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INTRODUCTION TO THE
PHILOSOPHY OF THE
HUMAN PERSON
GRADE 11|QUARTER 1|WEEK 3
Methods of Philosophizing(Distinguish
Opinion from Truth)

JOMARI D. POCO, LPT

Subject Teacher

NAME:
________________________________________
GRADE AND SECTION:
_________________________
STRAND:
Lesson 3 Methods of Philosophizing(Distinguish Opinion from Truth)

Let Us Begin!

Today we encounter a lot of information from various sources such as the media and our
interactions with our friends, family, and members of the community. Most of the information we
receive is helpful, but some may mislead us or may even be utterly false.

Every day we are confronted with news, claims and announcements from our peers,
family members, figures of authority the government and media. How do we know if they are
telling the truth?

Learning Competencies:

1. Distinguish opinion from truth.

2. Realize that the methods of philosophy lead to wisdom and truth.

Let Us Aim!

Lesson Objectives:

1. The students will determine the differences between truth and knowledge.
2. The students will distinguish opinions from truth by analyzing given situation correctly.
3. The students will illustrate the three perspectives regarding truth.

Let Us Try!

List 5 some “controversial” or doubtful claims that encountered in media or social media.
Write your answers in the box.

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Let Us Study!
Distinguishing Opinion from the truth

Truth

Philosophers often grapple with the concept of truth. Truth lies at the heart of any
inquiry. It is a fact that has been verified.

Knowledge

Before we discuss truth, it is important to clarify knowledge, since it through knowing

that we can deter mine what is true. Knowledge is the clear awareness and understanding of
something.

Propositions or statements which are observed to be real or truthful are considered facts.
However, there are statements that are not evidently or immediately known to be true. This
statement is claim, a further examination is required to establish whether it is true or false.

Philosophy has various views which can help us tackle the concepts of knowing the truth,
and arrive at a reasonable assessment if a statement, idea, or event is believable.

3 Perspectives regarding truth:

There are several views regarding truth. But what kind of belief is truthful? How do we
know that what we believe is true?

We assume that everything we know about this world is true. But philosophers who
pondered upon the origins of knowledge doubted everything that there is to know about
themselves and the world. It is said that there are instances when we must unlearn something
so that we may learn anew.

Let’s embark on our own investigation on the nature of knowledge.

1. A belief is true if it can be justified or proven using one’s senses.

I am alive.
I have a body.
I can breathe.

In philosophy, systematic doubt is employed to help determine truth.

Using doubt as our starting point, Let’s rewrite the statements as questions so we can
review and examine them further.

Am I alive?

Do I have a body?

Can I breathe?

Now, how will you figure out the answers to these questions? The obvious answer would
be to examine yourself to determine if indeed you are alive, that you have a body, and you can
breathe. Do you have a pulse? Can you feel your heartbeat? Do you have hands, arms, legs,
feet, and a head? Try to take a deep breathe, then exhale. Were you able to do it? If you
answered “yes” to all these questions, then you can conclude with certainty that the previous
statements about yourself are true. You can now say:

I am alive!

I have a body!

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 I can breathe!

2. A belief or statement is true if it is based on facts.

I am a Filipino.

How philosophy can help us determine if it is true. So, let’s apply systematic doubt and
revise the statement for further examination.

Am I a Filipino?

We can use facts to guide us in our search for truth. If you look up the word “Filipino” in a
dictionary, you will come across the following definitions:

Filipino (noun)

1. a native of the Philippine Islands

2. a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines

3. the Tagalog-based official language of the Republic of the Philippines.

We applied this perspective when we looked up the meaning of the word “Filipino” in a
dictionary. We assumed that what is stated in the definition is the actual meaning of the word.

3. Getting a consensus or having people agree on a common belief.

When you asked your peer, family, relatives and friends regarding your question, all of
them have the same answer then it is true. But this approach has certain limitations.

Distinguishing truth from opinion

Now that you have an idea of how philosophizing recognizes truth, let us try and apply it
in various situations in your life. The ideas that we encounter in everyday life can be considered
as truth or opinion. But what distinguishes one from the other?

Let us look at the following statements and determine which one states Fact or Opinion.

1. It takes me 30 minutes to walk from my home to school.

2. Living near the school is better because we don’t have to spend much for transportation.
3. My sister ate the last piece of pizza pie.
4. My sister is a selfish person because she ate the last piece of pizza pie and did not share
it with me.
5. The policeman firmly pushed the suspect to his knees and placed him in handcuffs.
6. 6. The aggressive manner by which the policeman arrested the suspect is an example of
the brutality that characterizes our police force.

Analyzing these statements, you will be able to identify statements that are similar.

Let’s rearrange them again.

1. It takes me 30 minutes to walk from 1. Living near the school is better because we
my home to school. don’t have to spend much for transportation.
2. 2. My sister ate the last piece of pizza 2. My sister is a selfish person because she ate
pie. the last piece of pizza and did not share it with
3. 3. The policeman firmly pushed the me.
suspect to his knees and placed him 3. The aggressive manner by which the policeman
in handcuffs. arrested the suspect is an example of the
brutality that characterizes our police force.

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Which statements that are more factual? If you answered the first column, then you are correct. We
can confidently say that they fit into the category of facts since they contain ideas or information that
are easily verifiable.

The second column, on the other hand, has statements that could be considered opinions.

Opinions are statements that go beyond providing facts. They also conclusions or perspectives
regarding certain situations.

Conclusion is a judgment based on certain facts.

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

Explanations are statements that assume the claim to be true and provide reasons why the
statement is true.

Let Us Know!

 Philosophy is concerned with determining truth since it lies at the

heart of any inquiry.
 The discussion on truth is part of philosophical studies on
knowledge where philosophers explore the nature of knowledge
and ways of knowing.
 Facts are statements that are observed to be real of truthful.
Claims are statement that require further examination to determine
their truthfulness.
 Philosophers consider something as truthful if it is corresponding
with an observable fact or reality. Something is also true if it can be
justified through experience and the use of one’s senses. Another
view believes that truth is a product of agreement or consensus.
 Opinions are comprised of statements which not only give facts but
also provide conclusions or perspective regarding certain
situations.

Let Us Think!
Direction: Write 5 statements that are based in Facts and five statements that are Opinion.

Facts Opinion

Let Us Inspect!
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 Direction: Read each statement and then identify whether it is a fact or opinion by
encircling. Then explain your answer.

1. Buying Ford is smarter than buying Ferrari.

Fact or Opinion Explain: __________________________________________________________________

2. Luzon Island is bigger than Visayas Island.

Fact or Opinion Explain: ___________________________________________________________________

3. Cristiano Ronaldo was the highest earning athlete in 2017.

Fact or Opinion Explain: ___________________________________________________________________

4. Polar bears need fats to stay warm.

Fact or Opinion Explain: ___________________________________________________________________

5. Quotient is the answer for Multiplication.

Fact or Opinion Explain: ___________________________________________________________________

6. Manuel L Quezon is the second President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Fact or Opinion Explain: ___________________________________________________________________

7. Basketball is more exciting than Volleyball.

Fact or Opinion Explain: ___________________________________________________________________

8. Americans is more beautiful than Asian girls.

Fact or Opinion Explain: ___________________________________________________________________

9. Rabbits are Mammals.

Fact or Opinion Explain: ___________________________________________________________________

10. Cake is sweeter than ice cream.

Fact or Opinion Explain: ___________________________________________________________________

Let Us Reflect!

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 Direction: Direction: On the space provided, answer the following questions.

1. Have you experienced a situation where what you believed to be true turned out to be untrue?
How did this experience affect you?
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2. Have you experienced a situation where what you believed to be true turned out to be untrue?
How did this experience affect you?
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Let Us Achieve!

Directions: Make a poster that illustrates Facts and Opinion. Create your output on the box
provided.
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 Criteria for the poster.

Content - 15 points

Relevance to Theme - 15 points

Originality - 10 points

Structure - 10 points

Total - 50 points

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References

Capulong, Nicolas T.et.al (2020) Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Quarter 1- Module
2:Methods of Philosophizing: San Fernando, Pampanga: DepEd Alternative Delivery Map.

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