Escuela San Gabriel de Colegio de San Gabriel

Arcangel Foundation, Inc. Arcangel of Caloocan

Phase 10, Package 6, Block 1, Lots 1-5, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City
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GRADE 11/12 INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF
THE HUMAN PERSON

Module 4: The Existentialism Phenomenological View

Apply What You Know

Question: Based on your own understanding, how do you define freedom?

Give an example based on your own experienced. Explain.
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Duration: 1 Week

Introduction
Contemporary existentialism was the most widely influential philosophical
orientation from 1945 to the 1970S. By focusing on the question of human
existence and the feeling that there is no purpose or explanation at the core of
existence, existentialism holds that the only way to rise above the essentially
absurd condition of humanity is by exercising personal freedom and choice.

Most Essential Learning Competencies

Aims to search for the meaning of life

Specific Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the student should have learned to:
 understand a human person as an existent human being
 differentiate theories of existentialism
 evaluate the meaning of life

Learning Tools
A. Printed Learning modules, handouts or worksheet will be shared to students.
B. Online learning modules or platforms will be use for online discussion.
C. Photos downloaded from google.
D. Other sources:
 Sy, Dennis Ian B., Basa, Allan A. , 2018. Philosophy of the Human Person
An Introduction, Abiva Publishing House, Inc.
 Tubo, Dennis Villanueva, 2017. Introduction To The Philosophy of Human
Person. Unlimited Books Library Services & Publishing Inc.
 https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/crawling-businessman-
reach-out-freedom-burden-258743306

Motivation

BRAINTEASER: What can travel around the world while staying

in a corner?

Answer: ____________________________

LET’S NAVIGATE
 EXISTENTIALISM

Existentialism is a 20th century philosophy founded by a Danish

philosopher named Soren Kierkegaard (born May 5, 1813). Soren Kierkegaard
is known as the Father of Existentialism.
Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes individual existence,
freedomand choice. It is the view that human persondefines his own meaning in
life, and try to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe.

MAIN PHILOSOPHERS

Soren Kierkegaard
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Soren
Kierkegaard (1813 - 1855) studied theology
at the university of Copenhagen. Heidegger
began his classes with his discussion of
“ being-in-the-world,” which focused on the
mode of existence or lived experienced of
the individual in the world.Kierkegaard saw
rationality as a way by which humans
could respond positively to their existential
anxiety or their fear of being in the world.Through the exercise of their
rationality or freedom of choice, individuals can counter their angst on their
own, outside of any known philosophical system or standards. For
Kierkegaard, as it is only the human person who is capable of comprehending
their own existence, this is in effect brings to the fore a person’s mode of
becoming, which is choice. An authentic choice is a product of passion and
zealous intention (Zulueta 2010).

Friedrich Nietzsche
Born in the Prussian village of Rocken,
Germany, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)
obtained his education at the University of
Bonn. Nietzsche’s existentialism played a
major role in contemporary intellectual
development as he criticized how the
rationalistic philosophy, the prevailing
conditions of his time,and traditional morality
contributed to the disregard for and the
weakening of humans (Pojman 2004, 236).
Nietzsche believed that these human weaknesses were exploited by these
aforementioned factors, a situation that he wished to rectify in order to produce a
superior race. As a nihilist, he claimed that the universe lacks meaning and
purpose, nature is beyond good and evil, all men are unequal; that morality is an
invention of the week to limit and deter the strong; that power is the supreme
virtue and the supreme human desire; and that of all forms of government, the
wisest and most natural is aristocracy (see Zulueta 2010. 179; Soccio 1995,
495).
The thoughts of Nietzsche on existentialism had been perceived and
deemed virtually radical by modern standards and calls some attention to the
implications of living in a world where values, philosophical orientations, norms,
and personal human goals keep on changing. Famous for his pronouncement
that “God is dead,” Nietzsche warned humans about the dangers of living a life
dependent on science and technology, and where human values are taken for
granted.

Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) was born
in Paris and was a playwright and a novelist.
in the aftermath of World War II, Sartre
believed that people must take it upon
themselves to make a choice and be
responsible for their own lives. This, for him,
was the existential moment, because when
all is lost and life’s meaning seems
irrelevant, people have a choice to
determine the meaning of their own lives.their question becomes “Who
am I and what should I do?” (Frost 1989, 266). For Sartre, in the midst of anxiety,
loneliness, and chaos, human freedom shines out and people become
responsible for their own actions. In this sense, according to Sartre, humans are
encompassed by their existence, convinced that “ there is no creator of man,
therefore he is responsible for determining his essence. Man first is, then he
defines himself “ (Zulueta 2010, 179).

Martin Heidegger
Martin Heidegger was born in Messkirch,
Germany, on 26 September 1889. He studied
Theology and philosophy at the University of
Freiburg and in 1915 began teaching in the
same university. Heidegger began his classes
with his discussion of “ being-in-the-world,”
Which focused on the mode of existence or lived
experienced of the individual in the world. How
do humans live their lives and what are their
experiences in a world that is surrounded by anguish and dread? According to
Heidegger, three fundamental features characterize human existence, namely,
factuality, wherein the human person is already involved in the world;
existentiality, which sees the human person as a project and a possibility; and
fallenness or forfeiture, which looks at the human tendency to become a mere
presence in the world, failing to make the most of their possibilities because of
gossip, curiosity, and ambiguity (Zulueta 2010, 180). Moreover, to understand
deeper the meaning of human existence in the world, according to Heidegger,
three aspects constitute individual existence , or being in the world, namely,
umvelt, which refers to how the individual experiences the world in the sense of
active participation and involvement; mitvelt, which underscores the
intersubjective or the human’s experience of their fellow individuals; and
eigenvelt, which looks at how individuals , coming to awareness of their
existence, realize that they are a distinct and subjective existence (Ozmon and
Craver 2007, 228).
In all these, the human person is bound to search for the meaning of life . In
the world where they live, humans must not be a passive recipient or thing; they
must, on their own, discover things for themselves even in the face of dread and
anxiety. Nevertheless they must push themselves amidst anguish and
roadblock, in search for that elusive meaning of their very own existence and be
able to answer that one existential question: WHO AM I?
 LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

I. Identify the following. Write your answer in the space provided.

___________________ 1. According to this philosophers, humans are free to
be what they choose to be, without any limits, in the
same way that if they fail, they only have themselves
to blame.
___________________ 2. Famous for his pronouncement that “God is dead,” he
warned humans about the dangers of living a life
dependent on science and technology, and where
human values are taken for granted.
___________________ 3. This philosopher focused on the mode of existence or
lived experienced of the individual in the world.
___________________ 4. Founder of existentialism.
___________________ 5. Which refers to how the individual experiences the
world in the sense of active participation and
involvement.
___________________ 6. Which sees the human person as a project and a
possibility.
___________________ 7. Which looks at how individuals , coming to awareness
of their existence, realize that they are a distinct and
subjective existence.
___________________8. Which underscores the intersubjective or the human’s
experience of their fellow individuals.
___________________ 9. Which looks at the human tendency to become a
mere presence in the world, failing to make the most
of their possibilities because of gossip, curiosity, and
ambiguity.
___________________10. Wherein the human person is already involved in the
world.
II. Describe the philosophy of the human person of the following
philosophers. Write your answer in a separate sheet of paper.
1. Soren Kierkeggard
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2. Friedrich Nietzsche
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 3. Martin Heidegger
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4. Jean-Paul Sarte
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THEORIES OF EXISTENTIALISM

1. Man is a subject.
Dialogue: Some people experience like this:

“ I may be poor but I have an honor and dignity. I deserve to be

respected. You cannot just ignore me and take me for granted. On the first place,
I am a person like you.”

2. Man is the source of his own actions.

Dialogue:

“ I impregnated someone of my age. She is my classmate. My mother

will get mad at me once she knows about it. But I cannot afford to lose my
studies. I better not to show up and transfer to other school.”

3. Man has feelings and emotions.

Dialogue:

“ Sometimes, the truth hurts… “Can’t you do better than this? Look at
your brother? He is doing good in the class. And look at you!
Tssk…Bobo… (murmuring)

4. Man is self-related and others-related.

Dialogue:

Angie: “I don’t need anybody else anymore to become rich. Ha ha ha.” ,

“I am rich now.
Sonia: “You are wrong friend, the more you need us. You may have
money to pay for those who work for you, but you still need us. You cannot do
everything alone.
Angie: “Yes, you are right.”

5. Man is capable of transcendence, which means man can go beyond what

is actually given.
Dialogue: Does this sound familiar to you?

Son: “Nay, I want to go to Manila to find my fortune there. I find no future

here in the province. I want to become rich.”
Nanay: “Son, your future here. Don’t dream of becoming rich anymore.
We are poor and this is our destiny. So you better get up and start working at the
farm. Now, Go!!! Sira ulo ang batang ito ah!!!”

6. Man’s Existence is a “Thrown” Existence. He is thrown in the world to

exist.
Dialogue: Do you have a similar situation like this?

Since I was born I never heard my father saying “I love you” to his
children. He is not expressive in his emotions. Because I am thrown to this kind
of situation, I can do nothing but to accept him. I love my father by accepting him
for what he is.

7. Man exists in the body. He needs to assert himself through his own
body.
Dialogue:

“ Until now I don’t see any sign of progress in my country. Politicians

are doing nothing. Sayang lang ang boto ko. I am totally disappointed! ”

8. Man is intrinsically free.

Dialogue: Does it sound familiar to you?

“ I am in chain. But that does not mean I am no longer free. And the
reason why I am in chain, it is because I thought that my freedom is absolute. “
This is what happens when I violate others’ freedom and their rights (karapatan).”

9. Man has to admit the fact of death - his own death.

Dialogue: If you have more or less 2 months to live, what will you do?

“ I am certain that death will come. And it will come just like a thief in the
night. It does not tell us when and ho. But what is certain… it will surely come. “

10. Man is an open-ended entity. He is a box of surprises.

Dialogue: Do you consider your friends a gift to you? What about your
enemies?

“ I maybe the most ordinary person you ever met in your whole life. But
what I can say,” I may have something what others don’t have, and others have
that I don’t have. But what makes me different from them is how I make your life
more amazing! “ I may be the most ordinary person but I am the rarest one. “

“Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking
forward together in the same direction.”

- Antoine de Saint

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2
I. REACT
Direction: Make a reaction on the following statement.

1. Man is intrinsically free.

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2. “ Existing is far off better than living.”
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3. One is not a Christian if he does not admit that he is a sinner.
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4. The human person is as open-ended entity.
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5. The human person is a guilty creature.
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II. Let’s Examine. Which one among the ten Theories of Existentialism catches
your attention. Why? Use additional sheet of paper when needed.

ADDITIONAL POINTS TO PONDER

1. To exist is not the same as to live.

a. Existing presupposes living but living does not presuppose existing.
b. To exist is deeper in meaning than to live.
i. All men live but only some do exist.
ii. To live is only a mere biological response in order to perpetuate his life.
He simply eats, drinks, breathes and that is all.
c. To exist is to stand out. To stand out is to assume being a free person and
have a sense of responsibility.
i. As existing, man is the master of himself and a captain of his own soul or
life.
ii. As existing, he practices his freedom of choice, and by the practice of it,
 he should be at all times responsible for the consequences of it.
2. Existence precede essence
a. He must learn to stand out among the rest.
b. Finding his essence is becoming what he/she wants to achieve in life.
c. Allowing others to decide for himself may result to good or bad result. Most
often, it can be good for others but not for you.
3. As existent being is the one who can wrestle down the crowd.
a. Wrestling down means to assert his uniqueness as an individual person
able to decide and defend what is right, and learn to say ‘no’ if necessary.
b. Because the crowd can lead you away from your essence.
c. Your old self can be your crowd and not only the people around, system,
culture around you.
d. To the attainment of your essence, always remember that the divine
providence is always there to guide us.
4. An existent being exerts every effort to make his life meaningful.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 3

I. Enrichment Exercises.
Direction. In your own words, differentiate the two terms: to exist from to live.
Explain.
Answer: _______________________________________________________
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II. Essay. Write an essay of 100-200 words on this topic. Use additional sheet
of paper when needed.
“ What is the purpose of my existence? “
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LET’S EVALUATE
 I. Sentence Completion.
1. Existentialism is
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2. To struggle is
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3. Being responsible is
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4. Man is
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5. To live is
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I. Let’s Wrap Up
Direction. Summarize your idea about Existentialism.
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