Santa Monica Institute of Tech.

Andrada Bldg. Poblacion, Iligan City

Module 2
Week 2
Senior High School
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
1st Semester of A.Y. 2021-2022 Instructor: Ceasar Ian H. Mundala

Intended Learning Outcomes

A. Distinguish opinion from truth PPT11/12-Ic-2.1

B. Analyze situations that show the difference between opinion and truth PPT11/12-Id-2.2

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C. Realize that the methods of philosophy lead to wisdom and truth PPT11/12-Id-2.3
D. Evaluate opinions PPT11/12-Ie-2.4
Activity

il
Which of the following statements are TRUE?
1. The sun is the center of the solar system. _______
2. Asia is the largest continent in the world. _______

os 3. God made the world in seven days. _______

4. Man has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness._______
5. China’s continued presence in the Spratlys is a violation of international law._______

op 6. A person must always consider the interest of his or her family before his or her own
happiness._______
7. Citizens have the right to take up arms and overthrow an oppressive government._______

hy 8. The President has done very little to uphold democracy and look after the interests of the Filipino
people._______

MO Discussion

DU Opinion Vs Truth
METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING

LE
Today, we encounter a lot of information from various sources such as media and the internet.
 Truth lies at the heart of any inquiry.
 Knowledge must be fruitful to gain validity and acceptance.
 Philosophers consider truth as a kind of quality or value.
 PROPOSITIONS are statements about the world or reality and may or
 may not carry truth.

What is truth and why is it important?

KNOWLEDGE
-Is the clear awareness and understanding of something the product of questioning that seeks for clear answers
provided by facts our knowledge is comprised of ideas and beliefs that we know to be true
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 Let’s talk about your knowledge of:

BIRDS
I know that ….
I know why ….
I know how ….

Let’s talk about your knowledge of: LOVE

I know that ….
I know why ….
I know how ….

Let’s talk about your knowledge of: HUMAN PERSON

I know that ….
I know why ….

Ph I know how ….

There are statements that are not evidently or immediately known to be true. These are called CLAIMS.

il Further examination is required to establish its truthfulness.

os TRUTHFUL STATEMENTS
 Statements that are based on facts.
 Science considers truth as something observable and empirical.

op While, Philosophy has various of view.

hy Claims, evidence and

experience is scrutinized
Has very important
purpose
and analyzed
MO
DU
LE
Doubt
Nothing is taken as
Doubt helps TRUE unless there is
determine the sufficient reason and
truth evidence to prove it.

Can be
justified or
proven
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How do we
know if
 Getting a
consensus Based
of many on facts
people
Determining truth in this case requires a person to prove a statement through an action.

Ph This can be true if they can be applied in real life.

Claims and beliefs should also be subjected to tests to determine truth and to prove their validity.

il
os Discovering truths about oneself is merely the FIRST step toward
exploring knowledge and truth.

op
hy
MO
DU How can philosophy guide us in distinguishing truth from opinion?

LE OPINION

- Statements that provide conclusions or perspectives regarding certain situations

- A judgment, viewpoint, or statement that is considered to be subjective
- It is formed based on the person's understanding, feelings, or desires about matters, topics, issues, or
concerns

CONCLUSION

- A judgement based on certain facts but can still be contested or questioned.

BELIEFS

- Statements that express convictions that are not easily and clearly explained by facts.

EXPLANATION
- Statements that assume the claim to be true and provide reasons why.
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 ARGUMENT
- Series of statements that provide reasons to convince the
reader/listener that a claim or opinion is truthful.

LOGIC
A branch of Philosophy that focuses on the analysis of arguments

 Opinions, knowledge, and arguments are not the same (claims to truth)
 There are degrees
 Some opinions won’t hurt (favorite fruit, music, etc.)
 But some do (ethnocentrism)
 To philosophize (think analytically and critically is not easy/tiring)

Ph
 We sometimes claim that we completely know / doubting is not bad
 Method as a mean (but this represent a particular reality). Not exhaustive

il
The Ultimate Truth
"The human person will always seek the truth, specifically the ultimate truth, because that is what he is
bound to do in accordance with his nature"

os What should we consider when looking at arguments or opinions?

op When looking at an opinion, be aware of BIAS.

hy Biases are not necessarily errors in reasoning, but refer to tendencies or influences which
affect the views of people.

MO HOW CAN UNDERSTANDING of the DIFFERENCE between TRUTH and

DU OPINION LEAD US TO WISDOM?

• Improve understanding and appreciation of varied views and ideas.
• Help to form one’s own personal point of view

LE • Help determine ideas that are truthful and acceptable

BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY
 Focus
 A particular view

A. Epistemology (knowledge)
 Study of the origin, structures, methods,
nature, limit, and veracity (truth,
reliability, validity) of human
knowledge (Zulueta et al., 2000)
 The value of epistemology is that it
investigates “knowing” (recall the three
ways of knowing)
- Only people have consciousness?

 Opinion vs. facts / knowledge vs. facts

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  Evaluating opinions: evidence, not dogmatic, healthy skepticism (Sioco and Vinzons, 2016, p. 54)
 Epistemology problematizes what knowledge is which can be contrasted from what an opinion is
(Edgar, 2015)
B. Metaphysics (reality)

 Asks about the “fundamental nature of reality” (Edgar,

2015, p. 1804; Giladi, 2017)
 Clearly, metaphysics examines what reality/being
means
 Deals with reality
 Its nature, meaning, and existence
 From Greek word “meta” (beyond) and “physikon”
nature

Ph
 Nature of mind, self consciousness, nature of religion
(existence of God as metaphysical question), the soul
 Examination of time, space, cause, and chance

il 

C. Axioms
Study of values / ethics / morals
Analyzes the origins, types, and characteristics, criteria, and

os 
knowledge of values
-e.g. beautiful?
Includes the analysis of human conduct, the nature and justification

op 
of social structures and political systems (Zulueta et al., 2000, p. 4)
The question of value is so pronounced and important also for
ordinary people and the everyday life

hy
 “Criteria of judgment” (Young, 2014, p.195)
 Can we really judge values?
 Can there really be metrics?

MO
DU
LE

METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING

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 Method
 “A general or established way or order of doing anything” (Ariola, 2016, p. 33)
 A defining intrinsic element of “science” or what makes science a science
 The analysis will yield a different result / focus depending on the methodology (insight from research
process)

1. Conceptual analysis
 The unit of analysis is “concept” not fact/s
 Recall the three acts of the mind (comprehension,
judgement, reasoning)
 e.g. Aristotle’s essential and accidental features

Ph
il 2. Logical Analysis

os  Study of arguments / reasoning (premises

and conclusions)

op 

Logical analysis ≠ critical analysis
Formal and informal (see handout on

hy informal fallacies)

MO
DU 3. Philosophical dialogue
 Usually a combination of other methods (e.g.
method of systematic doubt / Cartesian doubt)

LE  People / philosophers come together to discuss /

converse
 Can be called as Socratic method

4.Phenomenological method
 Pioneer: Edmund Husserl
(1859-1938)
 Understanding of the
world based on subjective
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 lived experience

5. Deconstructive method
Usually looks into the relationship of text and meanings (hence, literally criticisms)
Establishes the relationships of text, milieu, the reader, among other constructs

Ph
il
Exercise
Fact or Opinion
__________1. It takes me 30minutes to walk from my home to school.

os __________2. Living near the school is better because we don’t have to spend much for transportation.
__________3. My sister ate the last piece of pizza pie.
__________4. My sister is a selfish person because she ate the last piece of pizza pie and did not share it

op with me.
__________5. The policeman firmly pushed the suspect to is knees and placed him in handcuffs.
__________6. The aggressive manner by which the policeman arrested the suspect is an example of the

hy brutality that characterizes our police force.

Assessment
Supply relevant information on the topics below. Prepare a 2-3 paragraph essay for

MO each topic. Make sure that you include your resources and you have read the article
thoroughly. You may use the internet in order to complete this task.

DU 1. DepEd Kto12 Program

2. School Rules and Regulations
3. The Philippine Political Structure

LE Reflection

THE TROLLEY PROBLEM

What would you do and why?

What can you say about the picture below? Write your reflection.

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 Resources and Additional Resources

 Ariola, M. (2016). Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person. Unlimited Books, Intramuros:
Manila.
 Jennifer Bunquin, METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING. Retrieved by:
https://www.scribd.com/presentation/397087616/Lesson-2-METHODS-OF-PHILOSOPHIZING-pptx

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