Introduction

to the
Philosophy of
the Human
Person
 Lesson # 2
Methods
of
Philosophizing
 Objectives
1.Distinguish Opinion from
Truth.
2. Analyze situations that show
the difference.
3.Realize that the Methods of
Philosophy lead to wisdom
and truth.
4. Evaluate opinions.
What is
Truth?
What does it
mean to know
something?
How can you
arrive at the
truth?
 How can
you justify
truth?
 The Concept of
truth and how to
arrive to it has
been debated by
philosophers.
 In the study of
Metaphysics, we
have been
presented with a
wide variety of
views of reality.
 Which of them is
true and what to
believe in and
which is purely
based on opinion is
the concern of this
Kinds of
TRUTH
Truth can be
divided into
two separate
categories:
CONTINGEN
T TRUTH /
EMPIRICAL
TRUTH
 1. Claims
considered to
be true
because of the
facts.
 Example:
Water’s
freezing point
is 0 degrees
Celsius.
NECESSARY
TRUTH
 2. Claims
argued to be
true because
of reasoning.
Example:

“1+5=6
”
 A statement that
is true because of
the facts is called
an “Empirical
Truth” – that is,
true because of
 The word
empirical is
derived from the
Greek word
“Empeiria”
which means
 Empirical truths
can be known to
be true only
when we have
actually looked at
 Example:
“There are women
inside the bar.” this
might be false for all
we know before we
actually go and
check it.
A statement
that is true
because of
reason is a
necessary
 Necessary here is
the opposite of
contingent: we can
always imagine
what it would be for
a contingent truth
 We cannot even
make sense out of
the suggestion
that a necessary
truth might not be
true.
 “3+3=6” is a
necessary truth, in
that we cannot
imagine, no matter
how imaginative we
happen to be, what
circumstances might
For example, the
necessary
falsehood
“2+2=2” cannot
be imagined to be
true under any
 Necessary Truth
can be said to be
true, accordingly,
prior to
experience or (in
Latin) a priori.
 In discussing
TRUTH, it is
important to
clarify
KNOWLEDGE
since it is through
knowledge that we
 Truth and
Knowledge
 TRUTH lies at the heart of
any inquiry. It is a fact that
has been verified.
 KNOWLEDGE is simple
data that comes from the
outside that pass to our
senses. It must be truthful to
gain validity and acceptance.
 Knowledge
pertains ideas &
beliefs that we
know to be true.
 Man believes that
he/she has knowledge
of a thing when he/she
can EXPLAIN,
IDENTIFY, GIVE
EXAMPLES, POINT
OUT and RELATE an
 How do we
know that
something is
true?
 “Doubt
everything that
can be
doubted.”
-Rene Descartes-
 The Philosophers
ponders upon the
origins of knowledge,
doubted everything
that is to know about
themselves and the
world.
Systematic
Doubt
is use to determine
the truth.
Systematic Doubt
- This means that every
statements, claim, evidence
or experience are analyze
and scrutinize.
- Nothing is taken as true
unless there is sufficient
reason and evidence to
prove that it is indeed true
OPINION
 Distinguish
OPINION
from TRUTH
 According to
Bertrand Russel,
“Better the world
should perish than I
or any other human
being should believe
a lie.”
 Identifying an
opinion from the
truth is the task
of every human
being.
The problem about
Opinions is that it
sometimes may be
weak or strong
depending on the
argument and
evidence backing it.
 How do we
examines
statement then so
we can tell that it
is not just an
opinion but rather
 Opinion and write T if the
statement is true.
1. We are now in the 21st century.
2. The sun will rise in the east tomorrow
3. I think I am doing well in this test.
4. I am good-looking.
5. I am Intelligent because I have an 1Q of 140.
6. A triangle has three sides.
7. If she is your mother, and I am your child. then she Is
my grandmother.
8. My neighbor says that vaccines turn us Into zombles.
9. Bananas taste better than mangoes.
10. Basketball is more fun than volleyball
 Would you risk your
future for an opinion?
1. Would you give
your heart to
someone based on
opinion?
 Would you risk your
future for an opinion?
2. Would you
Invest your hard-
earned money
on a business
 Would you risk your
future for an opinion?
3. Would you
elect your
leaders based on
opinion?
 Would you risk your
future for an opinion?
4. Would you
entrust the eternal
salvation of your
soul based on
opinion?
 One of the best
and proven ways
on understanding
a reality is to
know what it is
not, or by
 The branch of
Philosophy that
tackles this is Logic
which specifically
teaches us about
“Fallacies”, from the
Latin word “fallere”
 Fallacy is a
mistaken belief,
flawed argument,
or deceptive
reasoning that can
lead to incorrect
 Fallacies are considered to
be false arguments but may
appear convincing and may
sometimes cloaked to be
true but if examined closely,
the problem lies in the
unsuitability of the premise
sometimes because of the
ambiguity in the language
 The following are
truth-statements:
1. We are now in the 21st century - T - claim is
verifiable with historical documents
2. The sun will rise in the east tomorrow.- T - claim is
verifiable with observation
5. I am intelligent because 1 have an 1Q of 140. — T -
claim has evidential support
6. A triangle has three sides.. T - claim is self-evident
7. If she is your mother, and 1 am your child, then she
is my grandmother -- T - claim is validated.
8. My neighbor says that vaccines turn us into
zombies. T - reporting a fact that my neighbor
made a claim, which has no basis
 Opinion-statements become truth-
statements with the addition of
evidence.
9. Bananas taste better than
mangoes, according to 75% of
respondents in a recent survey.
(evidence)
10. Basketball is more fun than
volleyball based on the number of
students in our school. (evidence)
truth-statements with the addition
of proof.
3. I think I am doing well in
this test because the
answers are faithful to the
facts/formula. (proof)
4. I am good-looking
according to the Golden
Ratio, (proof)
 Two
Types of
Fallacy
 1. Verbal – due
to misuse of a
word or phrase
which hides the
real intent of the
argument.
 2. Non-Verbal –
due to
psychological
reasons or the
arguer makes an
unjustified
 Verbal
Fallacies
 Equivocation
fallacy – logical
fallacy where a term
or phrase is used with
multiple meanings in
an argument, leading
to misleading or
 Example:
Lapulapu is a fish.
Lapulapu killed
Magellan.
Therefore, a fish
killed Magellan.
“A bat is a mammal;
Therefore, baseball
players use
mammals to hit
baseballs.
“when I asked you
if I should turn left,
you said right.
Therefore, I was
correct and you
cannot get mad at
Fallacy of Division -
An invalid inference
from the nature of the
whole to the nature of
the parts, or from the
nature of the group to
the nature of the
members.
 Example:
Family of Santiago
is very musical.
Therefore, Ken, the
eldest son must be
musically inclined.
Australians travel
a lot. Gary is
Australian, so he
travels a lot.
Non-Verbal
Fallacies
 False Cause – consists in
illegitimately assuming that
one possible cause of a
phenomenon is a cause
although reasons are
lacking for excluding other
possible causes. Many
superstitious beliefs are
fallacies of this type.
 Example:
I get a high score in
our Logic quiz every
time I use a red
lipstick. Therefore,
using a red lipstick
has something to do
 OPINION
- OPINION is an expression
based on facts, emotions,
beliefs and views.
- It is not based on a
conclusive evidence but
instead on an inclination
in which brings an
individual to a conclusion.
- It is also a basis in
making arguments
and convincing
people that a
certain claim is a
fact.
 A.
My brother is
B.
a selfless My
person brother
because he
gave me the gave me
last piece of the last
bread even
though he has piece of
not eaten
OPINION yet. bread.
Example:

My students
are beautiful
inside and out.
What is
FACT?
 FACTS
-FACTS are statement
that can be check with
evidence.
- It is the basis in
determining the truth
 A.
My brother is
B.
a selfless My
person brother
because he
gave me the gave me
past piece of the last
bread
eventhough he piece of
has not eaten bread.
FACT
yet.
Example:
 The Philippines, as
proven in the
geographical and
anthropological
properties is a country
in Southeast Asia.
Terms related to
TRUTH (Fact)
or OPINION
CONCLUSION
- It is a judgment
based on certain
facts.
 The Facts that forms
the basis of conclusion
may not be disputed
but the conclusion
itself may still be
question.
 BELIEFS
-are statements that
express convictions
that are not easily
and clearly explain by
facts.
EXPLANATION
-statement that goes
beyond facts and
provides reason why
the statement is true.
 ARGUMENT
-statement that
provides reason or
convince the reader
or listener that an
opinion is truthful.
ARGUMENTS are
made with the
assumption that
truth of the claim
are yet to be
determine.
 Basis in
determining
what is truth.
 1. A belief is true
if it can be
justified or proven
through the use
of one’s senses.
2. A belief or
statement is
true if it is
based of
 3. Getting a
consensus or
having people
agree on a
common belief.
 4. A statement
should be proven
through an
action to
determine its
 5. Claims and
beliefs should be
subjected to test
to determine
truth.
Truth is the heart of
every inquiry.
Discovering truth
about oneself is the
first step in
exploring
 Philosophy can help us
filtered truth. Determine
the truthfulness of the
claim through the use of
systematic DOUBTS,
SENSES, FACTS,
ACTIONS AND TESTS.
THANK YOU