Lesson 2

METHODS OF Members:
Simone Taloyo

PHILOSOPHIZING Kevi Dave

Donaire
Jeajoy
Emberador
Gladys Mae
Piad
Marites
Tangaro
 INQUIRE AND DISCOVER

We can gather information through various

sources such as the media and our interactions
with friends, family and other members of the
community. Most of the information can be
helpful, but some may mislead us or even be
utterly false. These kind of information can
have a great impact in our lives.
 For instance, many people have been
misled by claims of the good effect of drugs in
our health which were eventually proven wrong.
In addition, the “news” on the internet and
social media sites often relies on sensational
headlines which often twist and distort the
truth. These often results in heated online
debates and feuds. And in the worst situation
innocent individuals become targets of
harassment because of false claims and
testimonial issued online.
 Everyday we are confronted with news,
claims and announcement from our peers,
family members but most commonly figures of
authorities, the government and media. How do
we know if they are telling the truth?

Philosophers often grapple with the

concept of truth. Truth lies at the heart of any
inquiry. Knowledge must be truthful to gain
validity and acceptance. However, the concept
of truth remains a highly debated and much
discuss topic among philosophers
 Philosophers considers truth as a kind of
quality or value. For example, when we answer
“Truth or False” test, we judge if the statement
were true or false. Statements about the world
or reality are called prepositions and this
preposition may or may not carry truth.
Preposition are usually stated as short
statements or sentence.
 WHAT IS TRUTH AND WHY IS IT
IMPORTANT

Before we discuss the truth, it is important

to clarify knowledge, since it is through
knowing that we are able to determine what is
true. Knowledge is a clear awareness and
understanding of something. It is a product of
questions that allow for clear answers provided
by facts. Our knowledge is comprised of ideas
and beliefs that we know to be true.
 There are statements, however, that are
not evidently or immediately known to be true.
For example, we can say that “ I know that my
school is the best school in the city.” This
statement, however, cannot be taken as true
since it is simply evident. This is statement is a
claim, and further is required to establish
whether it is true or false. You may know why
reading is a better activity than basketball but
the truth of your statement will be contested by
other people.
 Truthful statement, therefore, can be
considered as base on facts. Science considers
truth as something of observable and empirical.
This means that any claim can be proven by
verification and experimentation. 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.
 HOW DO WE KNOW IF SOMETHING IS
TRUE?

There are several views regarding truth.

Philosophers emphasize the importance of
belief as a basis for determining the truth. But
what kind of belief is truthful? How do we know
that we are believe is true?

Ancient Greek philosophers approach the

problem of truth by looking at the nature of
knowledge and how we know what we know. We
assume that everything we know about this
world is truth.
 But philosophers who pondered upon the
origins of knowledge doubted everything that
there is to know about themselves and the
world, in doing so, they were able to better
understand the means by which humans gains
knowledge and determining the truth about
everything. It said that there are instances
when we have to unlearn something so that we
may learn a new. Philosophers questioned what
they knew and even analyzed their method of
knowing in order to understand themselves and
the world much better.
 As a philosopher, they do not that every
statement is true. Doubt has a very important
purpose in philosophy as it drives our desire to
discover truth. In philosophy, systematic doubt
is employed to help determine truth. This
means that every statement, claim, evidence,
and experience is scrutinized and analyzed.
 There is one perspective on truth – that a
belief is true if it can be justified or proven
through the use of one’s senses.

This is another basis for determining truth : a

belief or statement is true if it is based on
facts.
 Getting a consensus of having people agree
on a common belief is another way of
determining what is truth. But this approach
has certain limitations.

Reliance on evidence on evidence and facts,

however, also has limitations. Evidence,
especially documents, can be forged or
falsified.
We realize that using your senses and
experiences. Acquiring supporting facts , or
getting other people’s views are insufficient to
fully determine the truth.
Determining truth in this case requires a person
to prove a statement through an actions. The
statements, there fore are only true if they
can be applied in real life.
Philosophers also believe that claims and
beliefs should also be subjected to tests to
determine truth.
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUTH AND
OPINION

Truth
- Is described as the statement that can be
verified or proven to be true.
Opinion
- Is an expression of judgement or belief
about something.
 HOW CAN PHILOSOPHY GUIDE US IN
DISTINGUISHING TRUTH FROM OPINION?
Facts Opinion
1.) It takes me 30 minutes to walk 2.) Living near the school is better
from my home to school. because we don’t to have spend
much for transportation.
3.) My sister ate the last piece of 4.) My sister is a selfish person
pizza pie. because se ate the last piece of
pizza pie and did not share it with
me.
5.) The policeman firmly pushed the 6.) The aggressive manner by which
suspect to his knee and placed him the policeman arrested the suspect
in handcuff. is an example of the brutality that
characterizes our police force.
A conclusion is a judgement based on certain
facts. The facts that form the bases a
conclusion may not be disputed but the
conclusion could still be contested or
questioned.
Beliefs are statement 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.
Arguments are series of statements that
provide to convince the reader a literature that
a claim or opinion is truthful.
 WHAT SHOULD WE CONSIDER WHEN
LOOKING AT ARGUMENTS OR OPINIONS?

Arguments – often take the form of statements

that are either chains of facts and are phrased
in such a way that they seem reasonable.
- It maybe based on faulty reasoning
arguments called fallacies.
 EXAMPLES OF FALLACIES

1. Ad honizem – attacking the person

presenting the argument instead of the
argument itself.
2. Appeal to Force – using the threat of force or
an undesirable event to advance on argument.
3. Appeal to Emotion – using emotions such as
pity or sympathay.
4. Appeal to the popular – the idea is presented
as acceptable because a lot of people accept.
5. Appeal to tradition – the idea is acceptable
because it has been true for a long time.
6. Begging the questions – assuming the thing
or idea to e problem is true ; also known as
circular argument.
Opinion – when looking at an opinion, be aware
of bias or the personal views of the person
presenting it.

People are aware of their personal biases to

avoid conflict from each other.
FOLLOWING ARE MOST COMMON BIASES:

1. Correspondence bias or attribution effect –

tendency to judge a person’s personality by his
or her action, without regard for external factor
or on influences.
2. Confirmation bias – tendency to look for an
readily accept information which fits one’s own
beliefs or views and be reject ideas or views
that go against it.
3. Framing – focusing on a certain aspect of a
problem while ignoring other aspects.
4. Hindsight – the tendency to see past events
as predictable, or to ascribe a pattern to
historical event.
5. Conflict of Interest – a person or group is
connected to or has rested interest in the issue
being discussed.
6. Cultural Bias – and lying an event or issue
based on one’s cultural standards.
 HOW CAN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUTH AND
OPINION LEAD US TO WISDOM?
- A critical mind aided by philosophy can help
us from our own personal point of view that
can guide us in making decisions and actions
when faced with a problem
- Philosophy can help us determine ideas that
are truthful and acceptance, which we can
them use to form our own ideas regarding
certain matters.
 DIALOGUE

-In figuring our bias, we have to look at the

background of the persons who made the
statements.
-Do you consider drug addicts as human
persons or as criminals?
-Do you know a drug addict or an drug user? Do
you consider that person a criminal or a
person?
-Have you ever been affected by problems
related to drug addiction? How did it make you
feel?
-Do you believe that killing drug addicts is an
effective way of solving the problem of drug
addiction?
-Do you believe that drug addict deserve to die
for being drug addict?
 LET US PHILOSOPHIRE:

-If drug addiction is a crime and drug addicts

are criminals, does this mean that any other
form of addiction is also a crime? Can people
addicted to coffee be considered criminal?
-If we get rid of drug addicts but not the drug
manufacturers and pushers, do we solve the
problem of drug addictions? Are we just getting
rid of the symptoms met not the causes of the
problem.
- Your own reflection on your thoughts and
ideas regarding the issue, together with an
objective evaluation of opinions on the matter
will enable you to make a wise decision
regarding the most acceptable view.