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DOING
PHILOSOPHY
GIAN CARLO C. VILLAGRACIA
Gener al Mar i ano Al var ez T echni cal HS
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TO THE LEARNERS
Here are some reminders as you use this module:
 Use the module with care especially in turning each page.
 Be reminded to answer the Pre-Test before moving on to the
Learning Module.
 Read and comprehend the directions in every exercises.
 Observe honesty in answering the tests and exercises.
 Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of this
material.
 Try to finish a given activity before proceeding to the next.
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Introduction to
the Philosophy
of the
Human Person
Approaches in Doing Philosophy:
Reductionist and Holistic
GIAN CARLO C. VILLAGRACIA
Copyright 2019
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WHAT IS THIS MODULE ALL ABOUT?
This module serves as a learning resource material in understanding the
target competency expected in the curriculum.
TOPIC
Approaches in Doing Philosophy: Reductionist and Holistic
CONTENT STANDARD
The learner understands the meaning and process of doing philosophy
PERFORMANCE STANDARD
The learner reflects on a concrete experience in a philosophical way
LEARNING COMPETENCY
PPT11/12-Ib-1.2: Recognize human activities that emanated from
deliberate reflection
The presented activities or exercises and texts are developed
in order to meet the following objectives:
1. Differentiate reductionist from holistic approach in philosophy
2. Deliberate reflections in holistic perspective
3. Appreciate the smallest details of life and the larger picture as a whole
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PRE-TEST
Read the following items carefully. Write the
letter of your answer in a separate sheet of
paper.
1. It is the belief that human behaviour can be explained by breaking it
down into simpler component parts.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Analytic
Speculative
Reductionist
Holistic
2. What is the difference between reductionist and holistic approach?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Focus
Topic
Tools
Action
3. What is the meaning of the Greek word Holos?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Hallway
Holiday
Whole
Wonder
4. The focus of the holistic approach in philosophy is –
A.
B.
C.
D.
Time
Wholeness
Parts
Space
5. A philosopher that introduced reductionism in the modern times
A. John Locke
B. Immanuel Kant
C. René Descartes
D. Charles Darwin
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6. A philosopher that introduced holism in metaphysics
A. Plato
B. Socrates
C. Thales
D. Aristotle
7. The focus of the reductionist approach in philosophy is –
A. Time
B. Wholeness
C. Parts
D. Space
8. What is the most important point of holistic approach?
A. Priority of the wholeness of being over its parts
B. Relevance of the parts to understand the whole
C. Realities of grammar and language
D. Speculations and pure opinions
9. What is the most important point of reductionist approach?
A. Priority of the wholeness of being over its parts
B. Relevance of the parts to understand the whole
C. Realities of grammar and language
D. Speculations and pure opinions
10. Minima maxima sunt means A. The smallest things are the most important
B. The minimum wage is the maximum we can get
C. The small efforts are the greatest
D. The minimum standard of man is the maximum for humanity
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REWINDING THE PAST
Examine the picture above. Do you still remember about the
analytical and speculative approach? If yes, then you can relate it the
image of this creatively depiction of our brain; analytical to the left,
and being speculative to the right. Philosophizing doesn‟t end with just
two approaches. Let us continue our journey deeper into the realm of
philosophy!
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PLAYING THE CONCEPT
Let’s now proceed with the other two approaches in
philosophy: REDUCTIONIST and HOLISTIC!
REAL TALK:
 Reductionism is the belief that human behaviour can be
explained by breaking it down into simpler component
parts.
 Holism is a theory that parts of a whole are in intimate
interconnection, such that they cannot exist independently
of the whole, or cannot be understood without reference to the
whole, which is thus regarded as greater than the sum of its
parts.
Examine this simple example.
Fig.1
fig.2
The figure above is called gunpla, a short term for Gundam
plastic model. Figure 1 shows a part by part disassembled gunpla
while figure 2 is a whole fix toy model. In simple words, these can be
used as model on how reductionist and holistic approach work.
Reductionist in a sense that the parts are important to create a full
assembled toy model; it is so important that you need to know every
single detail of each parts to understand the whole. Holistic in a sense
that what matters most is the significance of the wholeness of this
gunpla, yet it can only be understood as a whole if we look closer to its
parts. Makes sense? Let‟s an activity!
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PAUSE AND TRY AN ACTIVITY
Draw your face!
1. Draw your preferred face in complete details as you can.
2. After drawing yourself, answer the following questions:
a. Which part of your face has the most important function?
Explain your answer.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
b. Which part of your face is the most used part?
Explain your answer.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
c. Is there a connection among the parts of your face?
Explain why yes or no.
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
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PAUSE AND ANALYZE THE ACTIVITY
Let’s analyze your “face”
But not Aristotle‟s face, we are just
going to have a figure to look at so
we can explain visually your activity
(we will mention Aristotle later).
A face is compose of two eyes,
one nose, a pair of ears, a mouth
with a set of teeth and one tongue,
cheeks, forehead, hair and facial
hair.
Each part has its own unique function.
Each part is used every single day.
Are there any connections among these
parts?
Your answers may vary with someone else‟s thoughts, simply
because your face is different from others. You are unique. You may
say that your eyes are the most used every day because your eyes
start its duty as you wake up in the morning. You may say that your
mouth has the most important function because without a mouth, it
would be difficult for you to eat or be nourished. You may say that
each part is connected with others; example, you cannot enjoy the
movie with hearing the sound; you cannot enjoy your food with being
mesmerized by just looking at it; you cannot enjoy a song if you
cannot sing it. How about your hair? Well, it matters. Aristotle is
Aristotle with that kind of hair.
Kidding aside, the ultimate question for this module is this…
“What would be the relevance of the wholeness of being?
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PLAYING THE CONCEPT ONCE AGAIN!
The activity was done to achieve a certain goal: to identify each
part and see the connection of it as a whole. Same is true with the
Reductionism and Holism ideology. We already mentioned the
definition in the REALTALK part of this module – we have seen the
difference between. But then again we are not going to settle for less.
Let‟s take a closer look!
According to Willy Ostreng in his artitle entitled Reductionism
versus Holism, the difference between these two ideologies is their
focus – the truth of the matter. The former focuses on the properties
of each part while the latter‟s emphasis is on the relationship between
them. The truth of the matter in using a reductionist approach is all
about the function of the parts of the whole – we lean towards the
details of a whole - while the truth of the matter in using the holistic
approach is the wholeness of „being‟; understanding a certain subject
as a whole, reconnecting each part to convey the ultimate truth.
Reductionism was first introduced by René
Descartes, the father of modern philosophy.
According to Vinzons, “he likened the
world to a machine with pieces working
like a clockwork mechanism.” Descartes
would like us to understand that the
machine can only be understood if
we take its pieces apart and
examine each before putting it
back together to comprehend the
bigger picture. From the word
itself, „reduce‟ – breaking down
the pieces, reducing all that is in
it, to fully realize the truth of the
matter. After all, the machine will
not work without the pieces within
it – it will not function as a whole,
part by part is essential.
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Holism is the “idea that
something can be more
than the sum of its parts.”
Meaning to say, we shall
understand everything,
all in reality, all that is
comprehensible, as a
WHOLE. Just like
its origin – holos
- a Greek word
which means „all‟,
„total‟, or „whole‟.
This approach in philosophy was summed
up by Aristotle in his
Metaphysics. He had
been using this holistic
approach and it wasn‟t
popularized not until
1926 that the
term “holism”
was presented
by Jan Smuts.
This approach is
indeed contrasted
from reductionism.
According
to
Vinzons,
“the
fundamental
assumption
underpinning the holistic perspective is that the properties of the parts
contribute to the understanding of the whole.” The relevance of the
wholeness of being is defined by the parts of it – meaning, there is
indeed interconnectedness among the parts of the subject matter to
convey the wholeness of reality. But take note, this is the counterpart
of reductionism, therefore the totality of being is important and it
refuses to divide the parts apart from the wholeness of being.
Let us be reminded that we are in preparation to understand the
philosophy of the human person. One thing that we need to consider
is that a human person cannot be understood in one factor or one side
of the story. We will create prejudices if we do so. Therefore, just like
what‟s mandated by the curriculum guide, we are going to use the
holistic approach in doing philosophy.
But it doesn‟t mean that we are going to neglect or set aside the
other approaches that we learned. Just like what reductionism is
telling us; each approach in philosophy is relevant and can be used to
philosophize – we can always be analytic in every manner as we seek
knowledge; we can also be speculative at thoughts being perceived;
and we are capable now to reduce a certain topic into its parts for us
to comprehend. Finally, we look at the bigger picture of all things
intelligible – the wholeness as one, interconnected with all around.
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LET’S STOP AND APPLY WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED
How are we going to use reductionism and holism?
Let us be reminded by a Latin Maxim – “Minima Maxima Sunt”
which literally means the smallest things are most important. We have
to look into the smallest details of our lives. Example?
o Best example to understand reductionist approach is when we
faithfully stick with our favourite chicken-pork adobo. There are
various recipes that can be used to prepare our favourite dish.
And when we come across an unusual adobo, we tend to reduce
it with the prejudices we already have; like saying, “oh parang
kulang sa paminta”, “aww bakit parang sobra sa suka?”,
“uy masarap kung may laurel ‘to” etc. Before saying that it is
the best adobo, we tend to look first into its parts as an adobo.
Of course this example is too shallow, let‟s try to be
philosophical!
o At school, we tend to take for granted the importance of daily
attendance. We thought that one single absence from school
would not take any effect in our lives. One‟s presence is always
important most especially when you belong to a particular class
section. Your class would be incomplete without your presence –
this principle could be applicable to all aspects; at home, in our
community, in social media, etc.
How about the holistic approach?
o We look into the wholeness of the person, not just in one piece of
his/her being.
o Holism helps us to take away our prejudices – in such a way
that we focus on the wholeness, not by part. Example, we will
not discuss EDSA revolution as our sole jumping board towards
the concept of freedom. It will definitely create biases if we do.
o When we practice a holistic perspective, we can deliberate ideas
philosophically because being holistic is congruent with being
open-minded to all possible realities.
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POST-TEST
Read the following items carefully. Write the
letter of your answer in a separate sheet of
paper.
1. It is the belief that human behaviour can be explained by breaking it
down into simpler component parts.
A. Analytic
B. Speculative
C. Reductionist
D. Holistic
2. What is the meaning of the Greek word Holos?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Hallway
Holiday
Whole
Wonder
3. The focus of the holistic approach in philosophy is –
A.
B.
C.
D.
Time
Wholeness
Parts
Space
4. What is the most important point of holistic approach?
A. Priority of the wholeness of being over its parts
B. Relevance of the parts to understand the whole
C. Realities of grammar and language
D. Speculations and pure opinions
5. A philosopher that introduced reductionism in the modern times
A. John Locke
B. Immanuel Kant
C. René Descartes
D. Charles Darwin
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6. Minima maxima sunt means A. The smallest things are the most important
B. The minimum wage is the maximum we can get
C. The small efforts are the greatest
D. The minimum standard of man is the maximum for humanity
7. A philosopher that introduced holism in metaphysics
A. Plato
B. Socrates
C. Thales
D. Aristotle
8. The focus of the reductionist approach in philosophy is –
A. Time
B. Wholeness
C. Parts
D. Space
9. What is the most important point of reductionist approach?
A. Priority of the wholeness of being over its parts
B. Relevance of the parts to understand the whole
C. Realities of grammar and language
D. Speculations and pure opinions
10. What is the difference between reductionist and holistic approach?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Focus
Topic
Tools
Action
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LET’S REPLAY!

The remaining two approaches in philosophizing are Reductionism
and Holism

Reductionism is the belief that human behaviour can be explained by
breaking it down into simpler component parts.

Holism is a theory that parts of a whole are in intimate
interconnection, such that they cannot exist independently of the
whole, or cannot be understood without reference to the whole, which
is thus regarded as greater than the sum of its parts.

The difference between these two ideologies is their focus – the truth
of the matter. The former focuses on the properties of each part while
the latter‟s emphasis is on the relationship between them.

As we philosophize, we shall use all the approaches but we take
Holism as our ground to understand the philosophy of the human
person.

Let us not forget the Latin Maxim – “Minima Maxima Sunt”
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Answer Key
Pre-Test
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
C
A
C
B
C
D
C
A
B
A
Post-Test
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
C
C
B
A
C
A
D
C
B
A
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REFERENCES
Vinzons, M. P. (2016). Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person. Quezon City: Vibal Group,
Inc.
Media Sources
https://www.123rf.com/photo_31726720_stock-vector-brain-left-analytical-and-right-creativehemispheres-sketch-concept-vector-illustration.html
http://www.klemens.sav.sk/fiusav/doc/filozofia/2013/2/114-123.pdf
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/rene-descartes-science-photo-library.html?product=greetingcard
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This module maybe adopted, modified and
reproduced for educational purposes with appropriate
credit to the author.
For inquiries, feedback and suggestions, please
contact the author through the Division Learning
resource Supervisor at Tel. No. _________________ and/or
email address ________________ @deped.gov.ph
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