SHS

Introduction to Philosophy
of the Human Person
Week 1: Module 1
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
Grade 11/12: Week 1: Module 1
First Edition, 2020

Copyright © 2020
La Union Schools Division
Region I

All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced in any form without
written permission from the copyright owners.

Development Team of the Module

Author: Reina C. Boac, TII

Editor: SDO La Union, Learning Resource Quality Assurance Team

Illustrator: Ernesto F. Ramos Jr., P II

Management Team:

Atty. Donato D. Balderas, Jr.

Schools Division Superintendent

Vivian Luz S. Pagatpatan, Ph.D

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

German E. Flora, Ph.D, CID Chief

Virgilio C. Boado, Ph.D, EPS in Charge of LRMS

Lorna O. Gaspar, EPS in Charge of Intro to Philosophy of the Human Person

Michael Jason D. Morales, PDO II

Claire P. Toluyen, Librarian II

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 Introduction to
Philosophy of the
Human Person
Week 1: Module 1

ii
 Target

At the end of this module, you will able to reflect on your daily experiences
from a partial point of view to holistic point of view and acquires critical and
analytical thinking skills so that you can apply this critical and analytical thinking
to the affairs of your daily life and should be able to demonstrate a capacity for a
critical and analytical reflection from the perspective of a holistic and profound
vision of life.

The learning material is divided into three lessons, namely:

Lesson 1: Holistic Perspective vs. Partial Point of View

Lesson 2: Value of Philosophy
Lesson 3: Philosophical Reflection as a Way of Doing Philosophy

After going through this learning material, you are expected to:

1. Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view (Ia-1.1)

2. Realize the value of doing philosophy in obtaining a broad perspective on
(Ib-1.2)
3. Do a philosophical reflection on a concrete situation from a holistic
perspective (Ib-1.3)

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 Jumpstart

Activity 1: Concept Check

Direction: Write your answer on a separate paper.

1. What word come to your mind if you hear the word Philosophy?
2. Why do we need to study Philosophy?
3. Is Philosophy important to our daily lives? Why or Why not?

Great Job! Later as you continue reading this learning

materials we will see if your answers are correct.

Discover

Lesson 1: Holistic Perspective vs. Partial Point of View

In a few years, you will gain new experiences in life that you may have
dreamed of. Such experiences may excite or challenge you, while some can make
you rethink your life and decisions. At your age, you may have already asked
yourself important questions about your life that cannot be directly answered
through research or education, such as “What I want” or what make me happy”. If
you asked those big questions you engage in Philosophy
The original meaning of philosophy based on it’s etymologically is love of
wisdom. The term “philosophy is an English translation of the Greek word
“Philosophia” which is the combination of the two Greek words namely, “philo”
which means love, and “sophia” which means wisdom. Where Love is the strong
desire of a particular object and wisdom is the correct application of knowledge. A
philosopher consequently is lover of wisdom or one who loves wisdom. The term
philosopher is used by Pythagoras, the Ancient Greek thinker popularly known for

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mathematical formula the Pythagorean Theorem. Pythagoras preferred to be called
a philosopher rather than sophist which literally means wise man or one who
knows.

Common meaning of Philosophy

a. Philosophy is called science because the investigation is systematic and it
follows certain steps or it employs certain procedures. In other words, it is an
organized body of knowledge just like any other sciences. It is a science where
reason and logic are used to understand reality and answer questions of
knowledge. Overall Philosophy is a science that studies beings in their ultimate
caused, reasons, through the aid reason alone. Beings, in philosophy means that
all things that exists material or immaterial. Example of material stones, tress,
cars, plants and immaterial is the notion of soul spirit and God.

b. Philosophy as a Natural Light of Reason because it investigates things, not

by using any other laboratory instrument or investigative tools, neither on the
basis of super natural revelation, otherwise it becomes theology; instead the
philosopher uses his natural capacity to think or simply human reason alone or
so called unaided reason.

c. Philosophy as a Study of all things. The reason is that philosophy is not one
dimensional or partial. In short a philosopher does not limit himself to a particular
object of inquiry. He questions almost anything, if not everything. It is
multidimensional or holistic.

d. Philosophy as a First Cause or highest Principle.

1. Principle of Identity- whatever is is; and whatever is not is not; everything
is what it is. Everything is its own being, and not being is not being. It
means that each thing is identical with itself.
Ex: "a = a" or "For all x: x = x",
2. Principle of Non-Contradiction- it is impossible for a thing to be and not
be at the same time, and at the same respect. The law of non-
contradiction is a rule of logic. It states that if something is true, then the
opposite of it is false. For example, if an animal is a cat, the same animal
cannot be a cat.

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 3. Principle of Excluded Middle- a thing is either is or is not; everything
must be either be or nor be; between being and not being, there is no
middle ground possible. Example “The world is flat” you should answer
True or False. If you believe the world is flat, then you should answer
True if not you should answer False. Principle of Sufficient Reason-
nothing exists without a sufficient reason for its being and existence.

e. Philosophy as a BODY of KNOWLEDGE because it provides methodologies

and insights on how societal questions, such as moral dilemmas of euthanasia or
same sex marriage, can be answered.

f. Philosophy as an INTELLECTUAL ACTIVITY is an analytic procedure of

addressing individual thought process such as resolving conflict and confusion,
testing positions, and analyzing beliefts.in all instances, doing philosophy is
prescribed by logic, reason and ethics leading to wisdom.

Branches of Philosophy

A. Metaphysics
-Came from the Greek words meta and physika, where meta is beyond off after and
physika means physical and nature.

Subdivided into 2
1. General Metaphysics/Ontology
 Onto means being.
 Logos means knowledge or study

Ontology
 Studies beings in their ultimate causes, reason and principles through the
aid of reason alone.

2. Special Metaphysics
 Cosmology
 came from the Greek word kosmos and logos, means world and study
 Cosmology means it studies the world or universe including its origin,
dynamics, and characteristics, as well as the laws that govern its order.
 Psychology
 Came from the Greek word psyche and Logos means soul and mind and
study.

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  Study of the nature and dynamics of the person as a whole with emphasis
on the way the persons mind functions and the way she behaves.
• Theodicy
 Came from the Greek word Theos means God. Study of God, it is the
justification of the Good ness of God in the face of the existence of evil.

B. METAPHYSICS
◦ deals with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts
such as being, knowing, substance, cause, identity, time, and space
◦ Abstract theory or talk with no basis in reality

C. ETHICS- Came from the Greek Ethos means custom or habit. It is the morality
of human actions. It concerns on how human persons ought to act and the search
for definition of a right conduct and good life.

D. EPISTEMOLOGY
Came from the Greek word Episteme and Logos meaning knowledge and study.
Study the nature of knowledge and justified beliefs. Specifically, it analyzes the
nature of knowledge and how to relate into a similar such as truth, deals with the
nature, sources, limitation, and validity of knowledge. It explains the following:
 How we know what we claim to know
 How can we find out what we wish to know
 How can we differentiate truth from falsehood
How do we acquire reliable knowledge?

1. INDUCTION - On one hand, he sees, hears, and touches; on the other

hand, he organizes mind what he learners through the senses. What one
sees, hear and touch is more important. Philosophers believe that
general ideas are formed from the examination of particular facts.
Empiricism the view that knowledge can be attained only through sense
experience. Knowledge is based on what our sight, hearing, smell, and
other senses tell us is really out there, not what people make up in their
heads
2. DEDUCTION – it is more important to find a general law according to
which particular facts can be understood or judged. Its advocates are

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 called rationalist (Rene Descartes) Real knowledge is based on Logic, the
laws, and the methods that reason develops.
The best example of knowledge according to them is Mathematics, a
realm of knowledge that is obtained entirely by reason that we use to
understand the universe
3. PRAGMATISM – (William James and John Dewey) believed that the value
in use is the real of truth and meaning. The meaning and truth of an idea
are tested by its practical consequence

E. Logic – comes from the Greek word “ logike” – means a treatise on matters
pertaining to human thought. The concern is the truth or the validity of our
arguments regarding such objects. It is based on claims about propositional
structure and the body of argumentative techniques has a variety of
meanings including word, thought, idea, argument, account, reason or
principle; is the study of reasoning, or the study of the principles and criteria
of valid inference and demonstration.

F. Aesthetics – is the science of the beautiful in its various manifestation

including the sublime, comic, tragic, pathetic and ugly. To experience
aesthetics, therefore, means whatever experience has relevance to art,
whether the experience be that of the creative artist or of appreciation.

Importance of Aesthetics of which learners need to consider:

It vitalizes knowledge makes our knowledge of the world alive and useful. It
helps one to realize a part of a play, a poem, or a story to give one a new insight, to
help one see new relationship between the separated items in one’s memory
It helps us to live more deeply and richly. A work of art-whether a book, a
piece of music, painting, or a television/movie show helps us to rise from a purely
physical existence into the realm of intellect and the spirit. As a being of body and
soul, a human being needs nourishment for his higher life as well as his lower
It brings us in touch with our culture. Things about us change so rapidly
today that we forget how much we owe to the past. Hans-Georg Gadamer, a
German philosopher, argues that our tastes and judgments regarding beauty, work
in connection with one’s own personal experience and culture. He believes that our
culture consists of the values and beliefs of our time and society. That is why a
“dialogue’ or conversation is important in interpreting works of Art.

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Meaning and Process of Doing Philosophy

Doing philosophy means engaging oneself in matters of utility and

methodologies to eliminate any practical problem or abstract idea. Before engaging
in philosophical inquiry, one must be able to distinguish between a holistic and
partial point of view. This is critical for anyone doing philosophy because it sets a
limit in coming up with conclusions about a given situation.
 Characteristics of Partial Point of View
1. Looks at only a limited number of aspects of the given problem or
situation
2. Conclusions are made based on considering some, but not all, sides the
problem or situation
 Characteristics of Holistic Points of view
1. Looks at all the aspects of the given problem or situation
2. All aspects are given importance when making conclusion.
3. All aspects are tied in together to form a general overview of the problem
or situation.
Looking at the characteristics of holistic and partial points of view, it can
be concluded that using a holistic perspective is more reliable in doing
philosophy than using a partial perspective. Partial points of view only
promote limited knowledge on the situation. This leads to wrong
conclusions. Philosophy requires learning to look into all available
perspectives and work on their relationship to come up with sound, logical,
and valid conclusion. In the process, doing philosophy helps one to develop
the skill of broadly looking at the situation first before concluding anything.

Explore

Activity 1: Throw back

Direction: Give a brief answer to the following question. Write your answer on a
separate paper.
1. Give at least 5 situations where you are adopted a holistic view in looking at a
problem or situation.

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Rubrics
Category 4 3 2 1
Topic Content is
Content is Content is Content is
closely related to
nearly related somewhat slightly related
the topic. to the topic. related to the to the topic.
topic.
Content The statement is The statement The statement Statement is
very well is pretty well is hard to slightly
organized. organized. understand. organized.

Deepen

Activity 2: Optimize Me
Direction; Give a brief and substantial answer to the question. Write your answer
on a separate paper.
1. How can having a holistic view help us become better individuals?

Rubrics
Category 4 3 2 1
Topic Content is
Content is Content is Content is
closely related to
nearly related somewhat slightly related
the topic. to the topic. related to the to the topic.
topic.
Content The statement is The statement The statement Statement is
very well is pretty well is hard to slightly
organized. organized. understand. organized.

Discover

Lesson 2: Value of Philosophy

Socrates believed that philosophy should achieve practical results for the
greater well-being of society. He attempted to establish an ethical system based on
human reason rather than theological doctrine. Socrates pointed out that human
choice was motivated by the desire for happiness. Russell holds that the
primary value of philosophy is not in any kind of definite answer, but exists in the

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questions themselves. He concludes that, "through the greatness of the universe
which philosophy contemplates, the mind also is rendered great."

According to Plato, Philosophy is the love of knowledge, the pursuit of truth,

and the questioning of all ideas. By studying, discussing, or just thinking about the
many ideas in the world, you can find questions you had never thought to ask, or
perspectives you had never considered before.

Importance of Doing Philosophy

 Doing philosophy can be applied in day to day activities and perspective.
Because it involves an evaluate process, doing philosophy allows a person to
make better decisions and act accordingly to situation with the help of
various philosophical skills.
 Doing philosophy enables reflective thinking which greatly influences a
person’s view of life, challenges, and relationships.
 Doing philosophy directs how a person will perceive these factors in life and
how they will be faced.
 In any setting, wisdom is always gained when philosophy is applied to
formula conclusion about a certain concern

What do you think?

Is doing philosophy possible without engaging in philosophical reflection?

Tips
 In doing philosophy, a holistic perspective on the subject is always required.
Failure to do so or only using partial point of view may lead to illogical or
incorrect conclusion.
 In the process of doing philosophy is critical to have holistic perspective- the
perception of looking at all aspects of a situation first before making a
conclusion. This point of is different from holistic thinking which is a mental
activity of recognizing the interconnectedness of systems and procedure to
form a general picture of an issue.
 The process of doing philosophy should not be mistaken for the Filipino
activity of pamimilosopo or pedantry where a person displays useless
knowledge or minute observances of small details.

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 Explore

Activity 1. Think Carefully

Direction: Below are the different human actions think what must be done before
doing the actions. Complete the table below. Write your answer on a separate
paper.

Actions What must be done before the action?

1. Deciding where to study Senior
High school

2. Asking permission in going out

with friends

3. Watching movie that not suitable

with your age.

4. Posting your opinions in social

media.

5. Engaging pre-marital sex

Activity 2: Reflection

Direction: Answer briefly and substantially the following questions and write your
answer in a separate paper.

1. Based on your answers in Activity 2, what must be done before making actions?
2. Is it helpful that you do this before making actions? Why or why not?
3. As a grade 11 student, what have you realized about this activity? Reflect and
explain your answer.

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 Deepen

Activity 3: Valuing

Direction: Answer the question below and write your answer in a separate paper.

1. What is the value of doing philosophy in

a. Life
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
b. Society
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

c. World
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Rubrics
Category 4 3 2 1
Topic Content is
Content is Content is Content is
closely related to
nearly related somewhat slightly related
the topic. to the topic. related to the to the topic.
topic.
Content The statement is The statement The statement Statement is
very well is pretty well is hard to slightly
organized. organized. understand. organized.

Discover

Lesson 3: Philosophical Reflection as a Way of Doing Philosophy

Jay and Ryan proceeded to articulate the specificity of the approaches to

doing philosophy. They start with the discussion on the nature and dynamics of
philosophical reflection.

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 According to Jay and Ryan, philosophical reflection is one of the important
skills that one needs in doing philosophy. In order to drive their point, Jay and
Ryan appropriated Gabriel Marcel’s notion of philosophical reflection, which is
deeply personal and is intimately anchored on day-to-day existence. For Marcel, as
Jay and Ryan argue, philosophical reflection is first and foremost the act of giving
time to think about the meaning and purpose of life.

There are two types of philosophical reflection according to Marcel, namely,

primary reflection and secondary reflection. Primary reflection is a kind of thinking
that calculates, analyzes, or recounts past events. In this way, primary reflection is
a fragmented and compartmentalized thinking. Thus, for Marcel, according to Jay
and Ryan, primary reflection cannot be a genuine thinking because it failed to
make sense of the whole, of the mystery of life. In other words, primary reflection is
selfish thinking because it is instrumental thinking. As we already know,
instrumental thinking is a “means-end” kind of thinking. Applied to human
relations, instrumental thinking thinks only of what it can practically get in a
relationship. For example, one may establish a relationship or friendship with
somebody who is rich so that she may be able to borrow money in times of need.
Secondary reflection, on the other hand, is characterized by the act recapturing the
unity of the original experience by gathering back together what has been
separated by primary reflection. Thus, secondary reflection allows us to think
holistically. In this way, secondary reflection enables us to integrate our
fragmented and compartmentalized experience into a coherent whole. This gives us
the impression that secondary reflection for Marcel is genuine or unselfish
thinking. Applied to human relations, secondary reflection does not think of what it
can practically get in a relationship. Here, the human person establishes a
relationship with the other not because of what she can get, but is premised on the
idea that the other is a human person that deserves respect, care and love.

Explore

Activity 1: Pandemic
Direction: Make a reflection about the Corona Virus (Covid-19) based on the
following questions.

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 1. Explain in your own words what is the Novel Corona Virus?
2. How does it spread and why is it spreading so quickly?
3. What are the symptoms of Covid-19?
4. What are the precautionary measures for Covid-19?
5. How can you protect yourself from the Corona Virus?
Rubrics
Category 4 3 2 1
Topic Content is
Content is Content is Content is
closely related to
nearly related somewhat slightly related
the topic. to the topic. related to the to the topic.
topic.
Content The statement is The statement The statement Statement is
very well is pretty well is hard to slightly
organized. organized. understand. organized.

Deepen

Activity 2: Thorn Between the Two

Direction: Give your primary and secondary reflection on the different situations.

1. Due to the increasing number of Covid-19 infections, your

municipality is declaring a one-month enhanced community
quarantine in your municipality.
2. Because of the pandemic brought about by Covid-19, various
measures were put in place. In the Department of Education (DepEd)
the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) was formulated.
A critical component of the LCP is enabling teachers and school
leaders to use different distance learning delivery modalities. These
modalities are the online distance learning, modular distance
learning, RBI/TVI learning and the blended distance learning.

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 Gauge

Assessment 1:

Direction: Read the statement below and identify what is ask. Write your answers
in a separate paper.

1. What do you call the strong desire for a particular object?

A. Immaterial Things C. Love
B. Material Things D. Wisdom
2. What do you call the process by which a person undergoes a reflective state
or evaluates his or her experiences before making any related action?
A. Holistic Perspective C. Partial Perspective
B. Primary Reflection D. Secondary Reflection
3. It studies beings in their ultimate causes, reason and principles through the
aid of reason alone.
A. Cosmology B. Ontology C. Psychology D. Theodicy
4. Who was the Ancient Greek thinker more popularly known for Mathematical
formula, the Pythagorean Theorem?
A. Pythagoras B. Aristotle C. Confucius D. Plato
5. What reflection allows us to think holistically?
A. Holistic Perspective C. Partial Perspective
B. Primary Reflection D. Secondary Reflection
6. Which of the following, when translated, means ‘Love of Wisdom’?
A. Philosophy B. Pythagoras C. Science D. Psychology
7. The Greek word ‘Ethos’ means custom or habit. What branch of Philosophy
came from it?
A. Epistemology B. Ethics C. Logic D. Metaphysics
8. It is a branch of Philosophy where real knowledge is based on logic, the laws,
and methods that develop reason.
A. Epistemology B. Ethics C. Logic D. Metaphysics
9. What is “being” in Philosophy?
A. Unaided reason.
B. It follows a certain procedure
C. The notion of God, Soul, and Spirit
D. Anything that exist material and immaterial
10. Philosophy which provides methodologies and insights on how societal
questions, such as moral dilemmas of euthanasia or same sex marriage, can
be answered.
A. Body of Knowledge C. Natural Light of Reason
B. Intellectual Activity D. Study of all Things

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Assessment 2:

Direction: Give a brief answer on the following questions. Write your answer on a
separate paper.

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

2. How does philosophy help you address your present situation?

Category 4 3 2 1
Topic Content is
Content is Content is Content is
closely related to
nearly related somewhat slightly related
the topic. to the topic. related to the to the topic.
topic.
Content The statement is The statement The statement Statement is
very well is pretty well is hard to slightly
organized. organized. understand. organized.

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 16
Answer Key:
Assessment 1
1. C 6.A
2. A 7.B
3. B 8. A
4. A 9. D
5. D 10. A
References
Books

Christine Carmela R. Ramos, PhD. 2016. Introduction to the Philosophy of the

HumanPerson: REX Book Store, 865 Nicanor Reyes, Sr. St. Manila.

Napolen M. Mabaquiao Jr. PhD and Ronaldo B. Mactal, PhD. Making Life

Worth Living: An Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person,

2016 Phoenix Publishing House Inc. Quezon City

Websites

https://philonotes.com/index.php/2017/12/24/doing-philosophy/

Mb.com.ph>2020/07/22>phs-covid-19-count surges https://mb.com.ph/2020/07/22/phs-

covid-19-count-surges-to-72269/

https://www.facebook.com/pia1launion/

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