HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LEARN?

This icon indicates the specific objectives you need to attain at the end of
each lesson.

You will find this icon before engaging to the lesson. It tells you to
carefully study the concepts, principles, or processes discussed in the
text.

This icon signals a question or set of questions about the lesson. Write
your answers in the blank spaces provided. If you cannot answer the
questions, leave it blank.

This icon signals an activity you need to perform.

This icon introduces a list of important ideas to remember. Read it

carefully and keep it in mind.

You will find this icon at the end of every lesson. It signals a self-
assessment test. It determines how well you achieved the objectives set
in the module.

This icon tells you of an assignment you have to perform. The quality of
your output from this assignment will determine the degree of what you
learned from this module.
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY

CONTENT STANDARDS: The learner understands the meaning and process of

doing philosophy
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: The learner reflects on a concrete experience in a
philosophical way
LEARNING COMPETENCIES:
1.1.Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view
1.2 Realize the value of doing philosophy in obtaining a broad perspective
on life 1.3 Do a philosophical reflection on a concrete
situation from a holistic perspective

LESSON 1: The Meaning and Process of Doing Philosophy

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
A. Define Philosophy
B. Understand the process of doing Philosophy
C. Write a reflection on their personal philosophy

INTRODUCTION:
The term Philosophy comes from the Greek words philos (love) and
sophia (wisdom) which means “the love of wisdom.” Philosophy is the study or
discipline that uses human reason to investigate the ultimate causes, reasons,
and principles which govern all things. People who engage in philosophy are
called philosophers or lovers of wisdom.

Philosophy is also defined as the science that by natural light of reason

studies the first causes or highest principles 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 procedures. In other words, it is an
organized.

B. Natural light of reason. Philosophy investigates things, nor by using any

other laboratory instrument or investigative tool, neither on the basis of
INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 2
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

supernatural revelation, otherwise it becomes theology; instead, the

philosopher uses his natural capacity to think or simply, human reason alone or
so-called unaided reason.

C. Study of all things. This sets the distinction between philosophy from
other sciences. All other sciences concern themselves with a particular object of
investigation.

D. First Cause or Highest Principle. A principle is that from which

something proceeds in any manner whatsoever.

Pythagoras was said to have been the first man to call himself a philosopher; in
fact, the world is indebted to him for the word philosopher. It is said that when
Leon, the tyrant of Philius, asked him of who he was, he said, “a Philosopher”
and he likened the Philosopher to spectators at ancient games. Before that time
the wise men had called themselves a sage, which was interpreted to mean
those who know. Pythagoras was more modest. He coined the word philosopher,
which he defined as one who is attempting to find out. According to him, men
and women of the world could be classified into 3 groups: 1. those that love
pleasure; 2. those that love activity and 3. those that love wisdom.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 3
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

Common questions in philosophy:

(1) What is knowledge?
(2) what is the nature of the self?
(3) Does God exist?
(4) What is the standard of beauty?
(5) Is there a universal morality?

Nature of Philosophy

1. Philosophy is a set of views or beliefs about life and the universe, which
are often held uncritically. We refer to this meaning as the informal sense
of philosophy or “having” a philosophy. Usually when a person says “my
philosophy is,” he or she is referring to an informal personal attitude to
whatever topic is being discussed.

2. Philosophy is a process of reflecting on and criticizing our most deeply held

conceptions and beliefs. These two senses of philosophy— “having” and
“doing”— cannot be treated entirely independent of each other, for if we
did not have a philosophy in the formal, personal sense, then we could not
do a philosophy in the critical, reflective sense. Having a philosophy,
however, is not sufficient for doing philosophy. A genuine philosophical
attitude is searching and critical; it is open-minded and tolerant—willing to
look at all sides of an issue without prejudice. To philosophize is not merely
to read and know philosophy; there are skills of argumentation to be
mastered, techniques of analysis to be employed, and a body of material to
be appropriated such that we become able to think philosophically.
Philosophers are reflective and critical.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 4
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

3. Philosophy is a rational attempt to look at the world as a whole. Philosophy

seeks to combine the conclusions of the various sciences and human
experience into some kind of consistent world view. Philosophers wish to
see life, not with the specialized slant of the scientist or the businessperson
or the artist, but with the overall view of someone cognizant of life as a
totality.

4. Philosophy is the logical analysis of language and the clarification of the

meaning of words and concepts. Certainly this is one function of
philosophy. In fact, nearly all philosophers have used methods of analysis
and have sought to clarify the meaning of terms and the use of language.
Some philosophers see this as the main task of philosophy, and a few
claim this is the only legitimate function of philosophy.

5. Philosophy is a group of perennial problems that interest people and for

which philosophers always have sought answers. Philosophy presses its
inquiry into the deepest problems of human existence. Some of the
philosophical questions raised in the past have been answered in a manner
satisfactory to the majority of philosophers. Many questions, however,
have been answered only tentatively, and many problems remain
unsolved.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 5
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

CHECKPOINT 1

Why is it important to understand the nature of Philosophy? Explain and

elaborate. Express your answer on the space provided.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 6
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

Take time to read and understand the different branches of Philosophy.

BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY

1. METAPHYSICS
Metaphysics investigates the nature, structure and value of reality. Metaphysics
is the branch of philosophy that goes beyond the realms of science. It is concerned
with answering the questions about identity and the world. The name is derived
from the Greek words, Meta which means beyond or after, and Physika which
means physics. Aristotle, one of the most well-known philosophers, acknowledged
Thales as the first known meta physician. The main branches of metaphysics are
ontology, natural theology and universal science.

2. Epistemology literally means “science of knowledge.”

It deals with the definition of knowledge and its scope and limitations. It
translates from Greek to mean „theory of knowledge‟. It questions the meaning of

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 7
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

knowledge, how we obtain knowledge, how much do we know and how do we have
this knowledge? Some of the famous epistemologists are Descartes, Kant and Hume.

3. ETHICS
It is also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses
questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong,
virtue and vice, justice, etc. It is concerned with questions on morality and values
and how they apply to various situations. It can be divided into the branches of
meta-ethics, normative and applied ethics. Ethics seeks to understand the basis of
morals, how they develop and how they are and should be followed. Famous works
on ethics are by philosophers as early as Plato, Aristotle, Kant and Nietzsche.

4. AESTHETICS
Aesthetics is the branch of philosophy which is concerned with definition,
structure and role of beauty, especially in the art is called aesthetics.
The term “aesthetic” has been used to designate an experience, the quality of an
object, a feeling of pleasure, classicism in art, a judgment of taste, the capacity of
perception, a value, an attitude, the theory of art, the doctrine of beauty, a state of
the spirit, contemplative receptivity, an emotion, an intention, a way of life, the
faculty of sensibility, a branch of philosophy, a type of subjectivity, the merit of
certain forms, or an act of expression.

5. Social & Political Philosophy

Social philosophy is the study of society and its institutions. The key question is
what are the features of the ideal or best society?
Political philosophy focuses on one institution: the state, and seeks to determine
its justification and proper organization. It looks at concepts such as freedom, justice,
and rights. Key questions include: Is democracy the best form of government? How
can we balance rights and responsibilities?

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 8
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

6. LOGIC
It is the system or principles of reasoning applicable to any branch of knowledge
or study. Among the branches of philosophy, logic is concerned with the various
forms of reasoning and arriving at genuine conclusions. It includes the system of
statements and arguments. It is now divided into mathematical logic and
philosophical logic. It tries to avoid the imaginary or assumptions without real logical
proof.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 9
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

“Doing Philosophy” means to ask questions, to reflect, and to formulate and

evaluate arguments. In the process, doing philosophy helps one to develop the skill of
broadly looking at the situation first before concluding anything

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

perspectives. It involves a evaluative process, as it allows a person to make better
decisions and act accordingly with the help of various philosophical skills. Furthermore,
on life perspectives, philosophy enables reflective thinking which greatly influences a
person‟s view of life, challenges, and relationships. Doing philosophy directs how a
person will perceive these factors in life andhow they will be faced.

In making decisions we must think with reason or philosophize to avoid

unwanted consequences. Complete the table below by providing for the
considerations you have to take before an action.

ACTIONS WHAT MUST BE CONSIDERED BEFORE

TAKING THE ACTION?

1. Buying Gadgets

2. Shopping in the mall

3. Playing computer games

4. Choosing friends

5. Drinking Alcohol

6. Going to class late

7. Spending money

8.Posting your opinion or feelings in the

social media

9.Going out with the opposite sex

10. Confronting a person who verbally

hurt you

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 10
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

CHECKPOINT 2

Answer the following questions. Express your answers on the space provided.
1. What is your personal philosophy in life?

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

2. Does your philosophy help you in making good decisions in your life?

_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

3. What have you realized about the importance of doing philosophy?

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 11
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

What can you say about the quotation below? Do you agree with this?
Explain and elaborate your answer.

“
“

_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Research and complete the graphic organizer stating the three characteristics
of a philosophical question. Explain each.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 12
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

Self Assessment Check:

ESSAY: What is the relevance of applying philosophy in your life? Express

your answer on the space provided.

Resources:
https://www.evphil.com/philosophy-101.html
http://mdaphiloanthro.blogspot.com/p/lesson-1.html
Introduction to the Philosophy of the human person, Sioco,et al (2016)
http://www.philosophy.vvrias.com/About-Philosophy

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 13
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

LESSON 2: Holistic and Partial points of view

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
A. Define Holistic and partial points of view
B. Distinguish Holistic from partial points of view
C. Make a philosophical reflection on a concrete situation from a holistic
perspective

INTRODUCTION:

In the process of doing philosophy, it is critical to have a holistic point of

view—the perception of looking at all aspects of a situation first before making
a conclusion. Some other skills involved in doing philosophy are critical, logical
and analytical thinking, observation, and communication skills. Before engaging
in philosophical inquiry, one must be able to distinguish between a holistic and
partial point of view. This is critical for anyone doing philosophy because it sets
a limit in coming up with conclusions about a given situation.

“ , ,
. –( . . )

 Looks at all aspects of the given problem  Looks at only a limited number of aspects
or situation of the given problem or situation
 All aspects are given importance when  Conclusions are made based on
making conclusions considering some, but not all side of the
 All aspects are tied in together to form a problem or situation
general overview
Example: A teacher listens first to both stories of Example: A teacher scolds student A after student
her two arguing students before making any B accused him of stealing her pencil case.
conclusion about the issue However, the teacher only listened to the story of
student B and not to student A, before deciding to
scold the student.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 14
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

CHECKPOINT 3
1. Looking at the characteristics of Holistic and partial points of view, what can
you conclude?

_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

In philosophy, a point of view is defined as a way or a method how one

sees or perceives the reality or a phenomenon. Therefore, when one says a
partial point of view, he has clearly stated and admitted that the way he sees
reality or certain phenomenon is based on a single factor or casual agency. A
partial point of view then is a perspective that is based one of the components
part of a whole. On the other hand, a holistic view is having a view where we
understand both the whole and the parts of something, and, we understand
how the parts, when brought together, make up the whole. When you have the
whole picture of something, you have many perspectives (these are the parts of
the whole).

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 15
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

Observe the photo below. How would you explain it based on a partial
point of view and holistic point of view? Express your answers on the
space provided.

Holistic point of view Partial point of view

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 16
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

Self Assessment Check:

REFLECTION QUESTION:
Reflect on the quotation from Waismann "philosophy is vision"
what, to you is philosophy? is this question different if i ask you, what is your
philosophy in life?
Write your answers on the space provided.

Resources:
https://philonotes.com/index.php/2017/12/24/doing-philosophy/
http://www.iep.utm.edu/marcel/

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 17
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Basic Education Department
Junior and Senior High School

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
This acknowledges that

has successfully completed the first module for the subject

“Introduction to the Philosophy of Human Person”

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

MODULE 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Page 18