PH100 Topic 1

TOPIC 1: Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
Lesson 1 Defining the Course

The Meaning of Philosophy:
Philosophy comes from two Greek words philo meaning “love” or “friendship” and Sophia meaning
“wisdom.” Thus, philosophy means “love of wisdom.” Love is an urge or a drive of a will towards
a particular object. As a drive, love always seeks unity with its object and desires to possess its
object. On the other hand, wisdom means the application of knowledge. Thus, wisdom cannot be
dissociated from knowledge. Truth is the ultimate object of knowledge. Philosophy is absolutely
committed to the truth, “the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” Hence, truth is being shown
and practiced by a man of wisdom. Now, if philosophy means love of wisdom, to philosophize,
therefore, is to be in quest, or to have a desire towards loving and living the truth (Babor, 2007)
At its simplest, philosophy (from the Greek or phílosophía, meaning ‘the love of wisdom’) is the
study of knowledge, or "thinking about thinking", although the breadth of what it covers is perhaps
best illustrated by a selection of other alternative definitions:
 The discipline concerned with questions of how one should live (ethics); what sorts of
things exist and what are their essential natures (metaphysics); what counts as genuine
knowledge (epistemology); and what are the correct principles of reasoning.
 investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based
on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods
 the study of the ultimate nature of existence, reality, knowledge and goodness, as
discoverable by human reasoning
 the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics
 the search for knowledge and truth, especially about the nature of man and his behavior
and beliefs
 the rational and critical inquiry into basic principles
 The study of the most general and abstract features of the world and categories with
which we think: mind, matter, reason, proof, truth, etc.
 careful thought about the fundamental nature of the world, the grounds for human
knowledge, and the evaluation of human conduct
As used originally by the ancient Greeks, the term "philosophy" meant the pursuit of knowledge
for its own sake, and comprised ALL areas of speculative thought, including the arts, sciences
and religion.
Philosophical questions (unlike those of the sciences) are usually foundational and abstract in
nature. Philosophy is done primarily through reflection and does not tend to rely on
experiment, although the methods used to study it may be analogous to those used in the study
of the natural sciences.
In common usage, it sometimes carries the sense of unproductive or frivolous musings, but over
the centuries it has produced some of the most important original thought, and its contribution to
politics, sociology, mathematics, science and literature has been inestimable. Although the study
of philosophy may not yield "the meaning of life, the universe and everything", many philosophers
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believe that it is important that each of us examines such questions and even that an unexamined
life is not worth living. It also provides a good way of learning to think more clearly about a wide
range of issues, and its methods of analyzing arguments can be useful in a variety of situations in
other areas of life.
Philosophy is such a huge subject that it is difficult to know how to break it down into manageable
and logical sections. Perhaps the most basic overall split at the highest level is geographical,
between Eastern Philosophy and Western Philosophy (with, arguably, African Philosophy as a
possible third branch at this level).
The Meaning of Person:

A term derived from the Latin persona, traceable to the Greek, and originally used to denote the
mask worn by an actor. From this it was applied to the role he assumed; and finally, to any
character on the stage of life, i.e., to any individual. The term has taken on a special significance
in scholasticism, where it has figured importantly in theological discussions of the incarnation and
the Holy trinity. This article is restricted to a consideration of the notion as used in scholastic
philosophy and is divided into two sections: the first sketches the historical development of the
concept and the second provides a metaphysical analysis.
The Meaning of Human:

Human is defined as a rational being endowed with composite characteristics (physical, mental,
spiritual and emotional) as distinct from lower animals. Human person is used together to
distinguish it from other kinds of persons such as corporate persons, ecclesiastical person, person
in grammar, etc.
The Meaning of Philosophy of the Human Person:

Philosophy of Human Person can be defined as the science of human beings which interprets the
data of experience in the light of metaphysical principles. It has two sources, namely, the data of
experience supplied mainly by everyday experience, which is confirmed by experimental sciences
and the metaphysical principles supplied by ontology or by metaphysics. Thus, Philosophy of
Human Person is a combination of science and metaphysics. Again, we can consider Philosophy
of Human Person as that branch of philosophy which concerns itself with trying to respond to
those deepest and perennial questions about human beings - questions that have plagued
humans ever since history began. Here, our attempt is to respond to these issues, and not answer
them. For, the word ‘answer’ seems to imply more or less complete and thorough rejoinder to the
matter, an exhaustive conclusion ‘once-and-for-all.’ But we must remember that we are dealing
with human being who is a mystery to be understood more and more than a problem to be solved
once and for all. We cannot demand a conclusive, authoritative answer but only a response. Some
of the typical questions that Philosophy of Human Person raises are: What do humans have in
common with the rest of the material world? What are the implications of this common bond
between humans and the rest of the material world? Which are those aspects of human that set
him/her apart from the rest of the animal world? How significant are these differences? Is there
some explanation that gets to the root of human’s uniqueness? Is this explanation defensible in
the forum of reason? What is the origin of human life? What is its goal? The bulk of Philosophy
Human Person is basically an exploration into the abovementioned questions and into the
ramification of the answers generated by them.
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Lesson 2 The Perspectives of Philosophy of Human Nature
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Primary and Secondary Reflection
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The Value of Doing Philosophy:
1. Educationally and intellectually. Philosophy enlarges our understanding of the world.

It expands our intellectual horizons and freedom of thought. Philosophy helps develop
the capacity to look at the world from the perspective of other individuals and cultures.
Perhaps it is not as effective as science and religion, but it is the most free and valuable
of all intellectual endeavors.
2. Socially and politically. By discussing political and social issues’ philosophy raises
public awareness and helps in forming engaged and responsible citizens. By
performing critical examination of current social and political conditions it can enlighten
people as to the shortcomings of the current order. By viewing social
practices from the perspective of a better and more just future it can foster necessary
social change.
3. Morally and practically. Philosophy can increase our sensitivity for universalistic
moral values and stimulate our readiness to stand up for the principles of justice and
fairness. It provides tools and opportunities to reflect on our basic values and concepts.
It proves very practical in defining our choices and acts.
4. Psychologically and personally. On a personal level, philosophy can give one self-
knowledge, foresight, and a sense of direction in life. It touches upon our own existence
(in a way we are fully humans only if we are capable to reflect upon our humanness)
and tackles the questions of our personal identity. It can lead to self-discovery,
expansion of consciousness, and self-renewal.
5. Pragmatic Uses of Philosophy. While studying philosophy does not help directly
one’s job search, it has an indirect impact even in nonacademic fields. Contrary to the
wide spread view, employers prefer candidates with general and flexible skills that
could adjust to new situations rather than high specialists. They look for and reward
many of the capacities developed by the study of philosophy, for instance, the ability to
analyze problems, to organize ideas and issues, to assess pros and cons, and to boil
down complex data.
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TOPIC 1: Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Lesson 1 Defining the Course

The Meaning of Person:

The Meaning of Human:

The Meaning of Philosophy of the Human Person:

1. Educationally and intellectually. Philosophy enlarges our understanding of the world.

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