WEEK 3

METHODS OF PHILOSOPHY
Lead to Wisdom and
Truth

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Realize that the methods of
philosophy leads to wisdom and
truth

Evaluate truth from opinions in

different situations using the
methods of philosophizing

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

 It is to theorize or
speculate about
fundamental or issues of
utmost importance in a
tedious, grand and
overbearing manner

It has to be approached in broader

perspective for to philosophize, “one It is a process of explaining or
has to be open minded to know arguing a point of view or
something as it is and act upon it as it idea in terms of one’s
should be relevantly within priorities” philosophical theories

It is very important to note that in

philosophizing, the choice of words,
the manner the answer is delivered It is a quest a search, a
and the tenor of the voice are as continuing journey
important as the essence of the
answer itself.

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

 Philosophical Philosophical
Although philosophy
questions have questions cannot
is an organized body answers but the be settled by
of knowledge, the answers remain in science, common
dispute. sense, or faith.
subject matter of
philosophy is
question, which has Philosophical
three major questions are of
perennial
characteristics:
intellectual
interest to human
beings

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

 CRITICAL THINKING

It is the method that philosophers use

to address philosophical question

It is the careful, reflective, rational and

systematic approach to
questions of very general interest.

It means understanding if philosophy

and refraining from merely giving
claims but through careful thought,
one reasons through to
argumentation.
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
 ARGUMENTATION

It is an action or process of reasoning

systematically in support
of an idea, action or theory

It is an action or process of reasoning

systematically in support of an idea,
action or theory.

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

 ARGUMENTATION
Though we regularly form conclusions
from other statements and
experiences—often without thinking
about it—there is still a question of
whether these conclusions are true:
Did we draw those conclusions well?
A common way to evaluate the truth
of a statement is to identify those
statements and experiences that
support our conclusions and organize
them into structures called
arguments.
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
 ARGUMENT
An argument is one or more
statements (called premises)
intended to support the truth of
another statement (the conclusion).

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

 METHODS OF
PHILOSOPHIZING

A method of philosophizing is a process

of determining the truth or drawing
conclusions from a statement using
various philosophical methods.

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
 For phenomenology the ultimate source of all
PHENOMENOLOGY meaning and value is the lived experience of human
beings.
Phenomenology is a
philosophy of experience . It studies the structure of various types of experience
Is the study of ranging from perception, thought, memory,
“phenomena”: imagination, emotion, desire, and volition to bodily
appearances of things, or awareness, embodied action, and social activity,
things as they appear in including linguistic activity.
our experience, or the
ways we experience
The modern founder of
things, thus the meanings
phenomenology is the German
things have in our
philosopher Edmund Husserl (1859–
experience.
1938)

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

 It is a philosophical theory that people are free agents
EXISTENTIALISM who have control over their choices and actions.

Existentialism is the Existentialists believe that society should not restrict an

philosophical belief we individual's life or actions and that these restrictions

are each responsible for inhibit free will and the development of that person's

creating purpose or potential.

meaning in our own lives. Our individual purpose and meaning is not given to us by
Gods, governments, teachers or other authorities.

Essentialism was founded by the Greek philosopher

Aristotle who posited everything had an essence,
including us.

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

 The process begins with an idea about any given
THE SCIENTIFIC topic. Hypothesis testing is done to prove the validity
METHOD of this idea.
also called empirical
method, is a process of The scientific method also values observation as an
determining truth or important aspect because it contributes to further
knowledge through understanding the results of the hypothesis testing.
experimentation,
It is also called elenctic method or Socratic debate
inductive and deductive
reasoning, and hypothesis
It is a type of cooperative argumentative dialogue
or theory testing.
between individuals, based on asking and answering
questions to extract truth.

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
SOCRATIC METHOD

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

SOCRATIC METHOD

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

 The method of refutation by examining logical
DIALECTIC METHOD consequences.

a method of reasoning Contradiction of ideas that serves as the determining

that compares and factor in their interaction

contrasts opposing points Dialectic is when two seemingly conflicting things

of view in order to find a are true at the same time.
new point of view that will
incorporate whatever is
is also called Hegelian Dialectics as this was proposed
true in the originals."
by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831), a
German philosopher and a significant figure of
German idealism.

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

 If one person describes the elephant as being like a
DIALECTIC METHOD large snake after touching its trunk and the other
describes it as being like a rope after touching its tail,
a method of reasoning both descriptions are true and each person holds a
that compares and portion of “the truth”.
contrasts opposing points
of view in order to find a For example, instead of thinking/saying “I’m a failure”,

new point of view that will change that to “sometimes I fail and sometimes I

incorporate whatever is succeed”. Instead of thinking or saying “You never

true in the originals." listen to me!”, instead say “You’re not listening to me
right now”.

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

 In this approach, it is believed that history has a “DIVINE
HISTORICAL ORDER” pattern that enables events to repeat themselves
METHOD and record information through historical accounts or

It is the process of archaeological findings.

gathering evidences ,
examining them and
formulating ideas about
the past to come up with
the present truths.

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

HISTORICAL
METHOD

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Do a skit using the situations
and present in class.
PERFORMANCE TASKS
Direction: Form a group with 4 members: then randomly
Group `1 – situation 1 choose a particular method of philosophizing and
Group 2 Situaltion 2 philosophize on the following:
Group 3 – Situation 3
Group 4 – situation 1 1. Using Socratic Method philosophize on whether we are truly
Group 5 – situation 2 free in this world?
Group 6 – situation 3
Group 7 – situation 1 2. Analyze the conflict in Mindanao using dialectic method and
Group 8 – situation 2 provide solution thereon based on the same dialectic logic.
Group 9 – situation 3
3. Using the Historical Method, choose a random object that
Group 10 – sutation 1 you see inside the classroom or in school. Write a hypothesis
where you think that object originated from and include your
ideas on how the object was used in the past
Find valid /relevant information and compare your hypotheis
and the facts.
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person