SHS

Introduction to Philosophy of the

Human Person
Quarter 1 – Module 9
THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE
ENVIRONMENT

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Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person
Quarter 1 – Module 9: THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE ENVIRONMENT

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Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin
Regional EPS: Sheila C. Bulawan
Division EPS: Presyl A. Bello

Development Team of the Module

Writer: DENNIS S. CERENO- Jose Panganiban NHS, SDO Cam. Norte
Editor: JESSIE MARIE MATA MORCOSO - Pawa HS, SDO Legazpi City
ALVIN A. SARIO, PhD - University of Santo Tomas, Legazpi
Reviewers: GERRY A. BAJARO - Oro Site HS, SDO Legazpi City
JESON D. BALINGBING - Pag-asa NHS, SDO Legazpi City
ROMEO A. TUSI - Pawa HS, SDO Legazpi City
ROMMEL U. QUIÑONES - Homapon HS, SDO Legazpi City
Illustrator: VIAN GABRIEL SPES B. QUINONES – Grade 7, Philippine
Science HS, Goa, Camarines Sur

Layout Artist:
Cover Photo: DENNIS S. CERENO-- Jose Panganiban NHS, SDO Cam. Norte
INTRODUCTION
The relationship between man and the environment
has been established since the early years of mankind.
Human beings live in the kingdom of nature and interact with
it constantly. The gift of nature in the form of the air we
breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the flow of
energy and information that we experience every day truly
keep mankind at pace. That, any undesirable modification in
the environment can not only result in devastating effects to
the environment but also pose a threat to the human race.
A forest or vegetation without human intervention is in the state of
orderliness. Once humans interact to manipulate it, domesticate plants and
animals, it changes up to that extent noticeable to the degree of disorderliness,
and thus, problems in the forests start to occur and result to ecological backlash.
What is the world made of? A superior human and an environment to live
in, one has its own role to perform. And world is in the process of change. The
speculation of the pre-Socratic philosophers represents a paradigm shift– a change
from mythical explanation of the origins of the cosmos to a more rational
explanation. Eastern sages probed nature’s depths intuitively through the eyes of
spiritual sages which Greek thinkers viewed nature trough cognitive and scientific
eyes (Price 2000). These thinkers were looking for the underlying laws of nature.
They wanted to understand the processes of nature by studying nature itself, and
not by listening to the stories about the gods.
Changes occur as the degree of disorderliness: the more disorder in the
system, the more environmental problems we will meet, the more order in the
system, the more sustainable earth will be shared. This module shall instill
awareness to the learners with the real score happening in our society and the
environment that we live in and the damaging changes that we believe contribute
to the betterment of mankind and the healing world. Take a journey and enjoy
while learning. It will provide you an insight into what is actually happening in us
and in the world! Good luck!

OBJECTIVES
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
1. Notice things that are not in their proper place and organize
them in an aesthetic way (PPT11/12-Ii-4.1)
2. Identify environmental disorders.
3. Give the importance of being systematic and resourceful

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VOCABULARY

Now, that you know your targets for the day, have a glimpse of the
new words below which may appear in this module.

AESTHETICS may be defined as the concepts of expression,

representation, and the nature of art objects or beauty.

ENVIRONMENTAL DISORDERS are often associated with an

imbalance of nature due to changes in the environment and give rise
to several problems and challenges for humankind.

THEORY is a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something,

especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be
explained.

ENVIRONMENTAL ORDER refers to an orderly environment where human

persons thrive best.

PRE-TEST
A. MULTIPLE CHOICE
Direction: Read and answer each item carefully and write the letter
of your answer on your journal.
1. Which of the following environmental disorder will affect
marine organisms?
A. Releasing hot wastewater from a geothermal power plant
to bodies of water
B. Newly grown seedlings in the forest
C. Cleaning of a clogged canal or drainage
D. Burning of coal from power plants

2. How can we organize aesthetically a mountain of garbage?

A. Burn all the garbage
B. Dig a hole on the ground and bury all the garbage
C. Use incineration to dispose of the garbage.
D. Sort out the garbage into biodegradable, recyclable and toxic material

3. Which of the following activities makes the degree of disorderliness to

orderliness with nature?
1- Clean up activities in the seashore
2- Planting of young trees in the forest
3- Burning of garbage in the landfill

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 4- Patronage organically has grown plants and animals

A. 1, 2, 3 B. 2,3,4 C. 1, 3, 4 D. 1, 2, 4

4. Which of the following is the LEAST productive way to protect the

environment?
A. Support and become a volunteer in an environmental campaign
B. Patronize locally environmental made products
C. Eat and choose the right amount of food
D. Post and make placard for environmental awareness

5. How can we organize aesthetically a denuded forest?

A. Clear all the grass to plant more crops
B. Make a riprap to protect soil erosion and soil leaching
C. Collect different varieties of flora and fauna of the forest
D. Plant and replace trees that are being cut down.

B. TRUE or FALSE
Direction: On your journal, write TRUE if the statement is true and FALSE if
it is false.

6. Human plays an important part in nurturing the environment.

7. Environmental disorder results in the equilibrium of things.
8. Destroying nature is a reflection wherein few people overpower others while
exploiting the environment for profit or self- interest.
9. People have a unique ability of cultivating nature, bringing it closer to their
intended ends.
10. The early history of humankind shows that wherever humans came together to
form communities, the landscape and the environment changed.

Congratulations! You’re done with the Pre-Test. Let us do more exciting learning
activities!
The first activity that you are dealing with will help you understand the topic.

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 LEARNING ACTIVITY 1
Guess the meaning that implies
Directions: Read carefully the quotes from different
philosophers or famous people. Conclude on their beliefs
about the environment and answer the guide questions that
follow.
“……”

Philosopher/ Famous People Saying about environment

“I only fool angry when I see waste. When I see

people throwing away things we could use”.

-Mother Theresa
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's
needs, but not every man's greed.”

-Mahatma Gandhi
” Worthless people live only to eat and drink,
people of worth eat and drink only to live”.

-Socrates
“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself.
Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air
and giving fresh strength to our people.”

-Franklin D. Roosevelt

Guide Questions:
1. What common line of thought did you find out in the quotes? ___________
2. How do these people view the relation between man and environment?
__________________
3. How does man interact with the environment? ______________________
4. What do you think is the role of man in taking care of the environment?
_______________________________________________

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LEARNING ACTIVITY 2

Picture Perfect
Directions: The pictures below show a forest before and after the
intervention of man. Compare the difference before and after human
involvement by filling out the table.

BEFORE AFTER

INTERVENTION OF MAN
BEFORE AFTER

Guide Questions:
1. What are the changes that take place before and after the intervention of
man in the forest? Give an example. ____________________________
2. What is your concept about an ORGANIZED, BEAUTIFUL and ARTISTIC
environment? ______________________________________________
3. Give 3 examples of incidents that show environmental disorder that is
common in your community. _______________________________
4. How did you find the activity? Check (√) from the given option

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LEARNING ACTIVITY 3
The Degree of Disorderliness
The domination of humanity is linked to the domination of
nature based on the anthropocentric model. An unfair or
unjust utilization of the environment result to ecological crisis.
From this view, it follows that human arrogance towards
nature is justifiable in order to satisfy human interests.
Sometimes, humans adopt an exploitative attitude whenever nature is merely
considered as an instrument for one’s profit or gain.1
Directions: Analyze the following photos. Identify what environmental disorder is
being shown in each photo. Write your answer on your journal.
.

1.________________________ 2.________________________

3.________________________ 4.________________________

5.________________________

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Activity 4 FROM DISORDERLINESS TO ORDERLINESS
Directions: Below are pictures showing disorderliness in the
environment. Identify what kind of disorderliness depicted in
each photo. How will you organize them aesthetically? What
should you do? List your suggestions on the box.

1. _____________________

2.______________________

3._______________________

4._________________________

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 5. _____________________

DEEPENING
Below are information about different philosophers and their beliefs
on the involvement of Man in his/her environment. Read carefully and
understand the text. Then, answer the guide questions.
A. Ancient thinkers
Early Greek philosophers, the
Milesians, regarded Nature as spatially
without boundaries, example: as infinite or
indefinite in extent. One ancient thinker,
Anaximander, employed the term
“boundless” to convey the further thought that
Anaximander
Nature is indeterminate – boundless in the
(http://classicalwisdom.com/wp-content/uploads/
2014/07/Anaximander-3.jpg)
sense that no boundaries between the warm
and cold or the moist and dry regions are originally present within it (Solomon and
Higgins, 2010).

Creation and Destruction. According to Anaximander’s sketch of the

genesis of the world (cosmogony), the evolution of the world begins with the
generation of opposites in a certain region of Nature: a portion of the Boundless
first differentiates itself into a cold-moist mass surrounded by a roughly spherical
shell of the warm-dry. Once the warm-dry has been separated out, surrounding the
cold-moist, it begins to evaporate the moisture of the latter, and this process forms
a vaporous atmosphere. Eventually, the expanding vapor or steam bursts the
enclosing fiery shells into rings, and, rushing outward, envelopes them. The
opposite forces caused an imbalance that necessitated their ultimate destruction
(Price, 2000). What appear to us as heavenly bodies are in reality parts of the fiery
rings that we glimpse through openings left in their steamy, vaporous envelopes.
The revolution of the stars, sun, and moon around the central earth is in reality the
rotation of the vapor-enveloped rings of fire of the stars, sun, and moon around the
central earth is in reality the rotation of the vapor-enveloped rings of fire.

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 Another ancient philosopher, Pythagoras,
described the universe as living embodiment of
nature’s order, harmony and beauty. He sees our
relationship with the universe involving s biophilia
(love of other living things) and cosmophilia (love of
other living beings.) (Perhaps, we could consider
the early him as an ecologist.)
http://www.mathstutorhelp.com/wp- content/uploads/2014/03/Pythagoras.png
Pythagoras

The Chinese cosmic conception, on the other hand, is based on the assumption
that all that happens in the universe is a continuous whole like a chain of natural
consequences. All events in the universe follow a transitional process due to the
primeval pair, the yang and the yin. The universe does not proceed onward but
revolves without beginning or end. There is nothing new under the sun; the “new”
is a repetition of the old (Quito, 1991). Human being’s happiness lies in his
conformity with nature or tao; the wise therefore conforms with Tao and is happy.
. B. Medieval Thinkers
St. Thomas Aquinas was one of a good representative
of this traditional view concerning God's relation to
creatures and he argues, in various ways, that the
metaphysical system which supports such attitudes is
"philosophically untenable" (p. 73). Furthermore, in his
view Aquinas's metaphysic encourages us to be
apathetic in the face of our contemporary
environmental concerns, since according to Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas non-rational creatures do not have moral value and
https://forallsaints.wordpress.com/20 ultimate human destiny involves an escape from the
14/01/28/thomas-aquinas-
preshttps://forallsaints.wordpress.co world of material change.
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presbyter-and-theologian-1274-
In The Nature of the Good Against the Manichees, St. Augustine taught that
3/byter-and-theologian-1274-3/
all natural beings derive their goodness from God who created them from nothing
they differ in their degrees of goodness because of their natures and capacities to
act , but the entirety of all creatures is better than anyone type. Some natural beings
may pose inconveniences for humans, he explained in Confessions, but they are
nevertheless good both innately and as integral parts of the totality of God's
creation. Furthermore, God will punish anyone who willfully harms or uses
creatures for purposes that are not conducive to their natures as intended by God.

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 The most systematic treatment of the physical world's goodness was provided
by St. Thomas Aquinas. God who is goodness essentially communicated
goodness in varying degrees to creatures when creating the world, endowing each
with a nature and purpose in relation to others All creatures are indispensable
contributors to the functioning of the universe, bringing about its common good as
intended by God. IS St. Thomas spared few superlatives when describing the
goodness of the orderly universe that God created and sustains in existence.

According to Niccolo Machiavelli, the link between the

natural places and civic life that takes place isn't
something absolutely default. Men's work, orders
underpinning their collective life, laws that place the
compulsion of necessity by the behavior of citizens,
change the data of nature. Although the structure of a
territory unequally, can be changed by the foundation
Niccolo Machiavelli of new cities, an aspect to which the ancients placed
https://mseffie.com/assignments/prin special care, distributing and multiplying the
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population through the colonies, as highlighted in a passage of great historical and
geographical interest in "Istorie Fiorentine" . In this passage, the relationship
between city and territory, human building and natural habitat is configured as an
action of civil institutions and the work of human groups on the rough and unhealthy
hostility of the physical environment. This passage is a topical question,
considering the importance of human action which helps to change the places for
their livelihood. Already in the Renaissance, Machiavelli identified the importance
of a geoethical virtuous model for the citizens and the institutions.

C. Modern thinker
In his third critique, Critique of Judgment,
Immanuel Kant expresses that beauty is
ultimately a symbol of morality (Kant, 1997).
According to Kant, we must ignore any practical
motives or inclinations that we have and instead
contemplate the object without being distracted
by our desires (Goldblatt and Brown, 2010). For
instance, one should not be tempted to plunge
into the water in a seascape portrait. In a sense,
therefore, the stance that we take forward the
Immanuel Kant
https://mediaethicsafternoon.wordpre
beautiful object is similar to that which we take
ss.com/2015/02/13/my-philosopher- toward other human beings when we are
immanuel-kant/
properly respectful of their dignity.
The beautiful encourage us to believe that nature and humanity are part of an

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even bigger design. This sense of order in a beautiful object is not translatable into
a formula or a recipe. Rather, the concept of a larger design, the belief in an
ultimate goal in which every aspect of the sensible world has its place in a larger
purpose, draws our thoughts toward a supersensible reality. Ultimately, Kant
believes that the orderliness of nature and the harmony of nature with our faculties
guide us toward a deeper religious perspective. This vision of the world is not
limited to knowledge and freedom or even to faith, in the ordinary sense of the
term. It is a sense of cosmic harmony.

Many radical environmental thinkers proclaim that we

are at a crucial point in our historical understanding of
nature. To pass beyond our current period of
environmental crisis, the story runs, we must relinquish
the impoverished conceptions of nature bequeathed us
by the western tradition for a richer, more spiritually
satisfying account of the natural world and our place in
it. Martin Heidegger would agree with this general
project.
Martin Heidegger
On the one hand, he maintains that the modern devastation of nature is the result
of the predominance of our modern “technological” understanding of the world,
which, in turn, he sees as the culmination of the western “metaphysical” tradition.
Therefore, in his later writings on “dwelling” he presents an account of a
wholesome “non-technological” understanding of the world.

D. Contemporary Thinkers

Theory of Human Nature: Existence and Essence,

Negation and Freedom – John Paul Sartre doesn’t believe
in a human nature or essence that precedes individuals.
Rather our existence precedes our essence; we have to
create our own essence. Nothing, not god or evolution,
created us for any purpose other than the purposes we
choose. Of course, Sartre recognizes that we are
biological beings, but there are no general truths about
what we should or ought to be. The most basic thing we
can say about humans is that they are radically free, to be
anything except to not be free.
John Paul Sartre

[They can choose anything except choose not to choose.] In his words, we
are “condemned to be free.” Consciousness is also aware that it is not the objects
it ponders, that many things are not the case, and that we lack many things. The
concept of nothingness or negation relates to freedom for Sartre. For the ability to

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 conceive of what’s not the case I could have done that implies the freedom to
imagine and choose other possibilities. In large part consciousness is this
conceiving or desiring things to be different not to be as they are. Negation implies
freedom of mind and of action.”

Guide Questions:
1. What is the belief in the creation of all things?
2. How does these beliefs of philosophers influence your point of view about life?
3. How does man affect nature and environment?

Superb! You did great! Try the next activity as an application of

your lesson! Be yourself and stay safe.

APPLICATION

A. Write your thoughts on the given passages.

1. The controlling attitude of humankind is extended to

nature, when in fact, humanity is part of nature.

______________________________________________
______________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

2. Destroying nature is a reflection wherein few people overpower others while

exploiting the environment for profit or self - interest. ___________________
_____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

3. Fromm argues that as humans, it is also inherent in us to escape the prison

cell of selfishness. ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

B. How being systematic and being resourceful is important to organized

things not in order? Apply that trait in the following situation:

1. A mining corporation, in order to save expenses and production cost, did

not construct a durable storage facility for mining waste resulting to

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 accidental leak of toxic materials polluting the nearby river, poisoning
marine life, and caused people in the nearby village to get sick.

2. A wealthy businessman bought a large area of farmland and converted it into

a subdivision. During the construction, hundreds of trees were uprooted and
cut and also the streams were covered with the excess cement.

Congratulations for finishing this module. You are now equipped with all
the knowledge you gained from this session. Are you ready to take the
post- test? If yes, proceed to the different questions and enjoy! Have fun
in learning!

POST TEST
A. TRUE OR FALSE
Direction: Write the letter “T” if the statement is true and “F” if it is
false. Write your answer in your notebook.

________1. People have a unique ability of cultivating nature, bringing it closer to

their intended ends.
_______ 2. The early history of humankind shows that wherever humans came
together to form communities, the landscape and the environment
changed.
________3. Human plays an important part in nurturing the environment
________4. Destroying nature is a reflection wherein few people overpower others
while exploiting the environment for profit or self- interest.
________5. Environmental disorder result in the equilibrium of things

B. Multiple Choice.
Directions: Read and answer each item carefully and write your answer on the
space provided.
____ 6. Which of the following environmental disorder will affect marine
organisms?
A. Releasing hot waste water from a geothermal power plant to bodies of water
B. Newly grown seedlings in the forest
C. Cleaning of clogged canal or drainage
D. Burning of coal from power plants

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____7. How can we organize aesthetically a mountain of garbage?
A. Burn all the garbage
B. Dig a hole on the ground and bury all the garbage
C. Use incineration to dispose the garbage
D. Sort out the garbage into biodegradable, recyclable and toxic materials

____ 8. Which of the following activities makes the degree of disorderliness to

orderliness in nature?
1- Clean up activities in the sea shore
2- Planting of young trees in the forest
3- Burning of garbage in the landfill
4- Patronage organically grown plants and animals

A. 1, 2, 3 B. 2,3,4 C. 1, 3, 4 D. 1, 2, 4
____9. Which of the following is the LEAST productive way to protect the
environment?
A. Support and become a volunteer in an environmental campaign
B. Patronize locally environmental made products
C. Eat and choose the right amount of food
D. Post and make placard for environmental awareness
____10. How can we organize aesthetically a denuded forest?
A. Clear all the grass to plant more crops
B. Make a riprap to protect soil erosion and soil leaching
C. Collect different varieties of flora and fauna of the forest
D. Plant and replace trees that are being cut down.

ASSIGNMENT

Conduct an interview with an elderly in your household or neighbor. Let

he/she compare between the experiences he/she had with the present
environmental situation from 30 years before. Take note of the major changes cited
by your interviewee.
.

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ANSWER KEY
PRE -TEST POST TEST
1. A 1. TRUE
2. D 2. TRUE
3. D 3. TRUE
4. C 4. TRUE
5. D 5. FALSE
6. TRUE 6. A
7. FALSE 7.D
8. TRUE 8. D
9. TRUE 9. C
10. TRUE 10. D

ACTIVITY 1
1. ANSWER MAY VARY
2. ANSWER MAY VARY
3. ANSWER MAY VARY
4. ANSWER MAY VARY
5. ANSWER MAY VARY
ACTIVITY 2
INTERVENTION OF MAN
BEFORE AFTER
1.HAS HIGH BIODIVERSITY 1.HAS LOW BIODIVERSITY
LARGE NUMBER OF PLANTS AND
ANIMALS
2.TREES ARE DOMINANT 2.FEW TREES ARE LIVING
ORGANISM
3.SERVE AS THE HOME OR 3.ANIMALS MIGRATE TO
HABITAT OF MANY ORGANISM OTHER PLACES OR DIE
4.THICKER VEGETATION 4. FEWER VEGETATION
5.MORE PLANTS AND ANIMALS 5.FEWER PLANTS AND
ARE LIVING ANIMALS ARE LIVING

GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. ANSWER MAY VARY
2. ANSWER MAY VAR
3. ANSWER MAY VARY
4. ANSWER MAY VARY

ACTIVITY 3
1. DENUDED FOREST
2. FLOODING
3. SUPER TYPHOON
4. DROUGHT
5. SNOW BLIZZARD

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ACTIVITY 4
1. THROWING OF GARBAGE INTO THE BODIES OF WATER
2. BURNING OF GARBAGE
3. EARTHQUAKE
4. VANDALISM
5. FOREST FIRE

NOTE: FOR LISTING DOWN THE THINGS YOU ORGANIZE THEM TO MAKE
DISORDERLINESS IN A AESTHETIC WAYS---ANSWERS MAY VARY

DEEPENING
1. ANSWER MAY VARY
2. ANSWER MAY VARY
3. ANSWER MAY VARY

APPLICATION
A.
a. ANSWER MAY VARY
b. ANSWER MAY VARY
c. ANSWER MAY VARY
B.
1. ANSWER MAY VARY
2.ANSWER MAY VARY

16
REFERENCES

BOOKS

Abella, Roberto D. 2017. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human

Person. C & E Printing press. p. 61-64

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Activity Sheets (First

Quarter) Department of Education June 2016

INTERNET SOURCES

UNEP World Environmental Day, June 05, 2020 available at

https://www.un.org/en/observances/environment-day .

EGU General Assembly 2016, held 17-22 April, 2016 in Vienna Austria, id.
EPSC2016-8967

Notice things that are not in their proper place and organize them in an
Aesthetic way. https://www.coursehero.com/file/44652788/pptx/

https://www.slideshare.net/mikethess/introduction-to-the-philosophy-of-the-
human-person

https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/hegel/works/ae/introduction.htm

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