Introduction To The Philosophy of The Human Person: Quarter 1 - Module 2 Methods of Philosophizing
Introduction To The Philosophy of The Human Person: Quarter 1 - Module 2 Methods of Philosophizing
Introduction To The Philosophy of The Human Person: Quarter 1 - Module 2 Methods of Philosophizing
the Philosophy
of the Human
Person
Quarter 1 - Module 2
Methods of Philosophizing
Table of Contents
What This Module is About................................................................................................................... i
What’s In ........................................................................................................ 7
Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………. 14
Assessment: (Post-Test)…………………………………………………………………………15
References ............................................................................................................................................ 17
What This Module is About
This module covers the nature of truth and the characteristics of an opinion. It
highlights the importance of distinguishing or contrasting these two. Since statements could
contain fallacies, biases, and assumptions, one must refer to the methods of philosophy to
differentiate truth from opinion. Following methods of philosophy would require one to exude
the qualities of critical thinking skills, coherent reasoning, and logical thinking. Practicing
these methods will pave the way to man’s better understanding of life. Topics in this module
include the difference between truth from opinion, theories of truth, methods of philosophy,
and fallacies and biases
i
How to Learn from this Module
To achieve the objectives cited above, you are to do the following:
• Take your time to read the lessons carefully.
• Follow the directions and instructions in the activities and exercises diligently.
ii
What I Know?
Multiple Choice. Select the letter of the correct answer from among the given choices.
1. What do you call the statements that are observed to be real or truthful?
a. claim c. opinion
b. truth d. view
2. What are tendencies or influences that affect the views of people?
a. fallacy c. bias
b. opinion d. truth
3. What is an argument based on faulty reasoning?
a. opinion c. fallacy
b. Truth d. bias
4. What are statements that express convictions that are not easily explained
by facts?
a. bias c. opinion
c.truth d. view
5. Which theory holds the notion that propositions are true when they
correspond to reality or the world?
a. coherence theory c. pragmatic theory
b. correspondence theory d. logic
6. What is the first thing to consider when evaluating an opinion is to know the
origin of the material?
a. reliability c. source
b. purpose d. assumption.
7. Which best describes the Socratic Method?
a. inductive reasoning c. logic
b. deductive reasoning d. critical thinking
8. What is the study of correct thinking which focuses on the analysis of
arguments?
a. critical thinking c. existentialism
b. logic d. phenomenology
9. What method of philosophy espouses the idea that reality is made up of
eventsperceived andunderstood by the human consciousness.
a. existentialism c. postmodernism
b. phenomenology d. logic
10. What philosophical movement focuses on the relativity of truth or truth
having multiple views.
a. phenomenology c. existentialism
b. logic d. postmodernism
iii
Lesson
Discerning Truth From Opinion
1
What I Need to Know?
Welcome to the first lesson of this module. At the end of this lesson, the learners will
be able to:
What’s New?
Guide Questions
1
What Is It?
In today’s digital world, information is everywhere. From the moment we wake up, we are
confronted with different kinds of news coming from various sources. Information may
primarily come from social media sources or even from our friends, family, and our very own
community. Along with the rise of social media, there is also an unprecedented influx of
information in our world today. The challenge is for us to effectively filter and sort news and
stories that are truthful from mere opinion or hearsays.
One must be analytical and logical in his approach to all kinds of information and even real-
life situations. To do this, one must possess critical thinking skills, coherent reasoning, and
logical thinking when philosophizing.
What is Truth?
The question “what is truth?” does not have any simple answer. Just like philosophy, the
word truth also has no generally accepted definition. However, the conventional way of
defining truth is the quality or state of being in conformity with fact and reality.
Theories of Truth
Since philosophers could not agree about the exact definition of the truth, theories of truth
are helpful to evaluate truth from opinion. Here are some popular approaches to the truth:
Correspondence Theory of Truth - The theory is based on the belief that a proposition is
true when it conforms to some fact or state of affairs (Caraan 2016, 30). It emphasizes the
notion that concepts are true when they correspond to reality or the world.
Example
Snow is white.
Coherence Theory of Truth – This theory is the belief that a proposition is true to the extent
that it agrees with other true concepts (Caraan 2016, 30). This view supposes that ideas
constitute an inter-related system; each element coheres with another justified beliefs.
Example
The sum of half of six and ten is thirteen.
½ (6) + 10 = 13
3+10 = 13
13 = 13
2
Pragmatic Theory of Truth - This theory is the belief that a proposition is true when acting
upon it yields satisfactory practical results (Caraan 2016, 31). It holds that an idea is true; it
is useful to believe.
Example
Activity 2. Supply Me
THEORIES OF TRUTH
Correspondence Theory Coherence Theory Pragmatic theory
1. 1. 1.
2. 2. 2.
3. 3. 3.
Scoring Rubric
CATEGORY 5 3 1
Content 3 correct 2 correct 1correct
examples are examples are example is given
given per given per per category
category category
Readability of Text All texts are Some texts are Most of the texts
readable and readable and are not readable
legibly written not legibly and not legibly
written written
Spelling and No errors in 2-3 errors in More than 5
Grammar grammar and grammar and errors in
spelling spelling grammar and
spelling
3
What is an Opinion?
Dr. Rhonda Dubec (2019) continues that opinion is defined as the personal view or judgment
about a subject that is not substantiated by the facts. In other words, an opinion cannot be
proved true or false. It is what a person thinks or feels about something or someone. An
opinion is highly influenced by a person’s feelings, thoughts, perspective, desires, attitude,
experiences, understanding, beliefs, values, etc., which cannot be tested by concrete
evidence.
It is very essential to distinguish truth from opinion because apart from the fact the latter has
no objectives grounds, opinions could also mislead us. They have the potential to influence
public view just to conform to a specific agenda. Their main goal is to achieve a desired
outcome rather than to promote what is the truth.
Whether a statement is a fact or an opinion depends on its validity. The following are some
differences between truth and opinion:
1. Truth is a statement that can be verified or proved with the help of evidence or
empirical data while opinion is an expression of judgment or belief on any particular
subject.
2. Truth heavily relies on facts, while opinion depends on assumption and perception.
3. Generally, truth is an objective reality and has universality in its nature, while opinion
is a purely subjective reality. It involves the expression of personal feelings or views.
4. Truths are useful to make information or make an argument, while opinions are used
for persuasion.
What’s More?
Activity 3 Supply Me
4
Scoring Rubric
CATEGORY 5 3 1
Content 5 correct 3 correct 1correct example
examples are examples are is given
given given
Readability of Text All texts are Some texts are Most of the texts
readable and readable and are not readable
legibly written not legibly and not legibly
written written
Spelling and No errors in 2-3 errors in More than 5
Grammar grammar and grammar and errors in
spelling spelling grammar and
spelling
What Is It?
Having the ability to discern truths and opinions can further improve our
understanding and appreciation of differing views and ideas. Differentiating them
requires a holistic perspective and enables us to choose acceptable ideas and make
wiser decisions. This view can make a man understand the world and life better.
A philosophical or reflective mind allows us to form our personal viewpoint that can
guide us in making wiser decisions when faced with life’s difficulties. Since
everyone has every right to his point of view, we have to form ours too. Philosophy
is a valuable tool to help us determine truthful and acceptable ideas essential in
building better and wiser way of looking at life.
Evaluating Opinions
Opinions play a particular role in our lives. They motivate us to investigate further in search
of the truth. It is, however, harmful to accepts opinions as they are; without assessing and
considering its truthfulness. Critical thinking must be employed in this undertaking.
Gallinero and Estaris (2017) presented five helpful tips to guide us better to evaluate an
opinion.
Source – The first thing to consider when evaluating and assessing an opinion is in knowing
the origin of the material. Some sources are more credible than others. Knowing where the
information came from will help us determine the accuracy, correctness, and soundness of
information. When evaluating a source, one must consider the reputation, the audience
where it was intended for, and the authenticity of documents.
Reliability - Credibility is also required when checking the accuracy of the person giving the
opinion. Consider the reputation and the expertise of the person about the topic.
5
Purpose – Identify the main reason why the opinion is given. Evaluate if it is intended to
inform or persuade. Consider reason and evidence in doing this step.
Bias – Everyone has biases and preferences. It is important not to take the person’s sense
of partiality and prejudices about the topic or subject matter.
Assumption – Take notice of all the beliefs presented. Assumptions are ideas that one
accepts as facts but makes no effort to prove or substantiate it.
What’s More?
Filipinos are fond of gossip stories and rumors, especially when it comes to entertainment.
How do you evaluate these rumors you have read from social media?
1. An actor is gay.
2. A young actress had gone through an abortion.
3. A famous Filipino actor got married secretly.
4. A high-ranking official has a critical illness.
5. A Hollywood actress has sex tape scandals.
Philosophy is a very useful tool to help us determine truthful and acceptable ideas
essential in building better and wiser views in life.
Truths are different from opinions. The former refers to statements that correspond
with an observable fact or reality. The latter is considered subjective; a judgment or a
viewpoint.
Since the truth is at the heart of any inquiry, philosophy is concerned with
determining and differentiating it from opinions.
6
What I Can Do?
Activity 5 Go Online!
Enrich your knowledge by visiting the following links below. Read these reference materials
and answer the guide questions.
1. https://bit.ly/3cKmX4l Page 6
2. https://bit.ly/2ZlkKIO Pages 18-24
3. https://bit.ly/3dF9KdbLAS No. 5-6
4. https://bit.ly/2zQwXum
Guide Questions
1. What are the main ideas presented about truth and opinion?
2. What new information and valuable learnings have you learned from your readings?
CATEGORY 5 3 1
Source Visited 4 Visited 2 Visited 1 website
websites websites
Content The content is The content is The topic is
relevant, relevant, and irrelevant,
complete and substantial yet unsubstantial and
substantial incomplete incomplete
Readability of Text All texts are Some texts are Most of the texts
readable and readable and are not readable
legibly written not legibly and not legibly
written written
Spelling and No errors in 2-3 errors in More than 5
Grammar grammar and grammar and errors in
spelling spelling grammar and
spelling
7
Lesso
n
Methods of Philosophizing
What’s In?
Using a compare and contrast matrix, write down three attributes of TRUTH and OPINION.
Meaning
Basis
Type of reality
Welcome to the second lesson of this module. At the end of this lesson, the learners
will be able to:
8
What’s New?
Read the blind item story below concerning two actresses displaying real feud while on the
set. Answer the guide questions after reading this gossip story.
An unconfirmed report circulates that Actress A and Actress B had a real fight during their
taping for their drama series. According to the rumors, Actress B would always slap Actress
A hard each time they shot their scene. Actress A noticed that Actress B’s slap to her was
beyond acting.Actress A endured all the slaps she received from Actress B for the sake of
their show’s rating. However, Actress A almost lost her mind when Actress B requested an
“immunity” to be slapped by her co-stars. Moreover, there came a scene where Actress A’s
character needed to slap Actress B. But since Actress B was exempted from that kind of
scene,” Actress A thought of an alternative and better idea. Instead of slapping, she pulled
Actress B’s hair out hard. Actress A angrily pulled Actress B’s hair out to the point that she
lost lots of hair. Because of this, the director had to cut the scene while Actress B was crying.
Surprisingly, Actress A continued to pull Actress B’s hair out like she didn’t hear anything.
Guide Questions
Blind Spot
CATEGORY 5 3 1
Personal Insight The personal The personal The personal
insight is insight is insight is
relevant, relevant, and irrelevant,
complete and substantial yet unsubstantial and
substantial incomplete incomplete
9
Readability of Text All texts are Some texts are Most of the texts
readable and readable and are not readable
legibly written not legibly and not legibly
written written
Spelling and No errors in 2-3 errors in More than 5
Grammar grammar and grammar and errors in
spelling spelling grammar and
spelling
What Is It?
Methods of Philosophizing
Logic – It is the study of correct thinking which focuses on the analysis of arguments
(Ramos 2016, 33). It requires reasoning and critical thinking in analyzing and evaluating an
idea. The two types of logic are inductive and deductive reasoning. In inductive reasoning, a
particular thought comes first before the general idea, while general idea comes first before
the specific one in deductive reasoning. The Socratic Method is an example of inductive
thinking where arriving at truth is done through question and answer.
Phenomenology –Itis a method of philosophy which espouses the idea that reality is made
up of eventsperceived andunderstood by human consciousness (Gallinero and Estaris 2017,
34). Objects or events are studied from the position of the observer. Everyday life, objects,
experiences, other people, ideas, and everything are considered factually real. In other
words, human reality is a personal reality. Man’s subjective perceptions and internal
experiences (lived experiences) are the most relevant reality.
Existentialism – This approach to finding the truth is heavily based on one’s attitude and
outlook in life. Truth for existentialists is a by-product of rational choice. Man is viewed as a
free agent and is capable of making choices. Just like phenomenology, existentialism
believes in the subjectivity of truth since man has the free will (freedom) to decide his reality
(Ramos 2016, 30). .
10
Fallacies and Biases
When evaluating truth from opinion, one has to be vigilant of fallacies and biases. Fallacies
are arguments that are based on faulty reasoning. Usually, fallacies are intentional and are
designed to persuade or convince. Biases, on the other hand, are tendencies and influences
of a person’s view and are not necessarily errors in reasoning. Here are some examples of
fallacies and biases (Abella 2016, 30-31):
Examples of Fallacies
Fallacy Characteristics
11
Assuming that what is true of a part is
consistent for the whole.
fallacy of composition
Common Biases
Bias Characteristics
12
What’s More?
Using Triple Venn Diagram, Identify the differences and similarities among phenomenology,
existentialism, and postmodernism in their treatment to truth and reality.
Scoring Rubric
CATEGORY 5 3 1
Similarities Cited 3 Cited 2 Cited 1 similarity
similarities similarities
Differences Cited 3 Cited 2 Cited 1 difference
differences differences
13
Readability of Text All texts are Some texts are Most of the texts
readable and readable and are not readable
legibly written not legibly and not legibly
written written
Spelling and No errors in 2-3 errors in More than 5
Grammar grammar and grammar and errors in
spelling spelling grammar and
spelling
Explain why the following statements are fallacious and biased by completing the sentence.
Fallacies
1. “Of course, he believes that the political system is flawed; he is a terrorist! This
is a fallacy because __________________________________
2. “We will have no other option but to go to war If the agreed-upon concessions
are not met.”
This is a fallacy because __________________________________
3. “Every man your age has already settled down, you should marry now!” This is
a fallacy because _________________________________
Biases
14
Methods of philosophizing allow us to form our personal viewpoint that can guide us
in making wiser decisions when faced with life’s difficulties.
Activity 5 Go Online!
Research on articles about COVID-19 pandemic from the Internet, newspaper, or magazine.
Identify statements that contain truths and opinions in the said materials. Explain the
considerations you made in your answers.
TRUTH OPINION
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
Explanation
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Scoring Rubric
CATEGORY 5 3 1
Content and Ideas The content is The content is The topic is
relevant, relevant, and irrelevant,
complete and substantial yet unsubstantial and
substantial incomplete incomplete
Accuracy All answers Most answers Very few
are correct are correct answers are
correct
Explanation All explanation Most Little explanation
is correct explanation is was given
correct
15
Readability of Text All texts are Some texts are Most of the texts
readable and readable and are not readable
legibly written not legibly and not legibly
written written
Spelling and No errors in 2-3 errors in More than 5
Grammar grammar and grammar and errors in
spelling spelling grammar and
spelling
Summary
The different ways of philosophizing could lead us to the path of wisdom and truth. Firstly,
the methods of philosophizing can help man to think reflectively, critically, and
philosophically. Through the use of logic, man has learned to use reasoning and critical
thinking in discerning truthful statements. Phenomenology, existentialism, and
postmodernism taught us that truth is a subjective reality. In phenomenology, we perceive
truth according to our very own experience and consciousness, while our ability to choose or
decide our relity is being put forward by the existentialist. And for the postmodernists, truth is
relative because a subject or an idea can have multiple meanings.
Secondly, Philosophy can help us examine various views on relevant issues in our lives. An
objective evaluation of opinions and an awareness of our own biases can help us make wise
choices regarding the most acceptable views to adopt and the right actions to undertake.
16
Assessment: (Post-Test)
I Identification Write on the line before the number the word referred to in each of the items
below. Choose answers from the list of terms below.
TRUTH OPINION
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
17
Key to Answers
II
1. O
2. T 3. T
4. T
5. O
Post-test
I
1. Fallacy
2. Socratic method
3. Logic
4. Bias
5. Analytic tradition
II
18
GRADING CRITERIA & RUBRICS FOR OTHER ACTIVITIES
Supply Me 1
CATEGORY 5 3 1
Content 3 correct 2 correct 1correct
examples are examples are example is given
given per given per per category
category category
Readability of Text All texts are Some texts are Most of the texts
readable and readable and are not readable
legibly written not legibly and not legibly
written written
Spelling and No errors in 2-3 errors in More than 5
Grammar grammar and grammar and errors in
spelling spelling grammar and
spelling
Supply Me 2
CATEGORY 5 3 1
Content 5 correct 3 correct 1correct example
examples are examples are is given
given given
Readability of Text All texts are Some texts are Most of the texts
readable and readable and are not readable
legibly written not legibly and not legibly
written written
Spelling and No errors in 2-3 errors in More than 5
Grammar grammar and grammar and errors in
spelling spelling grammar and
spelling
CATEGORY 5 3 1
Source Visited 6 Visited 3 Visited 1 website
websites websites
Content The content is The content is The topic is
relevant, relevant, and irrelevant,
complete and substantial yet unsubstantial and
substantial incomplete incomplete
Readability of Text All texts are Some texts are Most of the texts
readable and readable and are not readable
legibly written not legibly and not legibly
written written
Spelling and No errors in 2-3 errors in More than 5
Grammar grammar and grammar and errors in
spelling spelling grammar and
spelling
19
Compare and Contrast
CATEGORY 5 3 1
Similarities Cited 3 Cited 2 Cited 1 similarity
similarities similarities
Differences Cited 3 Cited 2 Cited 1 difference
differences differences
Readability of Text All texts are Some texts are Most of the texts
readable and readable and are not readable
legibly written not legibly and not legibly
written written
Spelling and No errors in 2-3 errors in More than 5
Grammar grammar and grammar and errors in
spelling spelling grammar and
spelling
CATEGORY 5 3 1
Content and Ideas The content is The content is The topic is
relevant, relevant, and irrelevant,
complete and substantial yet unsubstantial and
substantial incomplete incomplete
Accuracy All answers Most answers Very few
are correct are correct answers are
correct
Explanation All explanation Most Little explanation
is correct explanation is was given
correct
Readability of Text All texts are Some texts are Most of the texts
readable and readable and are not readable
legibly written not legibly and not legibly
written written
Spelling and No errors in 2-3 errors in More than 5
Grammar grammar and grammar and errors in
spelling spelling grammar and
spelling
20
References
Books
Abella, Roberto. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person. Quezon City: C & E
Publishing, Inc., 2016. 18, 30-31,36
Caraan, Aleli. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person. Makati City: DIWA
Learning Systems Inc., 2016, 30-31.
Ramos, Christine Carmela R. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person. Manila:
Rex Book Store, Inc., 2016, 30-33.
Winston Gallinero and Richard Juanito Estaris. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human
Person. Malabon: Mutya Publishing House, Inc., 2017, 34-35, 41-44
Online Sources
Blind Item: Two actresses clash at the set of their drama series. lionhearTV.net
https://www.lionheartv.net/2017/02/blind-item-two-actresses-clash-set-drama-series/
(accessed June 3, 2020
21