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 MODULE 1.1

Doing Philosophy

Learning Objective:

In order to achieve the objectives of this module, it is necessary to have

completed the entire module for you to understand the activities and discussions.

1. Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view

2. Realize the value of doing philosophy in obtaining a broad perspective
on life
3. Do a philosophical reflection on a concrete situation from a
holistic perspective

Doing Philosophy

What is Doing Philosophy?

Doing Philosophy is a way of understanding the things that we experience everyday of

our life. It is a practical knowledge that we can use every day. It also helps you think and
find answers from the questions you have in mind. You can apply Philosophy in everyday
of your life, which you can do on your own, with a partner or in a group that you can
share.

The act of doing philosophy necessarily involves the act of asking questions,
contemplating about the mystery of life, and constructing arguments and be able to
rationally evaluate them in the end. For this reason, doing philosophy means to ask
questions, to reflect, and to formulate and evaluate arguments.

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 What is Philosophy?

The word philosophy comes from two Greek words: philia (love) and sophia (wisdom).
The ancient Greeks used this term to refer to “love of wisdom” and they soon applied
it to the study or discipline that uses human reason to investigate the ultimate causes,
reasons, and principles, which govern all things.

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental questions about existence,

knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language.

Philosophy in simple words is a way of thinking about the world, the universe, and
society. It works by asking very basic questions about the nature of human thought,
the nature
of the universe, and the connections between them. The ideas in philosophy are often g
eneral and abstract.

Philosophy is the study of humans and the world by thinking and asking questions. It is
a science and an art. Philosophy tries to answer important questions by coming up with
answers about real things and asking "why?"

"Philosophy is . . ."

• "a bunch of crap that people do when they want to make money but don't want to
work."
• "Trying to answer questions through observation and thought. Philosophy could be a
formula
to life, or an informed way of life."
• "Different people’s views on life, death, and the after-life."
• "Wanting to know more than the obvious; clarifying (using reason and logic) answers
to
Questions-arguing."
• "How a person thinks."
• "Sitting around, smoking cigarettes, and getting into deep discussions about life's little
quirks."
• "The rational inquiry into the nature of the universe, both physical and metaphysical."
• "In-depth reasoning about literary works (analyzing)."

• "The search for truth through the contemplation to reach a higher sense of self or self-
actualization."

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Philosophy is about, or at least what people THINK it's about. What we can glean from
these

Definitions is that Philosophy is a kind of conversation about important questions, much

of which is

Focused on human existence. But more specifically, we can divide Philosophy into major
groups of

Questions that we can call the "sub-disciplines" of Philosophy.

The Major Sub disciplines of Philosophy:

Epistemology - the philosophical study of knowledge:

What is knowledge?

Can we have knowledge?

How do we get knowledge?

Metaphysics - the philosophical study of reality:

Ontology - What kinds of things actually exist?

Philosophy of Mind - What is the nature of consciousness?

Philosophy of Religion – What is the nature of God?

Axiology - the philosophical study of value:

Ethics - the philosophical study of morality:

What makes an action Right or Wrong?

Is morality relative?

What do the words 'right' and 'wrong' actually mean?

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 Political Theory - the philosophical study of justice

Aesthetics - the philosophical study of beauty:

Philosophy of Literature -

Philosophy of Art -

Philosophy of Music -

Logic - the philosophical study of reason and arguments

What is an argument?

What makes an argument work?

What makes an argument fail?

History of Philosophy – the philosophical examination of the development of ideas

People – what did philosophers of the past think about and why?

Ideas – how do ideas arise over time and influence the development of new ideas
in the future

1. THE BEGINNINGS OF PHILOSOPHY.—

The Greek historian Herodotus (484–424 B.C.)

appears to have been the first to use the verb
“to philosophize.” He makes Croesus tell Solon
how he has heard that he “from a desire of
knowledge has, philosophizing, journeyed
through many lands.” The word
“philosophizing” seems to indicate that Solon
pursued knowledge for its own sake, and was
what we call an investigator. As for the word
“philosopher” (etymologically, a lover of
wisdom), a certain somewhat unreliable
tradition traces it back to Pythagoras (about
582–500 B.C.). As told by Cicero, the story is
that, in a conversation with Leon, the ruler of
Phlius, in the Peloponnesus, he described
himself as a philosopher, and said that his

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business was an investigation into the nature of things.

At any rate, both the words “philosopher” and “philosophy” are freely used in the
writings of the disciples of Socrates (470–399 B.C.), and it is possible that he was
the first to make use of them. The seeming modesty of the title philosopher—for
etymologically it is a modest one, though it has managed to gather a very different
signification with the lapse of time—the modesty of the title would naturally appeal
to a man who claimed so much ignorance, as Socrates; and Plato represents him
as distinguishing between the lover of wisdom and the wise, on the ground that
God alone may be called wise. From that date to this the word “philosopher” has
remained with us, and it has meant many things to many men. But for centuries
the philosopher has not been simply the investigator, nor has he been simply the
lover of wisdom.

Students of the history of philosophy usually begin their studies with the
speculations of the Greek philosopher Thales (b. 624 B.C.). We are told that he
assumed water to be the universal principle out of which all things are made, and
that he maintained that “all things are full of gods.” We find that Anaximander,
the next in the list, assumed as the source out of which all things proceed and that
to which they all return “the infinite and indeterminate”; and that Anaximenes,
who was perhaps his pupil, took as his principle the all-embracing air.

2. The Greek Philosophy at its Height.

The next succeeding period sees certain

classes of questions emerge into prominence
which had attracted comparatively little
attention from the men of an earlier day.
Democritus of Abdera, to whom reference
has been made above, belongs chronologically
to this latter period, but his way of thinking
makes us class him with the earlier
philosophers. It was characteristic of these
latter that they assumed rather naïvely

The fifth century before Christ was, in Greece,

a time of intense intellectual ferment. One is
reminded, in reading of it, of the splendid
years of the Renaissance in Italy, of the
awakening of the human mind to a vigorous
life which cast off the bonds of tradition and insisted upon the right of free and
unfettered development. Athens was the center of this intellectual activity.

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 1. Philosophy in the Middle Ages.
The term “philosophy” came to be synonymous with knowledge attained by
the natural light of reason. This seems to imply some sort of a limitation to
the task of the philosopher. Philosophy is not synonymous with all
knowledge.

2. The Modern Philosophy.

The submission of men’s minds to the authority of Aristotle and of the church
gradually gave way. A revival of learning set in. Men turned first of all to a
more independent choice of authorities, and then rose to the conception of a
philosophy independent of authority, of a science based upon an observation
of nature, of a science at first hand. The special sciences came into being.

Bacon holds that philosophy has for its objects God, man, and nature, and he
regards it as within his province to treat of “philosophia prima” (a sort of
metaphysics, though he does not call it by this name), of logic, of physics and
astronomy, of anthropology, in which he includes psychology, of ethics, and
of politics. In short, he attempts to map out the whole field of human
knowledge, and to tell those who work in this corner of it or in that how they
should set about their task.

3. What Philosophy means in our Time

There are men living to-day to whom philosophy means little else than the
doctrine of Kant, or of Hegel, or of the brothers Caird, or of Herbert Spencer,
or even of St. Thomas Aquinas, for we must not forget that many of the
seminaries of learning in Europe and some in America still hold to the
mediaeval church philosophy.

The most notable ancient Greek Philosophers are the following:

1. Pythagoras (570 BCE to 495 BCE)

- A mathematician and scientist, he was credited with formulating the
Pythagorean Theorem.
2. Heraclitus (535 BCE to 475 BCE)
- He proposed that everything that exists is based on a higher order or plan
which he called logos.
3. Democritus (460 BCE to 370 BCE) - He devoted
himself to the study of the causes of natural phenomena.
4. Diogenes of Sinope (412 BCE to 323 BCE)
- He was a known advocate of living a simple and virtuous life.
5. Epicurus (341 BCE to 270 BCE)- He believed that philosophy could enable
man to live a life of happiness.
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6. Socrates (470 BCE to 399 BCE)- He was considered the foremost
philosophers of ancient times. He was credited with formulating the Socratic
method- means of examining a topic by devising a series of questions that let
the learner examine and analyze his knowledge and5views regarding the topic.
7. Plato (427 BCE to 347 BCE)- A student of Socrates, he wrote down his m
entor’steaching and incorporated some of his own ideas into them. Plato’s
most significant ideas
included his Theory of Forms, which proposes that everything that exist is ba
sed on an idea or template than can only be perceived in the mind. 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.
8. Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE)- He attended the Academy, and was the
prominent student of Plato. For him, all ideas and views are based on
perception and our reality is based on what we can sense and perceive. His
studies in logic led to the formulation of a formal process of analyzing
reasoning which give rise to deductive reasoning-the process by which specific
statements are analysed to reach a conclusion or generalization.

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Questions to Ponder

Self-Check 1.1-1
MY POINT OF VIEW

Direction: Identify the following person in the picture below.

Write your answer on the space provided below.

Do you know of some Greek Philosophers?

(Philosophers- are people who engage in philosophy.)

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 MODULE 1.2

The Difference between Holistic Perspectives from a Partial Point

of View

Learning Objective:

In order to achieve the objectives of this module, it is necessary to have

completed the entire module for you to understand the activities and discussions.

1. Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view

2. Realize the value of doing philosophy in obtaining a broad perspective
on life
3. Do a philosophical reflection on a concrete situation from a
holistic perspective

We have already discussed the meaning of Philosophy from our previous

lesson. Now, let us proceed to another topic.

 Holistic thinking. It refers to a perspective that considers large-scale patterns

in systems. A holistic perspective requires an individual to have an open mindset
and ability to get the general sense or impression regarding a situation.
 Partial thinking. It focuses on specific aspects of a situation. The partial view
is an important component of analytical thinking, as an individual focuses on
certain areas or aspects of a problem in order to understand it.

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HOLISTIC THINKING

The term "holistic thinking" refers to a big picture mentality in which a person
recognizes the interconnection of various elements that form larger systems, patterns and
objects. Thinking holistically is the opposite of analyzing something, which involves
breaking down a larger system into its details.

Holistic medicine is a prominent example of holistic thinking. A medical professional

whom believes in holistic care considers the relationship between
the mind, body and spirit. For example, holistic doctors don't just provide patients with
medications. Instead, they look at ways to improve life balance and eradicate health
problems from their root source, such as high stress or bad nutrition.

In philosophy, point of view describes the perception of an event or phenomenon and

how exactly it is viewed. Point of view often is shaped
by an individual's beliefs or experiences. Though partial thinking is useful, philosophy
utilizes holistic thinking in making sense of problems and issues related to the
human experience.

People tend to apply an analytical perspective when looking at problems or situations. A

holistic view gives rise to a more appreciative perspective about life, as we are able to
look at life in its totality.

TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINKING

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Holistic Perspective

The theory of holistic perspective describes different kinds of interactions, and important
aspects of how we as self-aware beings perceive reality. It is an ontological map.
Ontology is the philosophical study of the nature of existence and reality. Traditionally,
listed as a part of the major branch of philosophy known as metaphysics, ontology deals
with questions concerning what entities exist or can be said to exist, and how such entities
relate to each other.

Holistic Perspective

 Holism comes from the Greek word “holos," meaning literally everything, whole,
whole. Holism is a way of thought which preserves the interdependence of factors
with other causalities agencies. In other words, a certain structure or component
cannot alone determine the properties of a particular phänomen or system
(e.g., philosophical, biological, psychological, emotional, spiritual, social,
political, and linguistic). This type of system therefore aims, by analyzing
the behavior and operations of certain components, to define and describe any
or more of a certain system.

The theory of holistic perspective is designed to provide a framework for

understanding reality using the three concepts of:

1. Existence, immaterial as well as material existences

2. Interaction, reflexive and relativistic interactions

3. Interrelation, how we relate to ourselves, each other and all around us

It is an open and inclusive model, and in this sense, a theory of everything.

One of the key issues individuals face as they move into higher levels of responsibility is
recognizing the value and importance of holistic thinking.

These principles also apply to holistic thinking

Know your overall objective. Holistic thinkers constantly remind themselves of their
primary objective, or what specific result they are driving towards, which helps them to
focus and not get distracted by every tangential concern or issue. Rather, by thinking
holistically, bumps in the road are viewed more as learning opportunities and minor
setbacks rather than insurmountable challenges.

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Correctly frame the problem/challenge. Michael Watkins, a professor at IMD has
stated: “Many managers are promoted to senior levels on the strength of their ability to
fix problems. When they become enterprise leaders, however, they must focus less on
solving problems and more on defining which problems the organization should be
tackling.”

Learn to recognize patterns. Just as similar color puzzle pieces are likely to
interconnect in specific ways, so are people, processes and systems likely to affect one
another in certain ways that can be predicted once patterns are identified and
understood. Rather than treating every issue that pops up as a “one off” situation, holistic
thinkers have the ability to see the interdependencies, resulting patterns, and the
implications of those patterns on the overall objective.

Partial thinking

When ideas or opinions are rendered that have not been completely thought through.
The stance may change, reverse or stay the same depending on further thoughtfulness,
discussion and openness.
The idea that torture is a good way to find information is partial thinking. When including
the possibility of misinformation, moral degradation of torturer, inspiring others to be
terrorist, and plummeting opinion and respect for our country then on further inspection
it seems wrong.

Partial point of view

 A point of view is characterized in philosophy as a way or method of how the fact

or the situation is seen or interpreted. Therefore, if one speaks from a partial
perspective, he made it clear that the way he sees the reality or some phenomenon
depends on a single factor or causal agency. A partial view is then a view centered
on a single portion of an entire object.

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Questions to Ponder

Self-Check 1.2-1
MY POINT OF VIEW

Direction: Give a brief answer to the following question.

Write your answer on the space provided below.

1. Give a situation where you are adopted a holistic view in looking at a

problem or situation.

2. How can having a holistic view help us become better individuals?

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 MODULE 1.3

The Value of Doing Philosophy in Obtaining a Broad Perspective

on Life
Learning Objective: In order to achieve the objectives of this module, it is necessary
to have completed the entire module for you to understand the activities and discussions.

1. Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view

2. Realize the value of doing philosophy in obtaining a broad perspective on life
3. Do a philosophical reflection on a concrete situation from a holistic perspective

Why do we philosophize? We all have the potential to philosophize since we have the
tendency to wonder and doubt.

A philosopher is a good communicator who can clearly and adequately present his or her
ideas.

Doing philosophy can be applied in day-to-day activities and life perspectives.

Because it involves an evaluative process, doing philosophy allows a person to make
better decisions and act accordingly to situations with the help of various philosophical
skills. On life perspectives, philosophy enables reflective thinking, which greatly influences
a person’s view of life, challenges, and relationships.

In doing philosophy, a holistic perspective on the subject is always required. Failure to

do so or only using a partial point of view may lead to illogical or incorrect conclusions.

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.

French philosopher Rene Descartes traced the need to philosophize to doubt. 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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Swiss-German philosopher Karl Jaspers saw the need to philosophize because of
experience. These experiences limit situation, philosophy provides us a means to unders
understand adverse or challenging conditions, and to rise above them and gain new
knowledge and perspective.

The need to philosophize is driven by the love for wisdom. To love wisdom is to have an
insatiable desire for truth. Philosophy itself is a distinct area of knowledge with its own
goals, concerns, and ways of doing things.

Why Study Philosophy?

What is Philosophy, and Why Should I Study It?

“Philosophy” comes from Greek words meaning “love of wisdom.” Philosophy uses the
tools of logic and reason to analyze the ways in which humans experience the world. It
teaches critical thinking, close reading, clear writing, and logical analysis; it uses these to
understand the language we use to describe the world, and our place within it. Different
areas of philosophy are distinguished by the questions they ask. Do our senses accurately
describe reality? What makes wrong actions wrong? How should we live? These are

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philosophical questions, and philosophy teaches the ways in which we might begin to
answer them.

The Most Important Reason to Study Philosophy…

… Is that it will transform you? By

turning your mind to the
consideration of the most basic
questions concerning reality, human
existence, and God, you open
yourself to a world of possibilities for
understanding the world and our
place in it. By exercising your mind in
the disciplines of critical and logical
thought, you gain the ability to
imagine, debate, and clarify the
nature of the good life. Philosophy
encourages and empowers you to
discover what really is true and good,
and to distinguish it from what merely appears so. As Plato explained long ago, this
is liberating.

How we learn to think about ourselves and the world have the power to transform the
way we process our experiences, and consequently the way we will choose to live. The
study of Philosophy provides one with the intellectual tools necessary to evaluate different
possible life-choices so that one will be better prepared to find a meaningful direction for
one’s life.

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

– Lao Tzu

Plato likens the philosopher to the navigator on a ship. To the uninitiated observer, the
navigator appears to do nothing but stare upwards at the sky, doing none of the work
necessary to make the ship move. In fact, without the navigator the ship will have no
consistent direction. Just so, he thought, in determining the direction of one’s life,
philosophy can provide indispensable guidance.

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Four reasons why philosophy is as important now as ever before.

1. Philosophy is the foundation of critical thinking.

While society is very different today from when the founding figures of Western
philosophy were making their mark, the questions we face today are just as challenging.
Enter modern philosophy, which puts critical thinking and problem-solving at the forefront
in order to make sense of these weighty problems.

Writer Alexander Leivesley explains in the Huffington Post, “Philosophy is not obsolete.
Philosophy brings the important questions to the table and works towards an answer. It
encourages us to think critically about the world; it is the foundation of all knowledge and
when utilized properly, can provide us with huge benefits.”

2. Science can’t answer every question.

We lean very heavily on science today. And with good reason: Thanks to advancements
in science and technology, we live in a very different way to how we would without them.
From fridges for our food to airplanes for travel, there’s no denying that scientific
advancements are vital to our survival as a species.

But just because science is important, that does not negate the value of philosophy. In
fact, the two go hand in hand. “Science, I am sorry to say, does not have all the answers.
Just like every other field, it has its limits. We cannot derive everything from experience,
and philosophy is not dead….For example, science cannot determine human values.
Empiricism cannot determine why we ought to act morally, nor why we ought to value
human happiness over human misery. We cannot create an experiment that tests the
nature of Truth or the obtainability of knowledge,”

3. Ancient philosophers continue to influence humanity.

While Plato and Aristotle are often credited with shaping future civilizations, and their
influence is still felt today, Publishers Weekly insists, “The ancient Greek philosophers
Plato and Aristotle may seem like the quintessential Dead White Males, but in fact they
are very much alive. Twenty four centuries ago they laid the foundations of Western
culture, and their ideas and insights still dictate essential features of our world right now,
from what we eat to what we see on the internet.”

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Questions to Ponder

Self-Check 1.3-1
MY POINT OF VIEW

Direction: Give a brief answer to the following question. Write your

answer in space provided below.

1. How can a person benefit from philosophizing?

2. What are the reasons that compel a person to engage in philosophical

thinking?

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3. Have you ever had an experience where reflecting on your actions
benefitted you?

4. Has reflection ever helped you avoid making a bad decision?

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 MODULE 1.4

The Branches of Philosophy

Learning Objective: In order to achieve the objectives of this module, it is necessary
to have completed the entire module for you to understand the activities and discussions.

1. Distinguish the importance of each branches of philosophies

2. Realize the value of different branches of philosophies
3. Explain the importance of knowing the branches of philosophies

The Branches of Philosophy

The four main branches of philosophy are logic, epistemology, metaphysics,

and axiology:

2. Logic is the attempt to codify the rules of rational thought. Logicians

explore the structure of arguments that preserve truth or allow the
optimal extraction of knowledge from evidence. More formally, logic is
the study of the structure of arguments. Logic is one of the primary tools
philosophers use in their inquiries; the precision of logic helps
philosophers to cope with the subtlety of philosophical problems and the
often misleading nature of conversational language.
3. Epistemology is the study of knowledge itself. Epistemologists ask, for
instance, what criteria must be satisfied for something we believe to
count as something we know, and even what it means for a proposition
to be true. Two epistemological questions I discuss elsewhere on this
site are the question of how we can know the future will be like the past,
and the question of how we can be sure about anything at all.

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 4. Metaphysics is the study of the nature of things. Metaphysicians ask
what kinds of things exist, and what they are like. They reason about
such things as whether or not people have free will, in what sense
abstract objects can be said to exist, how it is that brains are able to
generate minds, and whether or not there is a god.
5. Axiology is an umbrella term for different studies that center upon the
nature of different types of value.6 these different studies include
aesthetics, which investigates the nature of such things as beauty and
art; social philosophy and political philosophy; and, most prominently,
ethics, which investigates both the nature of right and wrong and the
nature of good and evil. Ethics asks theoretical questions about the
foundations of morality, such as whether right and wrong should be
understood in a consequentialist or deontological way, but also asks
practical questions about the fine details of moral conduct, such as how
much moral consideration one ought to give to non-human animals and
how much one ought to give to the poor.

Many professional philosophers also double as historians, researching one or

another aspect of the history of philosophical thought. Even those who do not conduct
novel historical research typically study the texts of thinkers as far back as the ancient
Greeks for both philosophical insight and enjoyment. Arguably, history of philosophy is a
fifth branch of philosophy.

There also are many “little” branches of philosophy (some of them

truthfully quite huge) which address problems and questions that relate to other
specific disciplines. There are, for instance, philosophers of religion, philosophers of
psychology, philosophers of biology, and philosophers of physics.

As you can tell, the different branches of philosophy overlap one another. A philosopher
considering how much one ought to give to the poor is asking an ethical question.
However, his investigations might lead him to wonder whether or not standards of right
and wrong are built into the fabric of the universe—a metaphysical question. If he claims
that people are justified in taking a particular stance on that question, he is making an
epistemological claim. At every step in his reasoning, he will want to use logic to minimize
the chance of being led into error by the great complexity and obscurity of the questions.
He may very well look to some of the ethical, metaphysical, and epistemological writings
of past philosophers to see how his brightest predecessors reasoned about the matter.

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DOING PHILOSOPHY
Questions to Ponder

Self-Check 1.4-1
MY POINT OF VIEW

Direction: Write your answer on the space provided below.

1. List down instances in your life that you were able to engage in
philosophy.

2. How did philosophy help you address your situation?

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Questions to Ponder

Self-Check 1.4-1
ASSESSMENT

After our lesson, let us now check what you have learned.

Direction: encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. The word Philos is a Greek word means .
a. Love b. Wisdom c. Philosopher d. Philosophy
2. Sophia is a Greek word for .
a. Love b. Wisdom c. Philosopher d. Philosophy
3. The people who engages in philosophy are called .
a. Love b. wisdom c. Philosophy d. Philosopher
4. He was considered the foremost philosophers of ancient times. He was
credited with formulating the Socratic method .
a. Plato b. Aristotle c. Socrates d. Democritus
5. A student of Socrates, he wrote down his mentor’s teaching and
incorporated some of his own ideas into them included his Theory of
Forms .
a. Plato b. Aristotle c. Socrates d. Democritus
6. It refers to a perspective that considers large-scale patterns in systems .
a. Doubt b. Academy c. Holistic Thinking d. Partial
Thinking
7. It focuses on specific aspects of a situation, as an individual focuses on
certain areas or aspects of a problem in order to understand it.
a. Doubt b. Academy c. Holistic Thinking d. Partial
Thinking
8. It is the process by which specific statements are analyzed to reach a
conclusion or generalization.
a. Academy b. Deductive reasoning c. Holistic d. Partial
9. It requires a person to be willing to examine one’s thoughts, feelings,
and action and to learn more about one’s life and experiences.
a. Reflection b. Observation c. Knowledge d.
Doubts
10. The Greek term for philosophy, philosophia, means .
a. Holistic Thinking d. Partial Thinking c. Love of wisdom d. Knowledge

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