Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person

Philosophy Is The Quest for Answers

Philosophy

 deals with the most complex, challenging and profound questions in human life as
previously stated, questions that by their nature resist simple answers. In addition, the
scope of philosophy has changed extensively over the centuries.

 originated in Greece as the “mother of all disciplines” covering the entire breadth of inquiry
about humans and the environment they are living in.

 In time, as society developed, human knowledge expanded, different disciplines were

established that classified understanding on various human experiences.

The Meaning and Definition of Philosophy

 is a process of personal reflection on the meaning of human life.

 The term philosophy was first introduced by Pythagoras, and based in the language of the
Pythagorean nomenclature, philosophy is originally philosophia, which is derived from two
Greek words: philia meaning “love” and sophia meaning “wisdom”. Literally, the word
philosophy means the love of wisdom.

 This “love of wisdom” is something which all human nature in some measures at least
participates in and which predisposes all toward sympathy for the philosopher’s enterprise.
(Scott et al., 1993)

 Pythagoras called himself a ‘lover of wisdom’ or “Philosopher”. From then on, the term
“philosopher” replaced that of “wise men” and the term “philosophy” replaced that of
“wisdom”. This term is noteworthy, for one who seeks wisdom for its sake and not for any
other motive loves wisdom. Hence, we see that philosophy is knowledge sought purposely
for its own sake.

 is the knowledge of all things through their ultimate causes, acquired through the use of
reason. The phrase “acquired through the use of reason” tells us the Philosophy has a
natural scope. It seeks the final explanations that can be arrived at by reasoning which are
based on facts and experiences. It is the search for profound knowledge about reality, a
knowledge that goes beyond spontaneous awareness, and knowledge attained by the arts as
well as applied sciences. Philosophy analyzes these facts, considers their implications and
raison d’etre (reason for being).

 will lead man to an in-depth progress in skills, abilities and insights that will always be
beneficial for the rest of his life.
 Philosophical Skills

Philosophers are generally endowed with skills borne of experience and reflection in
analyzing events, envisioning future, and gaining insights into reality. These philosophical
skills are concerned with analysis, vision and insights.

Analytical Skill

 The ability to respond critically and evaluate what is good and what is bad, what is moral or
immoral regarding human action is called analytical skill

 This analytical ability can be developed with the help of Logic – a branch of philosophy
which trains student to think correctly. Ethics – which can help people, distinguish whether
their actions is moral or immoral. Every student can possess the ability to think clearly and
communicate forcefully their beliefs affecting them and they can lead others towards logical
conclusion and ethical behavior. To be logical and ethical are traits of real leadership.

 Visionary Skills

The ability to enable a confused people to confront a raging social volcano, to envision an
alternative future instead of catastrophic ending is a visionary skill.

This is the ability to envision a future not readily accessible to unthinking people. This can
be developed through deep reflection based on past and present events.

Insightful Skill

 Philosophy can reasonably guide you to think analytically to develop a clear vision and
obtain a sublime insight to a life and future worth striving for. This is called insightful skill.
This insightful ability can develop by constant discernment on human and world events.

The Branches of Philosphy

 Philosophy is a science composed of different sciences or disciplines. The branches of

philosophy are the following: Metaphysics, Theodicy, Epistemology, Ethics, Logic and
Aesthetics.

Metaphysics

 Metaphysics is the study of every reality, seeking its ultimate cause in absolute sense, and
the diverse manner of “being” of things. Metaphysics in Greek means “beyond physics”, and
must rise above what is material and sensible, and reach out to Spiritual reality.

Why is Metaphysics Important?

 Metaphysics is the nucleus of philosophy and gives unity to philosophy. Aristotle rightly
called metaphysics “First Philosophy”. It is the most universal science because all reality is
 the object of this study. It is the most fundamental science because it studies the most basic,
most radical perfection as being or being as such.

What are the Key Elements of Metaphysics

 Metaphysics includes realities that do not depend on matter for their “being”, either
because they are spiritual-such as God, or the human soul – or because they are aspects of
reality that can be found in material as well as spiritual beings.

 Metaphysics, in its study of “being” of things in a general way, discovers “laws of being”
which are universally valid for all reality, (“first principles”) obtains conclusions applicable
to all beings (although it apply to them in varying ways and degrees) studies in a direct
manner, the Spiritual beings which bears a reference to being in all its aspects, due to their
intellect and will, and ultimately reaches to God as the First Cause of the “being of all things”

Theodicy

 Theodicy is the branch of philosophy which studies God as Subsistent Being and First Cause
of all things. It is called natural theology.

Why is Theodicy important?

 Starting from the being of limited beings, we arrived at the knowledge of God, the infinite
fullness of Being, an the First Cause of the being of creatures. Human reason can get to know
God’s existence and his attributes (like infinity and omnipotence), and acknowledge him as
the ultimate purpose or end of man.

What are the Key Elements of Theodicy

 Theodicy is the knowledge of God attained from the study of nature through the use of
human reason and not from special revelation. It deals with the final purpose of man’s
existence who is God. This truth is acquired through human experience because God is the
First Origin of the beings of things. Metaphysics helps the human mind which is limited and
finite to which God who is the Cause of the beings of things.

Epistemology

 Epistemology is the philosophy of science and studies the method of acquiring knowledge.
It answers the question, “How do we know?” It encompasses the nature of concepts, the
development of concepts, the validity of the senses, logical reasoning, as well as thoughts,
ideas, memories, emotions, and all things mental. It is concerned with how our minds are
related to reality, and whether these relationships are valid or invalid.

Why is Epistemology Important?

 Epistemology is the explanation of how we think. It is required in order to be able to

determine the true from the false, by determining a proper method of evaluation. It is
needed in order to use and obtain knowledge of the world around us. More specifically, we
 would have no reason to believe that our thinking was productive or correct, as opposed to
random images flashing before our mind. We would not be able to distinguish truth from
error. The degree to which our epistemology is correct is the degree to which we could
understand reality, and the degree to which we could use that knowledge to promote our
lives and goals.

What are the Key Elements of Epistemology

 Our senses are valid, and the only way to gain information about the world. Reasoning is
our method of gaining knowledge, and acquiring understanding. Logic is our method of
maintaining consistency within our set of knowledge. Objectivity is our means of
associating knowledge with reality to determine its validity. Concepts are abstracts of
specific details of reality, or other abstractions.

Ethics

 Ethics is the study of how human acts are directed towards man’s purpose or end. It is also
called moral philosophy. It is divided into two parts: General Ethics – which studies the
basic principles regarding the morality of human acts, and Social Ethics – which studies the
common good of society. It answers the question, “What do I do?” It is the study of right and
wrong in human endeavors. At a more fundamental level, it is the method by which we
categorize our values and pursue them.

 Ethics is a requirement for human life. It is our means of deciding a course of action.
Without it, our actions would be random and aimless. Even with an ethical standard, we
may be able to pursue our goals with the possibility of success. To the degree which a
rational ethical standard is taken, we are able to correctly organize our goals and actions to
accomplish our most important values.

 What are the Key Elements of Ethics

 A proper foundation of ethics requires a standard of value to which all goals and actions can
be compared to. This standard concerns the basic principle regarding the morality of
actions. It is arrived at by our pursuit of the common good of society, the correct relation
between the individual and society, the fulfillment of moral civil laws, the recognition of the
fundamental rights of the family and purpose of marriage.

 Logic

 Logic is the philosophical study of the science and art of correct inferential thinking. It
studies concepts, propositions, and syllogisms.

 Why is Logic Important?

 Logic provides the bases for reasoning in different sciences. It manifests whether arguments
are valid or not, right or wrong. Knowledge of logic can help facilitate correct thinking or
identify wrong conclusion.
 What are the Key Elements of Logic

 The key elements of logic are, firstly, the understanding of rules for correct argumentation
and the validity of the argument. Second, argument techniques used in legal reasoning and
geometrical truth. Third, universally valid proposition or statements. And finally, the study
of fallacies.

 Aesthetics

 Aesthetics is the branch of philosophy which deals with the nature of arts, beauty and taste,
with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is a critical reflection on arts, culture and
nature.

 Why is Aesthetics Important?

 Aesthetics is important because it helps us experience what is relevant to art. It makes our
knowledge of the beauty of the world relevant. It raises our experience of the ordinary to
the level of the intellect and Spirit. It helps us appreciate our cultural heritage.

 What are the Key Elements of Aesthetics?

 The elements of Aesthetics are the principles of beauty from which the principles of the
good and the right are derived. Also, beauty and the beautiful, and appreciation of, and
response to beauty and the beautiful are elements of aesthetics.