3.

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Week 1

Day 1

Lesson 1: What is Philosophy

It is important that we know the definition of words. This is for us to better

understand whatever topic we are discussing.

First and foremost in our lesson today, under this subject, let us find out the
meaning and origin of the word "Philosophy" Where did the word
philosophy come from?

• Etymology (origin) of Philosophy

The word philosophy comes from two Greek words; philos and
sophia

philos; means love

sophia; means wisdom

putting them together, this will give us

Philos + sophia=Love for wisdom

The resultant word was soon applied to a science which was later
on called Philosophy.

So how do we define Philosophy?

 • Definition of Philosophy

Philosophy- is a science or discipline which uses human reason to

investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and principles that govern all
thing.

• But Where and When did Philosophy Originate?

It began in Greece, a country in Southern Europe as you can see in the map
above.
1. Philosophy began since ancient times and people of that era have been
thinking and discussing various issues related to philosophy.
 The symbols that you see in the picture below are symbols representing
different beliefs and Philosophies in the East.

3. In 2000 BCE - Asian communities already have many ideas and belief
systems which is categorized as Eastern philosophy

Now that we know the origin and definition of Philosophy, let us trace
back its development from its early beginning to what it is now at present.
The Developments That Brought the Emergence of Western
Philosophy
First, let us ask what is Western Philosophy? What is it concerned about?

1. It is primarily concerned with uncovering the truth through

systematic argumentation and theory

2. It puts greater emphasis on the use of reason rather than

faith

3. It follows a more scientific, theory-based approach

4. It has an increased focus on man as an individual 5. It is a

more individualistic, self-oriented approach in analyzing

the human condition

• Why are Greeks considered lovers of wisdom?

1. Greece was home to one of the great civilization during the ancient
period

2. The most notable characteristic of the ancient civilizations is

their love for learning.

3. For a Greek to be called wise, he must know a lot of things from many
subject matters.

1. Sophists 2. Philosophos

What are Sophists?

1. They are treated as an important group of people in ancient

Greece.

2. They are excellent public speakers

3. They train their students to win each and every argument they

are in.

4. • Some Notable Sophists are;

Protagoras - He is considered by Plato as the number one Sophist, and Plato

credits him to be the Father of the professional sophists
Thrasymachus he is considered as the only real opposition to Socrates

Gorgias - a Sicilian philosopher, orator, and rhetorician, and one of the

founders of Sophism

• Let us get to know Some Famous Philosophers.

 5.Socrates (470BCE-399 BCE)
Considered the foremost philosopher of ancient times. He made great
contributions to the field of ethics. He. believed that philosophy could enable
man to live a life of virtue. He is the father of the Socratic Method, a way of
examining a topic by devising a series of questions that let the learner
examine and analyze his knowledge and views regarding the topic
 Plato - (427 BCE to 347 BCE)
He is a student of Socrates who jots down his teacher’s lectures and puts his
own idea into them His teachings and writing are considered to be the
foundation of Western Philosophy. His most significant work is his Theory of
Forms, which proposes that everything that exists based on an idea or
template that can only be perceived in the mind.
He focused and proposed his ideas on the ideal society and an ideal model
of government ruled by wisdom and reason
He is known for his dialectic – a method of questioning where two
opposing ideas are discussed in an attempt to arrive at a piece of new
knowledge. He is the founder of the Academy- an institution of higher
learning, the first of its kind in the West

Aristotle (384 BCE-322 BCE)

A prominent student of Plato; He attended the Academy disagreed with
Plato’s theory of forms and have a different view of interpreting reality. He
believed that reality is based on perception and reality is based on what we
can perceive and experience. He is involved in a lot of disciplines like
zoology, psychology, ethics, and politics. His ideas gave rise to deductive
reasoning – a process by which specific statements are analyzed to reach a
conclusion or generalization
 • What are Philosophos?

1. Philosophos - (“Lovers of wisdom”) group of ancient

Greeks who disagreed with the methods of Sophists.

2. The pioneers of today’s philosophers

• What are the beliefs of the Philosophos?

Philosophos believe that…

a. To be considered “learned” one must know the way of seeking the

TRUTH not by just winning arguments

b. A man need not know all things in the world

c. Arguments and discussions must be based on sound reasoning.

d. Man must continue to seek; to understand, and learn about the human
condition

6. Other Notable Greek Philosophers

 Heraclitus (535 BCE to 475 BCE)
Proposed that everything that exists is based on a higher-order or plane called
logos. For him, change is a permanent aspect of the human condition.

Pythagoras (570 BCE to 495 BCE) a mathematician and scientist

famous for his formula Pythagorean Theorem. He attracted many followers
who were devoted to the study of religion and philosophy
 Democritus (460 BCE to 370 BCE) devoted himself to
the study of the causes of natural phenomena. He was among the first to
propose that matter is composed of tiny particle called atoms .
 Diogenes of Sinope (412 BCE to 323 BCE) a
known advocate of a simple and virtuous life. He states that virtue should
be put into action and not only spoken in words He exercised simplicity
and austerity into an extreme that he lived his life like a beggar. A known
vocal critic of Plato and Aristotle. His teachings influenced the
development of several schools of thought of Philosophy such as stoicism
and
cynicism

Epicurus (341 BCE to 270 BCE)

Believed that Philosophy could enable man to live a life of happiness. He
gave rise to Epicureanism that believes that wisdom and simple living will
result in a life free from fear and pain
 7. Archimedes ( 287 BCE to 212 BCE)
Considered as a leading scientist during ancient times A mathematician,
physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. His ideas gave rise to modern
calculus. initiated the use of mathematics to analyze natural
phenomena invented the Archimedes screw, a devise for raising water and a
method for determining volume using displacement
 end of day 1

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books

Abella, Roberto D. 2016, Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

 8. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human
Person
Week 1

Day 2

Lesson 1.2 - The Developments of Western and Eastern Philosophy

How Did Western Philosophy Develop Into Modern Science?

The science and discipline of Philosophy is primarily a product of

developments and changes in the Western world. From the early
developments in ancient Greece, various historical developments in Europe
and the Western world led to the gradual shaping of Western Philosophy
from an ancient discourse into a modern science.

The development of Philosophy is explained by the emergence of

various schools of thought in various periods of history as shown by the
succeeding illustrations.

Legend:
Historical Period - refers to the time in history when it happened

School of Thought - refers to the philosophy/ies proliferating at the time Main

Features /Belief - refers to the teachings of the philosophy, or

what it is about

Notable Philosophers - refers to the founding and upholding philosophers of the

theory.
 Historical Period: Ancient Rome (1st-Century BCE-5th Century CE)
School of Thought: Stoicism
Main Features / Belief: Emphasis on morality, virtue, calm, and emotional
fortitude
Notable Philosophers: Seneca, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius
 Historical Period: Medieval Period(5th -15th centuries)
School of Thought: Scholasticism
Main Features / Belief: Application of philosophy to define and explain
religious doctrines
Notable Philosophers: St. Thomas Aquinas; St. Augustine

Historical Period: Renaissance(14th-17th centuries)

School of Thought: Humanism
Main Features / Belief: Emphasis on the human person; use of philosophy
to understand society, nature, and humanity
Notable Philosophers: Petrarch, Desiderius Erasmus, Niccolo Machiavelli,
Francois Rabalais
 Historical Period: The Enlightenment(17th- 18th centuries)
School of
Main Features / Belief Notable Philosophers
Thought

- Reason and logic

*Rene Descartes
considered the basis of
knowledge and belief; *Immanuel Kant
- man has innate knowledge *Gottfried Leibniz
Rationalism that can be accessed through
intuition or deduction

- Knowledge is gained through *David Hume

the senses and experience;
*Francis Bacon

*John Locke
Empiricism - reliance on inductive reasoning to
arrive at generalizations

*Voltaire

*Jean
Jacques Rousseau
Social and Discussion on the ideal human
Political situation and society; emphasis on *Thomas Hobbes
Philosophy individual rights and liberties *John Stuart Mill

Historical Period: Modern Period (19th-20th centuries)

School of Notable
Main Features / Belief
Thought Philosophers
*Soren Kierkgaard
 *Friedrich Nietzsche

*Martin Heidegger

Human *Jean Paul Sartre

experience is
Existentia defined by the *Simone de Beauvoir
lism views, emotions,
and actions of the
individual

Pragmati
sm
Emphasis on the *Charles Pierce
practical use of
knowledge and *William James
ideas *John Dewey
 Experience is
studied based on
Phenome the subjective Edmund Husserl
nology viewpoint of the
individual

Absurdis
m

Man will never

understand human Albert Camus
condition and the
meaning of life

*Postmod Analysis of how *Jacques Derrida

ernism knowledge, ideas,
*Michel Foucault
*Poststru and power
cturalism relations are
defined
That was an encapsulated view of the development of Western Philosophy.
The Philosophies that were introduced to you in the matrices will be further
discussed in our future lessons.

Now let us proceed to study the development of Eastern Philosophy

9. EASTERN PHILOSOPHY
What Developments and Characteristics Define Eastern Philosophy?

As the ancient Greeks were laying down the foundation of Western

philosophy in Europe, several belief systems and philosophies were already
prevalent in many communities in Asia.

Eastern Philosophy is made up of schools of thought which are often

closely tied with religious beliefs.

We should understand that Eastern philosophies are often

described as :

• “wisdom” literature, where stories, sayings, and texts encourage people

to adopt an ethical and harmonious way of life
• There is great emphasis on social relations
• The family and community are considered an important aspect of life
 • The philosophy is to achieve a balanced life and find one’s role in
society
• Is divided into two classifications;
a. theistic philosophy (belief in a supreme being or
deities)

b. non-theistic philosophy

Let us begin exploring the religion of the Jews, Judaism.

Historical Period: 2000 BCE

School of
Thought
Proponents,
Belief System Main Features/Belief Major Texts

(Region/Area)
 Belief in one God
(Monotheism), who has a role in the Abraham, Moses,
ultimate destiny of mankind; the various prophets
Jewish people are God’s chosen
people
Judaism

(Israel, the
Levant) The observance of God’s Tanakh, Torah,
commandments will result in rewards. and various
scriptures
A deeper study and understanding of
God’s laws a revealed in the sacred
scriptures will lead to wisdom

Next in our study is Hinduism.

1500 BCE
 School

of Thought,
Main Proponents,
Belief System
Features/Belief Major Texts
(Region/Area)
Belief in the pantheon of gods

With three main gods- Brahma, Vishnu,

Shiva
Hinduism

(India, South The Vedas

Belief in samsara - a cycle of birth and
Asia) rebirth, which is broken when a person
achieves moksha - ultimate union with the
Divine
 Let's talk about Shintoism now

Emphasis on dharma- the fulfillment of

duties and behavior in accordance with the
established order in the world; individual
actions contribute to either good or bad
effect (karma) in a person’s life
School of
Thought

Belief System Main Features/Belief Proponents,

Major Texts
(Region/Area)
Shinto An animistic religion influenced by No distinct
Japanese myth and traditions philosophers or
(Japan) sacred texts
 10. 600 BCE

The material and spiritual worlds are

closely connected: rituals and
traditions are a way to connect with the
spiritual world

Mankind and the world are essentially

good and pure

Harmony and balance are important in

maintaining purity
 School

of Thought,

Main Features/Belief Proponents,

Belief System
Major Texts
(Region/Area)
Jainism Mahavira
Rejects the idea of a Creator and consider
(India) the universe as eternal and unceasing; time

600-500 BCE
is a wheel which goes through the cycle of
Jain Agamas
prosperity and suffering

Wisdom is developed through the practice

of the Five Main Vows;

Ahimsa-non violence

Satya- truth

Asteya-honesty

Brahmacarya-chastity

Aparigraha- piety

Meditation, discipline, and respect for all

life are emphasized.
 400 BCE

School

of Thought, Proponents,

Belief System Main Features/Belief Major Texts

(Region/Area)
Shares a number of main beliefs
(samsara, dharma, moksha) with
Hinduism

Buddhism
Siddhartha
(South Asia, The Four Noble Truth describes worldly Gautama
existence as imperfect and influenced by (Buddha)
East Asia, earthly desires and suffering (dukkha);
Tripitaka
Southeast Aia) To rid oneself of desire and achieve
liberation from suffering, one must follow
the Eight Fold Path

Divided into two major branches;

Theravada Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism
 The contemplation of the order of things can
lead to self-transformation. Confucius

Confucianism

(East Asia) Self-transformation can lead to the

betterment of the family and society
The Five
Classics

400 BCE
School

of Thought, Proponents,

Belief System Main Features/Belief Major Texts

(Region/Area)
 Human relationship is based on mutual
Taoism obligations; individuals should perform their Lao Tzu
Emphasisroles
intended on the
andunity and harmony
contribute among
to social order
opposing elements (yin and yang);
(East Asia) Individuals must seek to understand and act in
accordance with the natural order
I -ching

11. 200 BCE

School
Proponents,
of
Thoug Main Major Texts
ht, Features/Belief

Belief
Syste
m

(Regio
n/
Area)

Tao te

Ching and

Zhuangzi

12. 610 CE
School

of Thought,
Proponents,
Belief System Main Features/Belief
Major Texts
(Region/Area)
 Belief in one God (Allah)

Commitment to the faith is shown through the Muhammad

practice of the Five Pillars;
Islam
Testament of faith (shahada), daily prayers
(West Asia)
(salat), alms-giving (zakat), fasting during the Quran
month of Ramadan (sawm), and pilgrimage to
the holy city of Mecca (hajj ).

Religion and society are closely intertwined;

all members are members of a community
(ummah ) bounded by faith

Divided into two major branches;

Sunni Islam

Shia Islam
God is believed to have created the universe Guru Nanak
Sikhism and is present everywhere and in everything.

(India) Guru Granth

Sahib
 13. 1440 CE
School

of Thought, Proponents,
Main Features/Belief
Belief System Major Texts

(Region/Area)

Man communicates with God through

meditation, and his ultimate destiny is union
with the Divine

Apart from meditation, believers must

devote themselves to selfless service and
action
At this point in our, lesson, you might have noticed the difference between Western and Eastern
Philosophy.

end of Day 2
 14. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
Week 1

Day 3
How do we characterize the Study of Philosophy?

As a field of study, Philosophy has its own distinct Characteristics:

1. Philosophy Is a way of analyzing frameworks.

What is a framework?

A framework of a house

Framework – Just as a house's framework is made up of scaffoldings, a

mental framework is made up of thoughts and ideas about the world
and is composed of the views and beliefs of a person.
Whenever a person faces a problem or a question in life, he/she often
goes back to his/her own framework in order to understand the
problem. He/she does self-examination.
There are two kinds of self-examination:
 a. internal questioning – that which can be
answered using our own personal frameworks

b. external questioning – that which seeks to question

the very framework wherein people base their own beliefs

and views.
2. Philosophy is an examination of a particular area of knowledge

Questioning and examination are the central focus of Philosophy. This

is often applied in the analysis of the frameworks of other areas or
sciences. This is a way of examining their fundamental purposes and
then evaluating the changes that occurred afterward.

Examples:
• Philosophy of science – tries to understand the fundamental principles
that guide scientific thought
• Philosophy of religion – examines the basic tenets of any faith
• Philosophy of Education, Philosophy of law, philosophy of history,
etc.

Every aspect of knowledge can benefit from the inquiring nature of

Philosophy
3. Philosophy is a distinct area of knowledge with its own goals, concerns,
and ways of doing things.

As a particular area of knowledge, it is subdivided into several branches

such as;
• Philosophy of the Human Person – looks into the nature of man
• Aesthetic Logic – deals with beauty and what makes things “beautiful”
• Logic – deals with correct reasoning
• Epistemology – discusses the nature of knowledge and knowing
• Ethics – deals with moral questions and dilemmas
 • Political Philosophy – studies government and deals
with questions of justice, power and the rights and obligations of
citizens • Metaphysics – deals with the question of reality and existence

4. Philosophy is a reflective and meditative activity.

5. Philosophy is a method of mental exercise on any type of experience.

Why Is there a need for man to philosophize?

1. Each of us is a philosopher, whether or not we have studied Philosophy as a

science

2. Because of man’s sense of wonder – (Socrates)

"Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder

Socrates

• We always wonder when we are confronted with an experience, how it

came about.
• Man’s curiosity prompts him to ask questions, though some have no
definite answers like; Where did we come from?

Why do we exist?
Why were we created?
 3. Because of doubt – Rene Descartes (French Philosopher)

Rene Descartes
(French philosopher mathematician, and scientist .)

Descartes questioned and rejected old ideas and even came to appoint where
he doubted his very own ideas.
His method of examining ideas and perspectives became the basis of critical
thinking and analysis in the sciences.
In the sciences, before something is accepted as truth, it must have gone
through thorough verification. Since life is filled with many ideas and
arguments that all seem to be true, we need a critical and questioning attitude
in order to determine whether it is true.
4. Because of Experience

Karl Jaspers a Swiss-German philosopher

Karl Jaspers, believed that man is often confronted by experiences

which put a challenge to his ideas and framework and called these ideas as
limit situations.
 Limit situations are often accompanied by feelings of
helplessness, anxiety or dread.
According to Jaspers, "philosophy provides us a means to understand adverse
or challenging situations, and to overcome them and gain new perspective
and knowledge."

5. Because of the need for the love of wisdom.

“I know that I do not know”.

“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
15. - Socrates

To love wisdom Is to have an insatiable desire for truth.

A philosopher is not satisfied by finding an answer to a question.

He continues to question, to probe, to discuss, in order to arrive at the bottom

of things.
 It is in accepting a state of ignorance that one can begin to
understand.
By expanding our knowledge through philosophy, we begin to realize that
learning is unceasing, that there is a lot more to learn and experience.
And there is no better way to begin with philosophy, than in and
examination of our own life.

16. End of Day 3

 Philosophy of TheHuman Person
Lesson2
Week 2
Day 1

Doing Philosophy

What Are Some of the Major Questions That Philosophers Ponder

Upon?

In the course of their studies and inquiries, philosophers touch upon many
subjects and concerns. There are a number of problems or questions that are
to be considered exclusively under the domain of Philosophy.

These major concerns are:

1.Reality

2.Certainty
 3.Causality

4. Ethics (moral values, principles, codes

The first major question that philosophers look into is the... question of
reality
 Of Reality

1.REALITY - refers to the state of existence of things, independent of human

consciousness. (includes things your mind cannot conceive)
In the broadest sense, reality includes things that we…
 SEE

SMELL

TASTE
FEEL
REALITY – also includes things your mind cannot conceive REALITY
also includes things that already existed, things that presently exist, and things
that are yet to exist.
Philosophers have attempted to classify reality into various categories and
have come up with the...

Let us define these classifications.

The branches of Philosophy that address questions regarding reality are;
 A branch of philosophy
that addresses
questions about reality.

The study about the classification

of existing things

The things discussed under Reality are :

How did the Universe come to be?
The question of CERTAINTY - it is the perfect knowledge that is free from
error or doubt.

CERTAINTY seeks to find the TRUTH

Many philosophers believe that it is impossible to be perfectly certain
about existence and the human condition.
 Although we cannot be perfectly certain about all things, philosophers use
methods and approaches to reach conclusions with a certain degree of
certainty or truth in them.

CERTAINTY study the concept of KNOWLEDGE (the

means by which man is able to know)

Theories About Knowledge

1. Rationalism (priori knowledge)- based on pure reasoning

without the benefit of experience

2. Empiricism - (posteriori knowledge) knowledge gained from

experience

3. Skepticism - questions the certainty of established doctrines or

truths and believes that the mind has limits in perceiving and
understanding reality-all knowledge is uncertain
 What is Causality? The question of
Causality focuses on the causes of events or phenomena.

Some of the questions tackled in under causality are; What is

the ultimate cause of all things?
What is our purpose in this world?

To what extent are our choices and actions considered free?

Causality - questions the origin of things

Causality- questions the purpose, goal, function of things

A things purpose is considered its final or Ultimate Cause

In analyzing the cause of human actions and events, philosophers are able
to determine the factors and motivations behind them.

There are concepts that are an integral part of causality, these are;
Etiology - branch of Philosophy that studies causality

“What’s causing this tooth ache”

Teleology - branch of Philosophy that deals with the question of purpose

“What’s the purpose of
this tooth ache”
 1. Systematic Doubt

2.Argument 3.Dialectic 4.Socratic Method 5.Axioms 6.Occam’s Razor

7.Formal Logic 8.Thought Experiment and Allegory

Philosophical inquiry takes various forms and employs many methods

depending on the topic of inquiry and even the perspective or school of
philosophy involved.

1. Systematic Doubt -
 a skeptical attitude employed
by
philosophers in looking at ideas, events, or things. Each aspect of the topic is
analyzed to determine its truthfulness or validity.

2. Argument -

Philosophers engage in discussion and

debate on their ideas. Various ideas and perspectives on a topic are taken into
consideration and examined.

3. Dialectic -
 Varied and
differing ideas and
perspective are analyzed and from the information gathered, new ideas and
views are formulated

4. Socratic Method -

a method of analyzing a topic by

formulating a series of questions designed to analyze its various aspects, and
examine and clarify a person's views on it

5. Axioms - refers to assumptions that are taken for granted in a

philosophical discussion. Axioms provide a foundation and
direction in philosophical studies.
 An example is the view that "existence exists. In
discussing reality, we must accept that everything exists and that we
are capable of perceiving reality

6. Occam’s Razor

a problem-solving device used in analyzing

possible explanations the one which has the least assumptions is the most
acceptable

7. Formal Logic

is a systematic analysis of the validity of

arguments presented as a series of related statements. Logic often entails
syllogisms. other types of logic employ symbols, mathematic, and language
analysis techniques in their analysis.
 8. Thought Experiment and Allegory are imagined
scenarios used to illustrate a certain problem or describe a theory.

Some famous thought experiments are;

• Avicenna's "Floating Man"

Discusses the relation between perception

and the human mind

• The Ship of Theseus

Illustrates problem with the

concept of an object's identity
 • Prisoner's Dilemma

Explores how an individual's

objectives and motivations affect his willingness to cooperate.

• Allegory of the Cave

Used by Plato to describe his Theory

of Forms and his ideas on how our perception affects knowledge.
 END OF DAY 1; LESSON 2; WEEK 2

REFERENCES

Books
 Philosophy of The Human Person
Lesson 2
Week 2
Day 2

At the end of the lesson the student will be able to:

1. define the role of philosophy in determining truth or knowledge
2. discuss the philosophical bases of determining truth
 3. identify and discuss the theories on knowledge
and relate them to the problem f determining the truth
4. describe how the theories on knowledge can be applied in actual
situations
5. discuss how knowledge of fallacies and bias can help determine
truth
6. determine false and untrue statements using the theories on
knowledge

How do we use
Philosophy to figure out what is trffigure
out what is true?

Its common knowledge that in

today’s society, various information abounds. Not all of this information
 is pertinent to us. There are some that mislead us and
many is outright full of falsehood. Often, this false information brings
negative effect to our lives.

Take the case of claims about miracle drugs which were proven to
be a scam yet taken seriously by some people afflicted with life
threatening illnesses. They easily fall prey to this ploy only to find out
later that they were victimized by false advertisement.

Just recently, a high official of Rappler – an on line new agency -

was sued for coming out in the internet with fake news about a business
personality and eventually lost the case.

Everyday, we are confronted, with news, claims and announcements

from our peers, family members, figures of authority, government and
media. How do we know that what they are telling us is true?

Philosophers often grapple with the concept of truth. At the heart of

any inquiry, there lies the truth. To gain validity and acceptance,
knowledge must be truthful. But among philosophers, the concept of truth
remains controversial and a much discussed topic.

In Philosophy, what is true or even the definition of truth is a tricky

idea. But in knowing the truth, there are various views available which can
 help us tackle the concepts of knowing and truth and
arrive at a reasonable assessment if a statement, idea, or event is
believable.
These are:
1. Justification Theory
2. Correspondence Theory
3. Coherence Theory
4. Relativism Theory
5. Constructivist Theory
6. Consensus Theory
7. Pragmatic Theory

The Concepts About Truth Explained

 1. Justification Theory - something is true because you
believe it to be true and there is justification for it to be true

A belief may be justified by:

a. using ones’ perception and senses
b. using reason
c. appealing to authority
2. Correspondence Theory - something is true if it corresponds to reality
or existing conditions, or situations

Example.

a. The sun rises in the east and sets in the

west.

(TRUE)
 b. A tree is a living thing that has roots, a trunk and
leaves attached to its branches. (TRUE)

c. Cats barks. (FALSE) because in reality dogs bark and cats meows.

Whenever we look up the meaning of a word in the dictionary, we

accept these definitions because of correspondence. The
definitions/concepts given to us corresponds to what they are in real life.

3. Coherence* Theory – states that something is true if it makes sense

when placed in a certain situation or context (analyzed from where the
idea was based/come from ).

Based on this theory, there is a possibility that there will be varied

“truths” from different perspectives.

An idea or statement is true because it makes sense in its own

context, and has a certain
degree of consistency which makes it truthful

Example.
 a. Muslim belief that certain animals like pigs are
unclean.

For Muslims this fact prevents them from eating pork and
other types of food made from unclean animals.
The belief that eating pork will make them unclean makes
sense in the context of Islamic faith.
However, non-Muslims do not share this belief and therefore
they eat pork (for them pork is not unclean)

b. In the fields of Law and Politics, coherence and

consistency are also important.

Laws only make sense if they conform to previous laws and to a set
of general principles like justice, liberty and democracy.
Within a democratic society, only democratic laws and
practices are accepted to be true.
 Many citizens will oppose a law that is
conflicting to democratic ideals and deem it unacceptable if ever a
democratic government tries to impose one.

4. Relativism Theory - contends that there are no absolute* truths. An idea

or principle is only true within a particular context and therefore it is
possible for other truths to exist in another contexts or situations.
*pure; perfect; fixed

Example:

Hitting children in some cultures is considered moral as a legitimate

method of education, while
inothers, it is considered as child abuse, hence
immoral.

However;
Moral Relativism states there is no absolute
set of moral rules
that we can rely on to determine which of
these
practices is right or wrong.
 5. The Constructivist Theory - embraces that
knowledge (karunungan) is shaped by social forces and influenced by
society and culture.

It also believes that knowledge is gained thru social experience and

requires interaction and collaboration

It also suggests that if influenced by history and social struggle, there

is a possibility for truth and knowledge to change .

Example: Marriage

Different societies have differing notions about it. To some

societies, marriage is not just a union of individuals but a merging of
families.
It is considered a highly important social institution and is reflected
in their laws and tradition. In the Philippine society for instance family is
considered a the “foundation of the nation”
There have been strong advocacy among some lawmakers to allow
divorce in the country but still many are resistant to legitimate this means
of ending marriage.
However in the West, marriage can be nullified through some lawful
means.
6. Consensus Theory - views knowledge as based on agreement, and
that something is true if almost everyone agrees that it is true.
Example:
Beliefs, traditions and practices are products of consensus as they
may be imposed by influential groups or institutions such as
government or religious organizations.

7. The Pragmatic Theory - something is true if we put it into practice

or is useful in real life. - believes that ideas should be continually
tested to confirm their validity.
- Is related to verificationism stating that
ideas must be verified using the senses or
experiences Example 7.1:

Experiments done to test hypotheses, or confirm conclusions is a

pragmatic approach to determine the truth.

Example 7.2:
 Pragmatic theory was used in the study of yellow fever during the
late 19th century. This disease was first thought to be transmitted
through the air. This idea wa refuted by Dr.
Carlos Finlay, a Cuban doctor in 1886.

Let’s watch the video on the case of Dr.

Carlos Finlay regarding yellow fever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=fPszMO0
HSQ8

The theories on knowledge provide us various

perspectives in analyzing truth.

Not one of these theories however can claim to be the most

accurate theory on truth.

In determining the reliability and validity of ideas, statements and

claims, we need to use a combination of these theories to arrive at
a reliable assessment of what truth is.

There are other things we should consider in determining the truth.

 In determining the truth of any statement or
claim we must be familiar with how ideas are presented. Ideas and
claims are often presented in the form of arguments, and these
arguments are phrased in such a way that they seem reasonable.
However, a number of arguments may be based on faulty
reasoning. This kind of argument is called fallacies.

Some of these fallacies may be intentional, maybe because the

person making the claim Is desperate to convince you to accept his
or her argument.

We have here below is a table of some example of

Fallacies
 Fallacy Characteristics Example

Ad hominem Attacking the person “ Of course, he believed the

government is flawed, after
making the argument all he
instead of the is a rebel and a communist”
argument itself

Appeal to force Using the threat of force or an “If this peace agreement
undesirable scenario to will not be signed, then we
advance an argument will have no recourse but to
go to war”

Appeal to emotion Using Emotions “All these charges are

such as pity or sympathy baseless; this is just plain
harassment can’t you see
how this is affecting my
family!”
Appeal to the The idea is presented as “Every boy your age already
popular has a

acceptable because girlfriend, you should go

many people accept it and find one”

Appeal to tradition The idea is acceptable for it “Marriage should be

has been true for a long time between man and woman
only, It has been that way
for a long time in this
country, it shall remain so
today and in the future”

Begging the question Assuming the thing or idea to “I have the right to free
be proven is already true; also speech, therefore you cannot
known as “circular argument” stop me from talking”
Cause and effect Assuming a “cause and “Ever since you bought that
effect” relationship between car, everything has gone
unrelated wrong in your life. You
events better get rid of it”

Fallacy of Assuming that what is true for “These cases of robbery in

composition the part this neighborhood have
is true for the whole convinced me that this
place has turned into a
haven of criminals”

Fallacy of division Assuming that what is true “ You come from the top
for the whole is true for its section of your batch, surely
part you’ll pass this exam easily.
One should also know the difference between Fact and Opinion.

We have here below a table of some example of BIASES.

 BIAS CHARACTERISTICS EXAMPLE

Tendency to judge a “I think she is

Correspondence person’s personality a GRO, look at
bias or by his/her actions her make-up
without regard for and attire”

Attribution external factors or

effect influences
Tendency to look for and “I am a
immediately accept Christian , o how
information which fits with would I accept his
Confirmation bias one’s own beliefs or views insinuations that
and reject ideas or views that there is no God?”
go against it.
 Focusing on a certain aspect “Preliminary
Framing of a problem while ignoring evidence still has
other aspects not pointed out the
actual cause of the
killing, but
investigators are
currently focusing
on the possibility of
a rub out”

The tendency to see past Her mother had so

events as predictable, or to many
ascribe a pattern to historical illicit love
Hindsight events. affairs when still
young, that’s why
she also do it.
 A person or group is “As the son of the
connected to or has a vested accused, I believe I
Conflict of interest in the issue being have the right to
Interest discussed express my opinion
on the issue on his
alleged corrupt
practices”
 Analyzing an event or issue “I do not agree on
Cultural Bias based on one’s cultural this Western
standards practice of placing
aged parents in
retirement
homes. We
Filipinos take care
of our family
members”

Bias cannot be avoided in any discussion or debate. What is

important is that people engaged in a discussion are aware of their
personal biases and
have an open, but critical attitude towards other views which
conflict on their own.
 Philosoph y of The Human Person

Lesson 3

Week 2

Day 3

At the end of the lesson the student will be able to:

 1. discuss philosophical views regarding the
nature of the human person
2. define the human person and discuss the characteristics that
define what a person is
3. identify and discuss issues regarding personhood and relate
them to actual situations

“A person is given birth to contemplate a world, to reflect and to act

according to it. A person is not
perfect, but he is a part of perfection - Cicero

Man is at the heart of all philosophical discussion.

What is Man’s Nature, Purpose, Ultimate, Destiny?
 The study of the
Philosophy of the Human
Person has given rise to
various views regarding our
role in this world and how
various form of existence
define
us as persons

Man is an important subject in Philosophy. An

understanding of the nature and condition of man is the
foremost goal of the discipline.

The word man is a general term which is commonly used to refer

to the human race

How Does Philosophy

View the Nature of Man?

The concepts of man and human nature are much discussed and
highly debated among philosophers and scientists. From these
 discussions and debates, various definitions
and perspectives have emerged regarding the nature of man.

17. Varied Definitions of the Word Man

Man – the entire human race, humanity, mankind,

humankind
 Human – refers to man as a species which is homo
sapiens or modern beings

Person – a human being granted recognition of certain

rights, protection, and responsibilities

Aside from the definition of man, there is also what we call

Perspective about what a man is.

Various Perspectives of Man

1. The BIOLOGICAL Perspective

2. The PSYCHOLOGICAL Perspective

 3. The ECONOMIC Perspective

4. The THEOLOGICAL Perspective

Let us briefly discuss each of these perspectives.

1. THE BIOLOGICAL

PERSPECTIVE

• Man is a part of the

natural world and a

product of evolution

• Modern humans

( homo sapiens )

are considered as the most successfully adapted

species on Earth
• They are closely related to the primates/apes.

• Humans share with other animals the so called

“primal instinct” like;
 1. survival.
2. reproduction

Humans have developed distinct physical features and these

features spell the differences between man and primates. These
features are ;
1. bipedalism
2. highly developed hands
3. Smaller jaws and teeth

4. larger, more developed brains

5. planning and intentional action

 6.
6.
6.
6.
6.
6.
6.
6.
6.
6.
innovation and
Creativity

7.communication
through language
and writing

1. technology

2. symbolic
interaction (religion
and arts)
10. culture

These traits have contributed to the successful development of

the human species as the most widespread and dominant species
on the planet at present
 Culture is
considered
as man’s
most

significant

2. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

When

psychology is
put to analyze
human nature,
emphasis is
given on the
human
behavior and
thought
processes

Man possesses mental faculties (ability to think clearly)

enabling him to possess awareness, a sense of self, and the
capacity to perceive and experience.
 18. The Significant Mental
Faculties of Man Includes the following
 a. The Psyche - refers to the human
mind.
It is divided into the conscious and
unconscious mind

*The Conscious mind – is the part that governs

awareness

*The Unconscious mind - consists of latent(existing but

not yet developed) or
repressed emotions, thoughts and desires

b. Rationality - the state of being reasonable, ability to

understand experiences in order to solve problems or do
tasks, and engage in decision making or judgment.

c.Intelligence - the ability to perceive information, store

knowledge, and apply it to various situations.

d. Introspection - the ability to examine one’s conscious

thoughts, feelings and mental state,
and capacity for self reflection

3. THE ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE

This refers to man’s ability to engage in productive
activities in order to meet his wants and needs.
 Homo
economicus -
the economic
man is driven
by his good
sense
(rationality) and
self interest in
his desire to
possess wealth.

This perspective considers man as a

productive being; his primary role is to produce and engage in
labor. Likewise, economic forces are considered a great
influence on the action of man than society or culture

4. THE THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

The theological perspective considers man as God’s
creation
That man is considered to have special relationship with
his Creator, created in His image, and given an immortal
spirit.

That man exist because of God,

That man’s destiny is part of a divine plan
 How Does Philosophy Define the
Human Person?
The question on the nature of humanity is just one of the
many issues tackled by Philosophy. Philosophers also ponder
upon the concept of the human person and what makes him or
her a distinct entity.
 The “human person” refers to the individual
and all the attributes… (malambing, mabait, masipag,
matalino, etc.) and the characteristics… (matangkad, maputi,
payat, mahaba buhok,
kayumanggi,
etc.)

that sets him/her apart from other human beings.

There are significant concepts about the human person that we

will tackle.

Let u talk about the SELF first.

 One of the most unique traits of humans is the
awareness of self.

WE have the ABILITY TO

FEEL ...AND EXPERIENCE…
Which we SHARE with OTHER ANIMALS.
And we call it…

• Sentience Is often seen as the

ability to
perceive the surroundings and
react to the stimulus such as pain,
happiness, sadness, fear, etc.
• (same with animals huh !)
•
 However,
humans, do not only
experience and
react…

We are also able to look into ourselves , which we call

SELF… and be aware of our distinctness and
19. uniqueness
 The SELF as Innate – means that the self is an
essential part of the human being.

That Self-awareness is natural and innate (you

were born with it)

In Religion, the self is synonymous to the spirit

or the soul

The SELF as Emergent (arising as a natural or logical

consequence)- means that awareness of the self is gained
through…
• interaction with the world, and
• interaction with other human beings

The SELF as Integrated and Developing means that self is

composed of varied
elements that change
overtime
Now let us
proceed to

IDENTITY and
PERSONHOOD

The “self” is closely tied with the ideas of Identity and

personhood.
Identity:
Now let’s talk about personhood.
There are different views about what a person is.
These are:
1. a PERSON is an “autonomous being”
2. a PERSON is a “unified individual”
3. The PERSON in relation to OTHERS
Let us tackle each one of them

1. A person being an “Autonomous Being”

This means that:
2. A PERSON is a “Unified Individual”
 A “unified individual”
– means he has the inherent capacity to
function as a person.
- it emphasizes the potential of the
human being
-it recognizes that each human possesses the capacity to
achieve his/her
capabilities.

3.The PERSON in Relation to Others – means that a person

becomes a person through interaction with other human beings.
-Remove him/her from
society, then he/she ceases
to become a person
 “The person is defined by his/her
actions and experiences, and through them achieves
self development and fulfillment”
-Karol Wojtyla

There are situations where a human being may not be recognized

as a person. Here are some Examples.

1. People suffering from incapacitating conditions, that impair

their judgement may lack the means to make decision for
themselves

A person who suffers massive brain damage or individuals

in comatose may not be recognized as persons and thus
other people may be empowered to make decisions on their
behalf.
There have been instances throughout history where certain
groups of people have not been treated as persons.
 During those

times, slaves

were

considered

propert y.

African slaves were considered to be subhumans. In the

United States, during the 18th century, African slaves
were considered equivalent only to “three fifths” of a
person.

Women were also not granted recognition as persons during most

of the ancient period. In ancient Greece, women were not
 considered citizens and had limited roles in
society and government.

It was only in the late 19th century

that women were given the right
to vote and participate in
government affairs.

20. Extended
Concepts on Personhood
There are however, instances that the concept of a ‘’person” is
not restricted to human beings alone but rather is extended to
other entities that are not human.
Example are

Organizations and Corporations.

In legal circles, organizations and corporations may be given
legal personalities as they are given certain rights and
may take action in court to protect their interests.
 Even
animals believed to have
certain cognitive faculties
similar to humans like
dolphins, chimpanzees and
gorillas may be recognized as
persons.

There are also speculations on

topics often mentioned in
science fiction books , and
movies about the
possibility of intellectual life forms in
other planets which may be recognized
as persons.

Despite all of those ideas,

personhood still remains as
applicable to humans.
Under the disciplines of Law and
Politics, the concept of the human
person is given utter importance as
it is knitted tightly to the concepts
of rights and civil liberties.
For one to be granted rights, he/she must first be considered a
person. Equally strongly connected to personhood are the
political concepts of citizenship and civic responsibility.

The concept of the human person is also significant in the fields

of Biology, Medicine and the Social Sciences.

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human

Person
Week 3
Day 1
Lesson 4.1

Philosophy and Spirituality of Man

INRODUCTION

Any discussion on the nature of the human person, inevitably leads to the
discussion on the nature of the human soul or spirit, the immortal,
noncorporeal essence of man.

The notion of the soul is prevalent and in various cultures and religions. In
particular, many monotheistic religions like Islam, Judaism, and
Christianism believed that man is the only being with a soul. Other
religions such as Jainism and Hinduism recognize that other living beings
also possess souls. For animistic religion such as Shintoism, non-living
things such as rivers and mountains also possess souls.

We have learned in our previous lesson, that are several perspectives

about man and these are; THE BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
THE ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE
THE THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

In this lesson we will deal with the Theological Perspective.

The Theological Perspective considers man as God’s creation.

That man exists because of God
 That man’s destiny is part of a divine plan
That man is considered to have special relationship with his Creator,
created in His image, and given an immortal spirit.

What is Spirit?
Spirit is the non-physical part of a person that is the
seat of emotions and character;
The soul
The immortal, non-corporeal essence of man

When we are talking about the soul, we cannot put aside the concept of
Embodiment.

What is Embodiment?
It is a tangible or visible form of an idea, quality or feeling.
It Is a perfect representative of a quality, idea, etc. It is the most noticeable
characteristic or the basis of an idea, thing, etc.
It is a central concept in the discussion of the
human soul

Psychologists define man’s embodiment as Embodied Condition.

What is Embodied Condition

Embodied Cognition is the ability of man to perceive and experience

reality through his physical body.

In relation to embodiment is the..

THEORY of ENACTIVISM

What is Enactivism about?

Enactivism states that cognition arises through the interaction between an

organism and its
 environment”
For humans, the notion of the self arises through the interaction between
the individual and the environment

“Such interaction is influenced largely by the individual’s particular

physiology”

However, later studies on human embodiment suggest that consciousness

is not only perceived by the physical body but also by the non-physical.

The Christian doctrines states that the spirit is created by God, and
that it is embodied in the human being. Upon the body’s demise, the spirit
continues to persist into the afterlife.

The spirit is also essential for the salvation of mankind, as the

departed spirit shall be raised from
 the dead during the
end times and shall receive the judgment of God.

Various Concepts about SPIRIT

The Ancient Greek Philosophers have proposed

varied ideas on the nature of spirit. Let’s learn about them

According to Plato ;
“ The human mind is immortal and persists after the body dies”

He believed that the human spirit has three parts

 1. logos - the mind or reason
2. thymos - emotion
3. eros – desire

According to Aristotle;

1. the soul is integrated into the human body 2. the soul is the part
of man’s essence which enables him to achieve his ultimate
purpose
 Introduction to the Philosophy of
the Human
Person
Week 3
Day 2
Lesson 4.2

Philosophy and Spirituality of Man

(Part 2)

Later philosophers focused on the relationship

between the mind and the body in their
discussions of the soul.

Philosophers have long argued over the nature

of the mind and body, and the means by which
they interact and influence each other.

How did Philosophers answered the question

about the MIND-BODY relationship or
partnership?

Through these theories;

 The mind body problem considers
the question on
1.how the mental or nonphysical are able to
interact with the physical body, and
2.Up to what extent does one influence the
other.

Earlier views on this problem included physicalism,

Physicalism believes that physical processes

determine the state of the mind

There is an opposite view to physicalism which

is idealism.

Idealism, holds that mental processes and

thoughts are the only reality.

Another one is monism.

Monism teaches that the human being is
composed of the elements that are neither
physical nor mental

And still another is dualism.

 Dualism - believes in the
distinctiveness of the physical and mental nature
of man.

Other Philosophical Thoughts about the soul:

Avicenna (Islamic philosopher) argued that self

awareness and consciousness exists even if the
body is deprived of its senses

Let’s watch the succeeding video On Avicenna’s

21. “The Floating Man”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaPlgITv2t4

Rene Descartes - “the mind and body exist as two

separate entities which interact with one another”

Other Philosophical Thoughts about the soul:

St. Thomas Aquinas (religious philosopher) - “there

is a soul first before there is a body; the soul has
substance but has no physical or concrete form.”

St. Augustine - “the soul is the driving force that

 governs the body and defines the
human person.” Biblical Scholars and theologians
have proposed several Biblical and Theological
Explanation regarding the Nature and Composition
of Man
These are;
1.The Trichotomic View
2.The Dichotomic View
3.Psychosomatic Unity

The Trichotomic View of Man

Man is composed of 3 Essential Parts

1. Body - material body
2. Soul – gives man life and will
3. Spirit – enbles man to connect with God

The Dichotomic View of Man

1.Man is composed of body and spirit
2.No distinction between spirit and soul
 The Psychosomatic Unity
Man is of a single or unitary constitution
The body and soul are integrated and inseparable

What does the Catholic church say about

the relationship between Body and Soul?

1. That the human person is the union of the

body and soul
2. That man’s souloul enables him to know and
love God
3. The soul grants man the dignity of a person
4. The soul enables man to partake in God’s life
and that this relationship with God that gives
meaning why he exist.
 The belief in God Is the reason why
there is
Religion
Man connects with God through the spirit.

Let us watch the video about Philosophy and

Spirituality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9j7g1dfxIo

If the spirit exist…

Is There a GOD?

The spiritual aspect of human existence is a vital

component of religious belief. The belief in the
spiritual embraces the concept of the divine
particularly the existence of God. Philosophy
examines spirituality in Theology.
Theology – is the study of God and other religious
concepts.
Theology discuss the nature of God
Theology use philosophical tools to define and
understand the concept of divinity and religion

Christianity – is the religion that greatly influenced

the development of Theology.

What is God?
God
God
Go
d

is acknowledged as the Supreme Being

22. governs all existence
is the center of faith and devotion of a religion

What is Theism
Theism is the belief in the existence of a God.
Christians believe in only one God and that practice
is called – Monotheism

The Characteristics of Christian God

23. Omniscient - all knowing
 24. Omnipotent - all powerful

Omnipresent - is everywhere

Benevolent - perfectly good, just, and loving

Divine Simplicity - God is not just good; He is
Goodness itself.
 Eternal - timeless, no beginning, no end.
Philosophy has long debated the concept of God
and divinity.
Theologians have embarked on a study of God
through Revealed Theology , the analysis of sacred
texts.
Others have employed Natural Theology or the use
of “reason” to substantiate the existence of God.

Studies in Natural Theology have given rise to

several arguments on the existence of God.
END OF LESSON 4.2
 Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human
Person
Week 3
Day 3
Lesson 4.3
Philosophy and Spirituality of Man
(Part 3)

Several Arguments About the Existence of God

Brought About by Debates Under Natural Theology

25. Ontological Argument Teleological Argument Cosmological

Argument

Let us discuss each of

them briefly

26. Ontological Argument

(Reason)
“ If Man, being rational (may kakayanang mag-isip) is able to conceive the
notion of a Supreme Being, then it coincides with the reason that there is a
Supreme being”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQPRqHZRP68
 27. Teleological Argument
(Intelligent Design of the Universe)
“The Supreme Being is necessary for the continued existence of an
orderly (maayos) and complex
(masalimuot) universe”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s06w4pXvUy k

28. Cosmological Argument

(Origin of all things)
takes into account the nature of existence and the universe and
recognizes the existence of God as an explanation of how things came into
being in our reality” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqN87vzauR
M

The Principle of Sufficient Reason

(Gottfried Liebniz)
 “All facts and events must have an explanation. The
existence of the universe therefore must have an explanation, and the
only sufficient explanation is the existence of God”

The Cosmological Argument of “Kalam”

(Islamic Theology)
“Everything that has a beginning has a cause,
The universe has a beginning,
Therefore, the universe has a cause”

This argument proposes that God is the cause that brought the beginning of
the universe

The Moral Argument

(William Sorley)
 “Man’s ethical nature is brought about by the
existence of God. God is the representation of the
greatest ideal -the greatest good- and it is from HIM that all the standards
of goodness are based”

This argument considers God a necessary being for the universe and all
existence to make sense. Disproving God would call into question all
existence as well as other abstract concepts such as goodness, morality, and
even the spirit. Life itself would have little significance without God.

The existence of God is the source of continuous debate among theologians,

secular philosophers, and intellectuals. The various viewpoints on this issue
can be classified into three distinct groups

Other Viewpoints About the Existence of God

Theism - the belief in the existence of God or deities

Agnosticism - the view that considers metaphysical concepts -like God- to

be inherently unknowable

Atheism - the rejection or non-belief in the existence of God or deities.

 God is the recognized creator of the universe and continues to be
present in all creation and in His followers.
1. God plays a central role in redemptive salvation.
2. God also takes an active role in the human condition as the divine
providence, through a. blessings,
b. miracles,
c. divine inspiration and revelation,
d. continuous presence in the universe and within each human
being

Other Nature of God

HE IS…
Immanent (Inherent) - manifests in this world as a unique entity. Before
anything else came into being, He exist already.
 HE IS…
Transcendent - existing outside the material world, whose presence is beyond
the limits of ordinary experience; (He has no limits)
-physical laws,
-human knowledge,
-human understanding

What Is the Christian Belief About God?

God is Panentheistic – that God is both beyond and within the universe

Other faiths adopt… Pantheistic view - God is

an all-encompassing presence in the universe and has no distinct
presence as an entity

Some faiths adopt…

 Pandeistic view - God was a distinct entity but lost this
state when he transformed himself into the universe

Human life is about a relationship with the spiritual and the divine
Religion plays an important part in defining life and the action of people

Whatever the religion of a person is he /she maintains a relationship

with the divine through;
a. belief and adherence to certain doctrines and traditions
b. performance of meaningful rituals
c. ethical behavior
To add some more, the idea of transcendence I not mainly confined to God
but can also be applied to human experience.
 Humans can establish connection with the divine through
certain transcendental experiences such as prayer, meditation, and visions.

Immanuel Kant proposed that human transcendence is based on rationality.

Humans are able to comprehend

certain abstract concepts that have no
equivalent physical objects or sensory
experience. Consider the concept of
“love“ and “justice”. Both are abstract
concepts which have no actual material
presence in our
reality, but we are still able to create images and symbols to express these
concepts and engage in discussions regarding their various aspects. The
fact that our minds can grasp certain aspect of our reality which go beyond
our senses is an indication of man’s capability for transcendence.

Jean Paul Sartre, an Existentialist philosopher, is

convinced that the
person’s ability to comprehend and
relate to objects and being outside
of his own self is an indication of
transcendence. For him,
transcendence lies in the abilities of
persons to relate to people, things,
and experiences in a meaningful
manner.

By applying transcendence in
more practical terms,
one is encouraged to explore his
or her limits. Elf examination
and awareness of one’s strengths
and weaknesses can enable a
person to attempt to push
boundaries and break limits.

This may be achieved by

physical and mental training,
 rigorous study, exercising the creative faculties, and
engaging in useful socialization.

END OF LESSON END OF LESSON 4.3

Introduction to the Philosophy of the

Human
Person
29. Week 4 Day 1 Lesson 5.1

Man and His Environment

Compare the two pictures.
1
 2

1.Which of the pictures shows a much better

condition?
2.How can the condition of the first picture
be maintained?
3.How can the condition of the second
picture be improved?

Video: Man and His Environment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtnMdz
sxQnc

Let us Analyze the Video.

1.How do you feel about the video

you have just watched?
2.Would you say that there is abuse done by
man on the environment? Why did you say
so?
3.What should be the proper way of dealing
with the environment?

Man’s Relationship with the Environment

According to Philosophy
Let us begin by asking…

“What is Environmental Philosophy?”

Environmental Philosophy – is the branch of
Philosophy that is concerned with the natural
environment and humanity’s place within it.

What Are the Issues Tackled by Environmental

Philosophers?

1.The role of humanity in the natural world

2.The interaction between nature and human
activities.
 3.Humanity’s response to
environmental challenges.

Most views on environmental

philosophy emphasize the role humans
play in causing environmental changes.

Other views however, recognize the changes

in the environment are part of a larger interplay
among organisms and ecosystems on the planet.

But Who is the Culprit?

Is it Us Humans?
Or…

Is it the Change in the Environment?

END OF LESSON 5.1

 REFERENCES

Books

Abella, Roberto D. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human

Person. Quezon City: C & E Publishing Inc., 2016

On Line

google.com/images

youtube.com

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human

Person
Week 4
Day 2
Lesson 5.2

(Man and His Environment)

Various Views Regarding Role of Man in Nature
 Let us dig down
some more.

Various Views Regarding Role of Man in Nature

 Anthropocentrism

Watch the ff. Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAOz7Dgu5JI

1.Anthropocentrism - the belief that humans are

the central and the most significant species on
this planet.

It assigns a significant role to man as it shows

humanity’s activities as a significant factor in the
changes in the environment.

2.Deep Ecology - sees the natural world as being

maintained by the interrelationships among
living organisms.
Let us watch and listen to this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wFoRhR3
mRM

In short, Deep Ecology’s message is

3.(Gaia hypo video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQIqo6CIh
GM

Theological Views
“God created manand granted him dominion over
all creaturesand tasked him to subdue the
earth.”(Gen. 1:26-28)
Theological View – holds that mankind is the
steward of all creation, and this stewardship is a
continuation of the work of the Creator.

let us not be mistaken.

 These dominion and stewardship
issues did not mean wanton exploitation and
destruction but rather
• to care for nature and environment.
• Enhance it, and
• contribute to its growth and
development.

Pope John Paul II recognize man’s lordship over

nature as “ministerial” act. And as such, our
mission is to exercise that dominion and
stewardship with wisdom and love

What Do These Philosophical Views Have In

Common?
All these views regard man as…
1. an active participant in the environment
2. the key to nature’s thriving or ruin.

On the Contrary…
Current philosophical discussions, together
with scientific studies, point to the increasing
 negative impact of human activities on
the condition of our planet.

The human factor can be clearly seen in

environmental problems such as

pollution,

environmental
degradation,

depletion of natural resources

 global warming and

climate change
 A 2014 study on global warming
was conducted in 2014 by the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) finds clear evidence
that human activities have contributed to the rise
of global temperatures through the release of
greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Indications of global warming are:

1.Steadily warming ocean temperatures
2.Glacial melting in the Arctic

If this situation is left unchecked, will result into

climate change that has a severe and
widespread impact on communities throughout
the world.

Video on Greenhouse Effect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJAbATJCu
gs

Environmental phenomena associated with

climate change are:
Video on Effects of Clim Chg.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=4Uy9b87 cYRs

1.Changes in global weather patterns resulting

in intense storms and heat waves

2.Acidification of the oceans that affects

countless marine life

3.Increase global sea levels.

 END OF LESSON 5.2
REFERENCES

Books
Abella, Roberto D. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human
Person. Quezon City: C & E Publishing Inc., 2016

On Line
google.com/images
youtube.com

Lesson 5.3

(Man and His Environment)

How Do Philosophical Views Influence Environmental Action?
 The growing concern for the environment and the evidence of the
impact of human activities on the nature has led philosophers to advocate
for application of philosophical concepts to environmental concerns.

Philosophical Views on the Environment Environmental Ethics

emerged in the 1970s and advocated human responsibility and actions
regarding environmental issues.
Watch the ff Video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afNRimFN
Wyw

This ethical view emphasizes key ideas that combine philosophical,

pragmatic, and theological perspectives.
 1. All non-human elements of the world, including
animals and natural resources, have intrinsic value and should be
preserved.

2. The preservation of the environment is beneficial for humans, as it

continue to provide for the present and future generations.

3. Man has the responsibility to safeguard the planet as it has been

entrusted to him by God.

Environmental ethics has resulted in the development of varied views.

Social Ecology applies an ecological and ethical approach in analyzing

society, and see a relationship between social problems and environmental
problems. Society should therefore implement change in order to address
issues regarding the environment.

The growing concern with climate change has inspired a number of

views and concepts such as; Climate Ethics and Climate Justice which
considers climate change a significant ethical, social, and political issue.

These views were greatly influenced by the concept of environmental

justice.

Environmental Justice – refers to the fair distribution of environmental

benefits, as well as the meeting of environmental challenges.

Advocates of environmental justice emphasize:

• Equity and the Meaningful involvement of communities and
governments in addressing environmental challenges, and in
 • Planning and implementing environmental policies.

Environmental Aesthetics is another important development in

environmental awareness. This perspective originally discussed concept of
beauty in nature but has recently been increasingly influenced by
environmental concerns.

Environmental aesthetics began to discuss natural beauty in the

context of maintaining order and balance in the environment.
For its followers, knowledge about nature will enable man to
appreciate nature’s innate beauty and also help him relate effectively with
the environment.

Significant social movements that were inspired by increased environmental

awareness include the;

• environmental protection and conservation movement,

• animal rights, and
• green politics
 Activism and increased organized action are indications of the growing
environmental awareness of environmentalism in today’s society.

Environmentalism has also become an important issue in international

politics as governments and international organizations has devoted efforts to
discuss environmental issues and formulate plans to address them.

Significance development includes the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997,

where various nations committed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in
order to curb global warming.

The celebration of Earth Day, first instituted in 1970, is a global effort to

raise awareness of environmental issue and inspire action among
communities.
 END OF LESSON 5.3

REFERENCES

30. Books

Abella, Roberto D. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human

Person. Quezon City: C & E Publishing Inc., 2016

On Line google.com/images
youtube.com