Lesson 1
Doing Philosophy
LEARNING OBJECTIVE(S):
•1.1. Distinguish a holistic
perspective from a partial point
of view PPT11/12-Ia-1.1
•1.2. Recognize human activities
that emanated from deliberate
reflection
PPT11/12-Ib-1.2
LEARNING OBJECTIVE(S):
•1.3. Realize the value of doing
philosophy in obtaining a broad
perspective on life PPT11/12-Ib-1.3
•1.4. Do a philosophical reflection on
a concrete situation from a holistic
perspective PPT11/12-Ic-1.4
WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
• The word philosophy comes from two Greek
words: philos (love) and sophia (wisdom)
• The ancient Greeks used this term to refer to the
“love of wisdom”
• The study or discipline that uses human reason to
investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and
principles which govern all things
• People who engage in philosophy are called
philosophers or “lover of wisdom”
• IS THE STUDY OF FUNDAMETAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
EXISTENCE (HUMAN BEING, EVENT: SITUATIONS, ISSUES,
PROBLEMS,EXPERIENCES) AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT
COULD HELP US UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF LIFE.
• WISDOM – In philosophical, the knowledge acquired or
coming from the experiences that could answer the
unfolded questions of a human being.
Is there a fulfilment
of wisdom of a
person?
Difference Between Philosophy and Science
•Figuratively speaking, science
is best likened to the human
mind while philosophy is to
the human heart.
•Science, in general, seeks to understand
natural
phenomena.
It
is
more
concerned on empirical evidences and
testable hypotheses. By “empirical,” it
means “that which can be observed or
experimented on.
• Philosophy is vaguer. Defining it in one concrete
sentence may not define it entirely. However,
broadly speaking, philosophy is a school of
thought that utilizes reasoning to uncover issues
concerning metaphysics, logic, epistemology,
language, ethics, aesthetics, and other
disciplines.
MOST NOTABLE ANCIENT GREEK
PHILOSOPHERS
1.Pythagoras
2.Heraclitus
3.Democritus
4.Diogenes of Sinope
• Cynicism
• Stoicism
PHYTHAGORAS
• The students and disciples of
Pythagoras believed that every
relationship
was
numberrelated, and through the study
of mathematics, man could
better come to understand the
order of the universe and his
place in it.
PHYTHAGORAS
•the influence Pythagoras had on
the world of mathematics, focus
on his ideas surrounding the
transmigration
of
souls,
or
consider the influence he would
have (both positive and negative).
HERACLITUS
• Though he was primarily concerned with
explanations of the world around him,
Heraclitus also stressed the need for people to
live together in social harmony. He complained
that most people failed to comprehend the
logos (Greek: “reason”), the universal principle
through which all things are interrelated and all
natural events occur, and thus lived like
dreamers with a false view of the world.
HERACLITUS
•His
primary
contribution lies in
his apprehension of
the formal unity of
the
world
of
experience.
DEMOCRITUS
• Democritus,
known
in
antiquity as the ‘laughing
philosopher’ because of his
emphasis on the value of
‘cheerfulness,’ was one of the
two founders of ancient
atomist theory. He elaborated
a system originated by his
teacher Leucippus into a
materialist account of the
natural world.
DIOGENES OF SINOPE
• Diogenes of Sinope (c.
404-323 BCE) was a Greek
Cynic philosopher best
known for holding a
lantern (or candle) to the
faces of the citizens of
Athens claiming he was
searching for an honest
man.
CYNISISM
• to mean a disposition of disbelief in the sincerity or
goodness of human motives and actions.
• the purpose of life is to live in virtue, in agreement
with nature. As reasoning creatures, people can gain
happiness by rigorous training and by living in a way
which is natural for themselves, rejecting all
conventional desires for wealth, power, and fame.
Instead, they were to lead a simple life free from all
possessions.
Stoicism
• teaches the development of self-control and
fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive
emotions. It does not seek to extinguish emotions
completely, but rather seeks to transform them by a
resolute Asceticism (a voluntary abstinence from
worldly pleasures), which enables a person to
develop clear judgment, inner calm and freedom
from suffering (which it considers the ultimate goal).
MOST NOTABLE ANCIENT GREEK
PHILOSOPHERS
5. Epicurus
• Epicureanism – seeking pleasure (ex. Pleasure of mind and body)
6. Socrates
• Socratic Method- art of questioning stimulates critical thinking.
7. Plato
• Theory of Forms
• Dialect
• Academy
8. Aristotle
• Deductive Reasoning- General to Specific reasoning.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
HOLISTIC THINKING AND PARTIAL THINKING?
1. Partial Thinking focuses on specific aspects of
a situation. The partial views is an important
component of analytical thinking, as an
individual focuses on a certain areas or aspect of
a problem in order to understand it. Through
partial thinking is useful, philosophy utilizes
holistic thinking in making sense of problems and
issues related to the human experience.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
HOLICTIC THINKING AND PARTIAL THINKING?
2. Holistic Thinking refers to a perspective that
considers large-scale patterns in systems. This is
often described as looking at the “big picture”
when describing and analyzing a situation or
problem. A holistic perspective requires an
individual top have an open mindset and an ability
to get the general sense or impression regarding a
situation.
THE MARCELIAN PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION
OBJECT OR EXPERIENCE
PRIMARY REFLECTION (Objective)
Dissolving the unity, analyzing the
object.
SECONDARY REFLECTION
(Subjective)
Put all things into unity,
synthesizing the object.
LIFE
Having a “life” – having friends
Biological functioning of the organs,
and loved ones. Being with them,
breathing, beating of the heart.
and enjoying with them.
2.
HOUSE
Structure, design of the house, size
of the house
It is not only considered as a
house, but a home in which family
love and bonding is present.
3.
BALL PEN
Writing material, brand, color,
shape.
A gift from my father, having a
sentimental value.
1.
THE MARCELIAN PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION
4.
RAIN
A natural phenomenon
A blessing from God for a
farmer; a curse for a commuter
5.
LOVE
It is reduced to chemical reactions
within the brain.
Love as an experience of giving
oneself to another person.
6.
WHO AM I?
Name. address, height and weight.
It is like filling up a bio data.
The innermost core of my being
and personhood
An object used for sleeping.
It is like a friend, because I hug it
whenever I’m sad and lonely. It
hears me whenever I am crying.
7.
PILLOW
Lesson 2
HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND
PHILOSOPHY
WHY IS THERE A NEED TO
PHILOSOPHIZE?
1. Sense of Wonder
2. Doubt
3. Experience
4. Love of Wisdom
What do you think to philosophize mean?
•“to philosophize means to
think
reasonably
and
clearly about the essences
of things (reality)”
HOW DO WE CHARACTERIZE THE STUDY
OF PHILOSOPHY?
1. A way of analyzing frameworks
• Framework is defined as a way of thinking about
the world and is composed of views and beliefs of
a person
• Question dealing with our correctness and values
are considered internal questions which can be
addressed using our own personal frameworks
HOW DO WE CHARACTERIZE THE STUDY
OF PHILOSOPHY?
• There are external questions that seek to questions
that very framework upon which people base their
own beliefs and views
2. As an examination of a particular area of knowledge
3. A distinct area of knowledge with its own goals,
concerns, and ways of doing things
a. Aesthetics - philosophy which deals with beauty and
what makes things “beautiful”
HOW DO WE CHARACTERIZE THE STUDY
OF PHILOSOPHY?
b. Logic - branch of philosophy which deals
with a particular aspect of life or phenomena
c. Epistemology discusses the nature of
knowledge and knowing
d. Ethics - branch which deals with moral
questions and dilemmas
HOW DO WE CHARACTERIZE THE STUDY
OF PHILOSOPHY?
e. Political Philosophy - studies government and
deals with questions and justice, power and the
rights and obligations of citizen.
f. Metaphysics - branch of philosophy which
deals with questions regarding reality
4. Philosophy is a reflective and meditative
activity
HOW DOES ONE ENGAGE IN REFLECTION?
• Reflection requires a person to be willing to examines
one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions and to learn
more about one’s life and experiences. One can
reflect on almost any subject.
• Reflection is a vital in ensuring that our actions and
decisions are well thought out and done with due
regard for their implications and consequences on
ourselves, others, and our surroundings.
HOW DOES ONE ENGAGE IN REFLECTION?
•Reflection helps us understand ourselves
and our actions better. When we reflect,
we can judge whether our actions or
decisions are reasonable or not. Taking
time to analyze your decisions and actions
is one vital skill that will greatly help you
as you encounter more challenges in life.
WHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL USES OF
PHILOSPHY IN OUR LIVES?
1. Philosophy enables a person to engage in critical analysis
and interpretation of concepts, definitions, arguments, and
problems.
2. Philosophy also improves problem-solving and decision
making.
3. A philosopher is a good communicator who can clearly and
adequately present his or her ideas.
4. Wisdom
5. Knowledge of Philosophy can contribute to selfdevelopment.
Lesson 3
THE VALUE OF PHILOSOPHY
• Cartesian Methodic DOUBT.
I EXIST AND THAT THE I
THAT
EXISTS
IS
ESSENTIALLY
A
THINKING I-THE COGIT0.
COGITO ERGO
SUM
I
Doubting=Thinking= EXISTING
THINK,THEREFORE,
I AM!
Doubted
the
certitude of the
world outside of the
(EGO)
The Thinking I is
always conscious
of the world
What is Phenomenology?
WHAT IS
BACK TO THE
THINGS
THEORIES
Attempts to describe what is given
to us in experience without
obscuring
perceptions
or
hypothetical speculations
PHENOMONOLGY
• Attempts to describe what is given to us in
experience.
• Deals with determination of the nature and
structure
• Reflecting upon our immediate or lived
experiences.
Husserl’s Model of Phenomenology (PURE)
• 1. NATURE OF ATTITUDE
• -Reality is separable from the subjective
experiences of it.
“the world is out there relative to our
experiences of it.”
Husserl’s Model of Phenomenology (PURE)
• 2. Phenomenological Attitude
• Suspend/ bracket the natural attitude
--Allows consciousness of our experiences of
reality or things.
Transform the world into
a phenomenon
Leads back to the some of the meaning
of the experienced world.
-Bracketing
-Record/identify
-Put to one side
-the unpacking of phenomenon
-one subjective perception is examined and analyzed in its purity
PHENOMENOLOGICAL REDUCTION
• Mind does not make up feature of reality
• Object does not make up features of
reality
• Enables us to assume a phenomenological
attitude
• We know and understand the essence or
meaning of things as they appear to us.
Man is rational animal.
Man is being that posses freedom
or being that escapes definition.
Techniques of Doing Philosophy
•Eidetic Reduction –
movement from fact to
essence.
Fundamental Moments of Epoche
1.Reduction
to
the
sphere
of
immanence-MANIFESTED
IN
THE
MATERIAL WORLD
-Suspension of the natural attitude
-Placing in abeyance all belief in the
transcendental world.
materiality
Fundamental Moments of Epoche
•2. Movement from the fact to essence
-Eidetic reduction
-Object are no longer concerned as
material things, but as essence.
Transcendental Phenomena
•Have
transcended
their
materiality/such as feeling,
thought,
experiences,
memories and the like.
WHAT IS A TABLE?
Perceives
and
is
conscious of the fact
that she perceives an
object but without
understanding
it’s
meaning and essence.
Insight into the nature
and
meaning
of
something through the
experience
of
that
something.
EIDECTIC REDUCTION
•Brings about an Intuition into
something as essence by
employing a method know as
imaginary variation.
What is a table?
• 1. A table has four legs?
• 2. A table is made up of wood?
• 3. A table has a flat surface?
• 4. A table is rectangular in
shape
• 5. A table is used primarily for
dining or putting things on it.
OR WE MAY ASK THE FOLLOWING:
• 1. Would it still be a table if it has no legs?
• 2.Would it still be a table if it has no
surface?
• 3. Would still be a table if it has not made of
wood?
• 4. Would still be a table if it is not a
rectangular in shape?
• 5. Would still be a table if it is not used
primarily for dining?
What is a table?
• “A table is a four-legged furniture, made up of wood, has
flat surface, rectangular in shape, and is used primarily for
dining or putting things on it.”
The things as we experienced them rather
than take them for granted.
IMPLICATION OF PURE PHENOMENOLOGY
• Realization that consciousness is intentional.
= Consciousness of/ about something
= directed toward the phenomena
INTENTIONALITY OF CONSCIOUSNESS
• 1. Always an act of doing something
• = to be conscious is to experience an act of
knowing (noesis)- Actual thinking of the definition of table.
• 2. Always referential/always pointing or
referring to something
• =conscious is an act of awareness in which the
subject is presented with an object
• (noema)- table as referent.