Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Reviewer

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 "love of wisdom" and they soon applied it to
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 "lovers of wisdom."

The following are the most notable ancient Greek philosophers.

*Pythagoras (570 BCE to 495 BCE) - A mathematician and scientist, he was credited with
formulating the Pythagorean theorem.
*Heraclitus (535 BCE to 475 BCE) - He proposed that everything that exists is based on a
higher order or plan which he called logos. For him, change is a permanent aspect of the
human condition as he was credited with the saying, "No man ever steps in the same river
twice."
*Democritus (460 BCE to 370 BCE) - He devoted himself to the study of the causes of
natural phenomena. He was among the first to propose that matter is composed of tiny
particles called atoms.
*Diogenes of Sinope (412 BCE to 323 BCE)-He was a known advocate of living a simple
and virtuous life. He was also known to be a vocal critic of well-known philosophers such as
Plato and Aristotle. His teachings and views were later developed by his followers and
influenced the development of several schools of philosphy such as Cynicism and Stoicism.
*Epicurus (341 BCE to 270 BCE) - He believed that philosophy could enable man to live a
life of happiness.
*Epicureanism - a school of philosophy which believes that wisdom and simple living will
result in a life free of fear and pain.
*Socrates (470 BCE to 399 BCE) -He was considered the foremost philosopher of ancient
times. He made great contributions to the field of ethics.
*Plato (427 BCE to 347 BCE) – He a student of Socrates, he wrote down his mentor's
teachings and incorporated some of his own ideas into them. His teachings and writings were
considered the foundation of Western philosophy.
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.
Plato is also known for his dialectic - a method of inquiry where two opposing ideas are
discussed in an attempt to arrive at new knowledge.
*Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE) - He attended the Academy, and was a prominent student
of Plato.

* A framework is defined as a way of thinking about the world and composed of the views
and beliefs of a person.
* Internal Questions- which can be addressed using our own personal framework.
* External Questions- seek to question the very framework upon which people base their
own beliefs and views.

Branches Philosophy
* The philosophy which deals with beauty and what makes things "beautiful" is called
Aesthetics.
*Logic is the branch of philosophy which deals with correct reasoning.
* Epistemology - discusses the nature of knowledge and knowing.
* Ethics- Is the branch which deals with moral questions and dilemmas.
* Political Philosophy- studies governments and deals with questions of justice, power and
the rights and obligations of citizens.
* Metaphysics - is a branch of philosophy which deals with questions regarding reality and
existence.
* Philosophy of the Human Person- is an area in philosophy that understands the human
person from a philosophical perspective integrating and synthesizing the different branches of
philosophy and other fields of study to know the truth about the human person.

What is the difference between holistic thinking and partial thinking?

* 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 to have an open mindset
and an ability to get the general sense or impression regarding a situation.
* Partial thinking -focuses on specific aspects of a situation. The partial view is an important
component of analytical thinking, as an individual focus on certain areas or aspects of a
problem in order to understand it. Though partial thinking is useful, philosophy utilizes holistic
thinking in making sense of problems and issues related to the human experience.

Methods of Philosophizing
Philosophy is concerned with determining truth since it lies at the heart of any inquiry.

* Facts- are statements that are observed to be real of truthful.

* Claims- are statements that require further examination to determine their truthfulness.
* Opinions- are comprised of statements which is not only give facts but also provide
conclusions or perspectives regarding certain situations. Opinions may advance a belief about
certain things or provide explanations.
* Arguments- are a series of statements that provide reasons to convince the reader or
listener that a claim or opinion is truthful.
* Fallacies- arguments that may be based on faulty reasoning. Some fallacies may be
intentional, as a person making the claim is desperate to convince you to accept his or her
argument.
Example of fallacies:
Ad hominem, appeal to force, appeal to emotion, appeal to the popular, appeal to
tradition, begging question, cause-and-effect, fallacy o composition, and fallacy o
division.

*Bias- personal view o a peson.

Example of Biases:
Correspondence bias or attribution effect, confimation bias, framing, hindsight,
conflict or interest, and cultural bias

* Conclusion- is a judgment based on certain facts.

* Beliefs- are statements that express convictions that are not easily and clearly explained
by facts.

The Human Person as an Embodied Spirit

Philosophers consider the human person as defined by the union of the body and the spirit.
The human person is an embodied spirit. Not only are the body and united, but they are also
integrated with each other. This means that we cannot separate the two and they go hand-in-
hand in making us who we are.

* Man is the general term commonly used to refer to the entire human race. Other related
terms include humanity, mankind, and humankind.
* Human- refers to man as a species - Homo sapiens or modern human beings.
*Human being- is also used to distinguish man from other animals.
*Person- is a much more complex term which generally refers to a human being granted
recognition of certain rights, protection, responsibilities, and dignity, above all. Philosophers
refer to the human person as the totality of an individual, possessing awareness, self-
determination, and the capacity to interact with others and with himself or herself.
* Personhood- refers to the state of being a person.
* Human Nature- refers to the characteristics that distinguish humans from all other
creatures. These traits are assumed to arise independent of the influence of culture and
society. Examples of these characteristics include thinking, feeling, and acting. These traits
are considered to form the essence of humanity, and without them, an individual may not be
considered a human person.
* Self- this refers to an individual who is actively aware that he or she is perceiving and
experiencing reality.
* Self-awareness- refers to the person having a clear perception of oneself, including his or
her thoughts, emotions, identity, and actions.
* Self-determination- refers to the capability of persons to make choices and decisions
based on their own preferences, monitor and regulate their actions, and be goal-oriented and
self-directed.
* Free will- enables us to do actions whenever we want to and makes self-determinations
possible.
* Spirit- This is the intangible element that enables us to exercise thought, posses
awareness, and reach out to the outside world and others.
* Transcendence- This is the ability to surpass limits.
*Dignity- this is the inherent value of a person which cannot be expressed in quantifiable
terms.
* Externality- this is the capability to reach out and interact with others and the world.
* Interiority- this refers to the ability of the person to experience an “inner world” that is
defined by personal thoughts and ideas.

The Human Person in the Environment

How does philosophy define the person’s relationship with the environment?

Three major views regarding the relationship between humanity and the
environment:
1. Anthropocentrism- focuses on the significant role of humankind in the world and
considers nature as the means by which humans are able to meet their needs and survive.
2. Biocentrism- believes that humans are not the only significant species on the planet, and
that all organisms have inherent value and should protected.
3. Ecocentrism- this view believes that humankind is part of a greater biological system or
community and that we have a significant role as stewards or guardians of nature.

*Environmental Aesthetics- a philosophical view that believes maintaining order in the

environment will bring out the natural beauty of the surrounding and contribute to the well-
being of the people and other organisms living in it.
Sustainability o sustainable development- focuses on reconciling human activities and
economic development with the protection o the environment.
Sustainability relies on three important principles: environment integrity,
economic efficiency, and equity.
1. Environmental Integrity- refers to maintaining the state of the environment.
2. Economic Efficiency- refers to prudence in decision-making regarding the use of
resources to ensure that there is minimum to zero waste;
3. Equity- demands that we use our natural resources in such a manner that these are
conserved so that the next generation will be able to use them.
*Prudence- an ability to regulate one’s actions and behavior.
*Frugality- is being thrifty with the use of one’s resources.
Prepared by:

Ms. Maria F. Lucero

Subject Teacher