INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON Lesson 1: Doing Philosophy (Philosophical Questions) Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize and differentiate between philosophical questions and other types of inquiries 2. Reflect on different philosophical questions 3. Analyze philosophical questions and develop thoughtful answers Directions: Since asking and trying to find answers are natural human activities in order to seek knowledge, think about the possible answers to the questions below. Directions: Read the following headlines. What “simple”, “serious”, and “deep” questions come to mind when you read them? Discuss them in class. Flash floods in remote village kill a hundred people. Abused children kept chained in basement for five years finally rescued Man sentenced to ten years for stealing milk to feed his baby Lottery winner donates half of winnings to local orphanage Read the questions: • What is this? • What does this do? • Why are trees tall? • Why is the sky is so far? Simple questions: • Simple questions are easily ignored because of their simplicity, but these indicate a healthy curiosity and a sense of wonder which is a most important feature of childhood innocence. Read the questions: • Why do I have to study? • What do I need to do to get better grades? • Why can’t I have more friends? • What should I do to achieve my goals in life? • Why did I fail? • What can I do to do better? In the family our parents usually say: • How can our budget cover our family’s expenses? • What should I do to earn more? • Would it be better to apply for a new job? • Did I make the right choice in buying the property? • How do I deal with difficult people at work? Serious questions: • Serious questions are influenced by our experiences and circumstances. • Serious questions are asked to help us plan and decide on certain tasks. • These are questions that we often hear in everyday situation/conversations. Read the questions: • What is love? • Is love worth giving up everything? • Where one can find true happiness? • Does the end justify the means? • Why do good people suffer? • Why is there injustice in these world? • What can we do to make the world a better place? • Why do I have to be a good person? Deep questions: • We encounter them in serious conversations, in the books we read, the songs we hear on the radio and even in the movies we watch. • Our lives become more meaningful because we search for answers to these innumerable questions. • This is the essence of Philosophy-the search for answers to life’s questions. Philosophical Questions • Philosophical questions are difficult questions and almost impossible to answer. • These questions can only be answered by using reason as a tool wherein it can be expressed in different forms such as the ability to reflect, ask questions, explain one’s thought, and analyze certain experiences and phenomenon. Here are some basic philosophical questions that human beings have asked and tried to answer over the course of humanity: • What is the origin of the universe and everything that exists? • Does God exist? If so, why is there suffering? • What is the meaning and purpose of life? Directions: Write P if the statement is a philosophical question and NP if the statement is non-philosophical. _____1. What is the meaning of life? _____2. Where can you find Mount Natib? _____3. How many cups of rice can you eat? _____4. What happens after death? _____5. Why do we always hurt the ones we love? _____6. What is love? _____7. What's the date today? _____8. Are human beings just machines? _____9. Are penguins considered as birds? _____10. What is right or wrong action? Directions: Now, pick any three (3) of these interesting philosophical questions and try to answer them. Or you can also write your own philosophical questions that you would like to find answers to. Write the answer on a sheet of paper. (30 points) Questions: 1. Is it possible to live a normal life and not ever tell a lie? 2. What do you think would be humanity’s reaction to the discovery of extraterrestrial life? 3. If freedom is simply being able to do what you want, are animals freer than humans? 4. What are you going to do with the one life you have? 5. Why do humans easily believe in magic? 6. If babies are considered innocent, when do people lose their innocence? 7. What is your definition of a bad person? 8. What would happen if everybody was rich? 9. Can a society exist without laws? 10. Would you kill ten people to save one? Directions: Choose a topic below and formulate up to 9 questions. Classify these questions using the table below: a. “South China Sea Disputes” b. “Rice prices increases”
