METHODS OF
PHILOSOPHY LEAD TO
WISDOM AND TRUTH
QUARTER 1 – LESSON 6
• WHAT IS PHILOSOPHIZING?
• TO THINK AND EXPRESS ONESELF IN A PHILOSOPHICAL
MANNER
METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING
1. DIALECTICAL OR SOCRATIC METHOD
• uses a very incisive way of questioning the underlying assumptions of one’s
opponent
• More known as Socratic method
• We base on asking or answering questions to stimulate critical thinking
• In other words to cross- examine
• Question base on your answer, and question again base on the answer, and so on.
• Can be observed on teachers, attorney’s
METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING
2. EXERCISE OR SKEPTICISM USING DESCARTES’ METHOD OF
SYSTEMATICS DOUBT
• also known as skeptical or methods of doubt
• We ask question for clarification, uses the process of doubting as a form of thinking
• Cognitio-matter of realizing that one is actually thinking when one is actually doubting
Descartes methods of doubt:
Perceptual illusion(never trust what you perceive) ex. A picture of a
hamburger in a billboard.
• Meaning when you hear, see, receive something, like information or news before you
believe you must doubt first.
Dream Problem
• Descartes called it fabrication of own physical world
• We need to think that what we are thinking is real or just an illusion or problem
• In skeptical method we talk back and forth, we agree or disagree.
• Ex. I ask you a question and then you might agree or disagree and then you ask me
also a question, then I might also agree or dis agree or doubt, the process will
repeat until we come up with the truth or agreement.
• It is important to agree or disagree
METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING
3. SCIENTIFIC
• we produce knowledge based on empirical data.
• Empirical means we based our knowledge or truth on experiment, observation,
testing, theory building or assessment.
METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING
4. HISTORICAL
• is gathering primary sources
• Primary sources means, the oldest source/references
• Here logic is not important, because according to it, a thing is true if it is in the past
references/sources.
• Logic is the truth based on reasoning and critical
thinking. It includes analysis and construction of
arguments. It serves as a path to freedom from half-
truths and deception.
ARGUMENT
• To make clear or to prove
• A group of preposition, one of which is claimed to follow
from the evidence supplied by the others
• The goal is not to vanquish an opponent but to attain clarity
regarding an idea or belief.
TYPES OF REASONING
• Inductive Reasoning In this type of reasoning, supporting data, facts, examples,
and evidences come first followed by the main points and conclusion will be the last
part. This is the opposite of deductive reasoning because a particular idea comes first
before the general idea.
TOP-DOWN LOGIC
Conclusion
Main Points
Supporting Data, Fact,
Examples and Evidences
EXAMPLE
1. 3. Nala is an orange cat and she purrs
loudly,
Every orange cate I’ve met purrs loudly.
All orange cat purr loudly.
• Deductive Reasoning In this type of reasoning, conclusion
comes first, followed by main points, and the last will be the
supporting data, facts, examples, and evidences. General idea
comes first before the specific or particular idea.
Deductive Reasoning TOP-DOWN LOGIC
Conclusion
Main Points
Supporting Data, Fact,
Examples and Evidences
EXAMPLE
1. ALL PHILOSOPHERS ARE WISE, 1. ALL MEN ARE MORTAL,
SOCRATES IS A PHILOSOPHER SOCRATES IS A MAN
THEREFORE, SOCRATES IS WISE THEREFORE, SOCRATES IS A MORTAL
2. ALL Ps are Qs,
S is P,
Therefore, S is a Q.
