Lesson 1 What is Philosophy?
The word philosophy comes from two Greek words: philos (love) and sophia (wisdom).
For Heraclitus, change is a permanent aspect of the human condition and he was credited with the saying,
"No man ever steps on the same river twice."
Socrates was considered as the foremost philosopher of the ancient times.
Plato’s most significant ideas included his Theory of Forms, which proposes that everything that exists
is based on an idea or template that can only be perceived in the mind; these nonphysical ideas are eternal
and unchanging.
Logic is the branch of philosophy which deals with correct reasoning.
Epistemology discusses the nature of knowledge and knowing.
Formal Logic is a systematic analysis of the validity of arguments and statements.
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy which deals with questions regarding reality and existence.
Lesson 9 Man and Society
Social Philosophy is the branch of philosophy that studies society and influence on the human person.
Society refers to a large, independent, and organized group of people living in the same territory with a
common culture and heritage.
Socialization refers to the process by which an individual learns the prevailing behaviors, attitudes, and
values within his or her own society.
Social Role is a set of expected behaviors that must be performed by a person in society.
Social Contract is an agreement where individuals sacrifice some of their wants and submit to a higher
authority.
General Will is the belief that the people have empowered the government to act on their behalf and that
it may impose its will on the people.
Consent of the governed is a concept that believes society is formed on the basis of the consent of the
individuals that organized it.
Original Position denotes a version of the natural state where individuals who have no knowledge of their
status in a possible society will seek to establish a just and fair society that will uphold their interests.
Various views emerged to explain the developments that brought about the emergence of human society.
John Locke
Man is naturally cooperative and reasonable.
Society is organized by individuals who form a covenant to work together in upholding the
welfare of society.
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person RDDJ Page 1 of 4
Society is run by a government established by people who share common ideals and beliefs.
Should this government fall to uphold these ideals, it will be replaced by another.
Jean Jacques Rousseau
In some cases, the government is able to impose its will on the people
The government has been empowered by the people to act on their behalf, and is considered to be
the best judge regarding what is best for all.
Thomas Hobbes
Society controls the natural desires of humans in order to ensure order and harmony.
Individuals establishing a society agree on a “social contract” where they surrender their wants
and submit to a higher authority.
Lesson 10 On Happiness
The Ancient Greeks used the term Eudaimonia (good spirit) to refer to a person’s state of well-being or
happiness
Plato equates happiness with living a moral life, practicing virtues, fulfilling personal duties, and
controlling one’s desires.
For Aristotle, happiness is the primary reason for human action, and one becomes happy through the
practice of virtues and the accumulation of achievements. He proposes that to achieve happiness, a person
must plan his or her activities, and form a set of life goals to achieve a worthwhile life.
For the Epicureans, happiness means a life of peace that is free from fear and discomfort. They believe
that happiness is possible if one enjoys the simple pleasures of life and commits to a life of virtue.
Utilitarianism proposes a view on happiness based on the greatest happiness principle. This principle
states that a person’s actions are considered moral and desirable when they produce the greatest happiness
for other people. The utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham believes that happiness is achieved through
wise decision-making.
Contemporary philosophers approach happiness in terms of whole life satisfaction, where a person is
able to evaluate his or her life experiences and determine his or her level of satisfaction with how he or
she has lived life.
Wladylaw Tatarkiewicz defines happiness as “satisfaction with one’s life as a whole.”
Wayne Summer approaches happiness in two ways – cognitive perspective and affective side.
Richard Brandt traces a person’s happiness based on a total life pattern-a person should not only be
satisfied with the life he or she has lived, but must also feel constant joy and enthusiasm in life.
St. Augustine believes that happiness can be found in the afterlife when the spirit reunites with God.
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person RDDJ Page 2 of 4
Happiness as well-being is considered to have three distinct elements:
1. Contentment – satisfaction with one’s life
2. Welfare – satisfaction of a person’s wants and desires
3. Dignity – ability to control and define one’s own destiny, and freedom to live a life of one’s
choosing.
Psychologists define happiness as a balance between a person’s emotions, moods, and feelings.
Economists use socioeconomic data to define happiness and well-being in numerical terms, giving rise to
various statistics such as the Gross National Happiness Index and Gross National Well-Being Index.
The United Nations recognize happiness as “a fundamental human goal and universal aspiration,” and has
been issuing a World Happiness Report since 2012.
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person RDDJ Page 3 of 4
Lesson 11 On Suffering
Suffering refers to an experience of unpleasantness, discomfort, and pain.
Existential dread – a crisis brought about when a person begins to question his or her purpose and reason
for being.
Ennui is the feeling of weariness and discontent brought about by a lack of interest or intense boredom
with the world.
Theodicy is the philosophical branch which tries to reconcile the existence of a benevolent, all-good God
with the reality of suffering in the world.
Coping refers to the means that a person employs in dealing with difficult life situations, and involves a
conscious effort to solve personal and interpersonal problems.
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person RDDJ Page 4 of 4
