11

INTRODUCTION
TO PHILOSOPHY
OF THE HUMAN
PERSON
1st Quarter: Module 5

Rogelio DG. Burce

Marlon Tiña
Module Writers

Department of Education • Republic of the Philippines

Content Standard:
The learner demonstrates the various ways of doing philosophy.
Performance Standard:
The learner will be able to evaluate truth from opinions.

Most Essential Learning

Realize that the methods of philosophy lead to truth and wisdom

Learning Competency:

 Understand the meaning of truth

 Value the significance of inquiry in determining truth

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this module the students will be able to:

Distinguish fallacies in reasoning

Avoid fallacies in reasoning

Value the significance of avoiding fallacies in reasoning

EXPECTATIONS

 This module is intended for you learners of Grade 11 General Academic

Strand classes specifically in your course subject Introduction to
Philosophy of the Human Person.
 The lesson included in your module teaches you distinguished fallacies
in reasoning
 It also helps you to identify and avoid some fallacies in reasoning. In this
module there are activities that will guide you to better understand your
lesson.

Are you ready and excited? Let‟s start…

INTRO TO PHILO -Q1-MODULE 5 2

 PRE-TEST

Multiple Choice: Read the questions carefully. Write the letter of your correct answer
on the space provided.
1. An argument whose conclusion is not adequately supported and/or does not
necessarily have to be the conclusion that can be drawn.
a. formal fallacy b. informal fallacy c. material d. argument
2. An error of logical form in invalid argument which violates rule of inference or the
principles of deductive logic.
a. formal fallacy b. informal fallacy c. material d. argument
3. It is a logical error that does not follow the rules of inference or that violates them.
a. argument b. inquiry c. fallacy d. reasoning
4. It is oftentimes take the form of statements that are either claims of facts and are
phrased in such a way that they seem reasonable.
a. argument b. inquiry c. fallacy d. statement
5. It is the basis of Aristotle‟s deductive argument.
a. syllabus b. syllogism c. syllable d. symbol
6. The original language where the word fallacy came from.
a. Greek b. Hebrew c. French d. Latin
7. The word fallacy is from Latin fallacia which means „decit,
a.trick b. truth c. argument d. reasoning
8. The following are parts of the basis of Aristotle‟s deductive argument except ___.
a. conclusion b. minor premise c. major premise d. introduction
9. The following belongs to the fallacy of appeal except _____.
a. idea b. tradition c. popular d. emotion
10. It is usually the principle which violates in an error of logical form in invalid
argument.
a. inductive b. deductive c. conductive d. superlative

LOOKING BACK

You’re right in your own opinion?

What’s your opinion! Underline the phrase or sentence which simply expressed
opinion and encircle those which states truth.
All people are prone to emotional problems but married people are happier
than unmarried one. They have more chances of succeeding in every career they
choose and would tend to live longer than single person. Working men are more easily
tempted than women because they tend to be secretive and quiet. Some studies prove
that those families who have stronger religious faith are usually stayed together and
lessen the chances of family break up.

INTRO TO PHILO -Q1-MODULE 5 3

 INTRODUCTION OF THE LESSON
Clearing up your mind!
Critical thinking is very important commodities in the broader market of ideas
with many fishy thoughts and foul smell of reasoning. Distinguishing most if not all of
the fallacies in reasoning would surely help us avoid the poisonous effects of
intellectual funeral of every thinking consumer in this wonderful rational world.

What Is It?

Lesson: Don’t Fall into Fallacies!

I. Definition Faulty Reasoning

The word fallacy is from Latin fallacia which means „decit,‟ „trick‟). A fallacy
is a logical error that does not follow the rules of inference or that violates them.
This is a misleading argument sometimes used to deceive people. Reason - the use
of argument - is the main tool not only by claimed philosophers but by every
rational people.
Arguments often take the form of statements that are either claims of facts
and are phrased in such a way that they seem reasonable. However, a number of
arguments may be based on faulty reasoning. These kinds of arguments are called
fallacies. Some of these fallacies may be intentional, as the person making the
claim is desperate to convince you to accept his or her argument. The following are
examples of fallacies.
II. Division of Fallacies
1. Formal – An error of logical form in invalid argument which violates rule of
inference or the principles of deductive logic. The basis of Aristotle‟s deductive
argument was the syllogism, which has three parts-major premise, minor premise
and conclusion.
Example: Major premise: All humans are mortal.
Minor premise: All Greeks are humans.
Conclusion: All Greeks are mortal.
In valid syllogisms, at least one of the two premises must contain a universal
form (i.e. using the word „all‟). If both premises are particulars (using the word

INTRO TO PHILO -Q1-MODULE 5 4

„some‟), then no valid conclusion can result from them. Also one of the premises
must be affirmative.
Example: Some dogs are dangerous.
Some dangerous things are volcanoes.
It does not follow that „some dogs are volcanoes‟ (because both premises are
particulars).
2. Informal – An argument whose conclusion (a) is not adequately supported
and/or (b) does not necessarily have to be the conclusion that can be drawn. There
are forty informal fallacies but we will discuss only nine of the most common
fallacies as presented by Dr. Abella in his book “Introduction to Philosophy of the
Human person.”

Types of Informal Fallacy

Fallacy Characteristics Example
ad hominem Attacking the person “Of course he believes
presenting the argument that the government is
instead of the person itself flawed and he is a rebel
and a communist!”
appeal to force Using the threat of force “If this peace agreement
or an undesirable event to will not be signed by the
advance an argument government, then we will
not have no recourse but
go to war.”
appeal to emotion Using an emotions such “All these charges are
as pity or empathy baseless, this is just plain
harassment -can‟t you see
how this is affecting my
family?”
appeal to the popular The idea is presented as “Every boy your age
acceptable to people already has a girlfriend,
because a lot of people you should go find one.”
accept it.
appeal to tradition the idea is acceptable “Marriage should be
because it has been true between man and woman.
for a long time It has been so for a long

INTRO TO PHILO -Q1-MODULE 5 5

 time in this country, it
should remain so today
and in the future.”
begging the question assuming the thing or the “I have the right for free
idea to be proven is true. speech, therefore you
Also known as “circular cannot stop me from
reasoning” talking.”
cause-and-effect assuming a cause and “Ever since you bought
effected relationship that sweater, everything
between unrelated events has been going wrong in
your life. You should get
rid of it.”
fallacy of composition assuming that what is “These cases of robbery in
true of a part is true for this district have
the whole convinced me that this
city has become a den of
thieves and criminals
fallacy of division assuming that what is “You come from a family
true of the whole is true of doctors and
for its parts intellectuals! Surely you
can do better in this
course.”

What’s More (Activity)

Activity 1: Stand your position

State your position in different local issues today. Give your arguments
with strong evidences and exposing some of the fallacies committed by those in the
other side.
Decide on some social local issues today
A. Issue: Closure of ABS-CBN
B. Your Position: ________________________
C. Your Evidences/Arguments:

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RUBRICS:

Content The argument strongly 5

defended with reliable
evidences 1.______________________________________________
Communicatio Used only simple words or 5
layman’s term.
n 2. ____________________________________________
Total 10

A. Issue: West Philippine Sea

B. Your Position: ________________________
C. Your Evidence/Argument
1. ____________________________________________

2. ______________________________________________

Guide Questions;
1. Among the issues discussed which do you are very significant? Why?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. What are some of the difficulties you encountered in distinguishing fallacies?
___________________________________________________________________________

Truth over rules!

Activity 2- News Evaluation

Look for some news in television or radio or internet which manifested some
fallacies in reasoning.

News Source (Network, etc.) Fallacies in reasoning

1.

2.

3.

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Activity 3: When Truth Applied by avoiding fallacies!
Complete the table by stating how can you avoid the fallacies in your life as
student and Filipino citizen.
Fallacies to Avoid Situation in your life
As student As Filipino citizen
1.
2.

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

What I CAN Do?

Identify the kind of fallacies being described in the following statement and give
its main characteristics

Statement Fallacies Characteristics

Example: The idea is presented as
“Every boy your age Appeal to the popular acceptable to people
already has a girlfriend, because a lot of people
you should go find one.” accept it.
“Everything he is going to 1. 2.
say is a lie because he is a
former criminal.”
“If you will not vote for 3. 4.
me, this country surely
suffers great trouble.”
“Since you are a son of a 5. 6.
pastor, you should have
more knowledge in the
Bible.”
“Stop doing all these 7. 8.
things because my jobs
and my health are now
affected.”
“Ever since you went into 9. 10.
that place, everything has
been going well in your
life. “

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B. Write R if the action is Right and W, if it is Wrong.
11._____ An ex-convict does not have a credibility to stand as witness in court.
12._____Some actions which have been doing by most people will be automatically
considered as right.
13._____ Not because all his brothers are genius he will be expected to be genius also.
14._____ A beggar should not be liable in any criminal case because of his desperate
condition.
15._____ Just because all of the terrorist in 911 were Muslims, we can conclude that
most of Muslims are violent people.

ENRICHMENT

Congratulations! You are almost done becoming a good politically oriented

person. Kindly answer the following questions based in your own political
understanding.

1. As a student, how can you avoid the fallacies especially during this time of
pandemic?
_______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2. How can you explain and relate it in the quotation by Francis Bacon that
“Knowledge is power?”

______________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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