Introduction to the Philosophy of
the Human Person
Quarter 1- Module 2
Methods of Philosophizing
Introduction to the Philosophy of
the Human Person
Quarter 1- Module 2
Methods of Philosophizing
The mind is always
after the truth
What is opinion?
What is truth?
difference between opinion and truth
• What is opinion?
- is a belief, impression or judgment about
something by not necessarily based on fact.
- it prevails personal view of a person.
• For instance, you have a neighbor who wants to lose
weight until she saw an advertisement from the
television that there is an affordable and effective
“slimming pill”. Your neighbor is convinced by the
advertisement and took an order then tried and
hoping to be physically fit. But then she noticed that
there has no effect to her, and having a feeling of fear
if it can harm other internal organ in her body. Based
on your neighbor’s experienced, the information that
you have heard or have watched from the news or the
social media especially on products, may tell you the
true or may tell you the false.
• What is truth?
–it is something that has been proven by
facts or sincerity.
- in science, truth is based on facts-as
something that is observable
- in philosophy ,truth is considered as a
kind of quality and value.
• Take for instance, “no bird have no wings”.
This statement simply means that we
know what is an observable or evident in
a real world- that is based on reality so
this is proposition and this statement is
considered as facts.
• Fact is a statement which are observable
to be real or truthful. We all know and see
that all the birds have wings.
example
• 1. the capital of philippines is manila.
• 2. there are 5o states in the united states
• 3. mt everest is the highest mountain in the world.
• 4. you need oxgyen to survive.
• 5. emilio aguinaldo is the first president of the philippines.
Why truth is important?
• Truth is important to clarify knowledge, since
it is through knowing that we are able to
determine what is true, while talking about
knowledge, it is the clear awareness and
understanding of anything that surrounds you.
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 also statements that need to have
further examination to establish whether it is true
or false. For instance; “my man is the best and
the smartest” .This statement is not evidently
or immediately known to be true, it needs further
investigation or examination to see that this
statement is true or false. This statement is
opinion.
• Opinion can be proven by verification and
experimentation in order to find that the
statement is true or false.
example
• 1. sarah is a great singer.
• 2. he looks sad.
• 3. the cake taste delicious.
• 4. marian is prettier that angel.
• 5. dogs are the best pets.
How do you know if something is true?
• Assumed that everything you know about in this world
is true, through your senses and beliefs. But as
philosophers, you do not assumed that every
statement is true. You need to analyze or investigate
or have own investigation to better understand the
means by which you gain knowledge and determine
the truth about everything.
• Doubt drives your desires to discover the truth. There
should be sufficient reasons and evidences taken to
prove that it is true. Everything.
Ways on Determining 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 on facts
- This is another bases of determining truth. If
you think that there are still doubt in your mind,
you can do an investigation to some other
experts or research to fully seek the truth.
3. Getting a consensus or having
people agree on a common belief.
• This is getting everyone to agree
on something with nobody
opposing or against on that
statement.
4. Statements can also be true
through actions
• For instance, your best-friend tells you that
he/she knows how to cook a menudo. Do you
believe his/her statement instantly? Or might you
ask him/her to perform the cooking. Then let you
taste the menudo if the taste is delicious or not. If
the taste of the menudo is delicious, then that
would be the time that you believe him/her that
he/she really knows how to cook menudo.
Lesson 2
Distinguishi
ng Truth
from Opinion
• Analyzing closely the statements, it is
observable that statements in the first
column are truth because they
contain ideas or information which are
easily verifiable, while statements in
the second column are opinions since
they need further facts which will
provide conclusion and beliefs in the
given situation.
Beliefs
- are statements that express convictions that
are not easily and clearly explained by facts.
– For example, if your mother states that “God
created everything that is present in this
entire world”, proving that this statement is
considered as truth, you need other person’s
views and experiences.
You can have now an idea how philosophizing
recognizes truth, let us apply it in a various
situations in your life. Everything you have
encountered could either be an opinion or truth.
But what distinguishes one from the other?
Let us take a look at the following statements .and observe the
Truth
difference between truth and opinion.
Opinion
1. The minimum fare for motorela 1. Fare is increasing because the
from Balbagon, Mambajao to driver wants to have a high income.
Poblacion,Mambajao public market
is 9.00Php.
2. Frederick Navarro arrived in 2. Frederick Navarro arrived in
Cagayan de Oro at 01:05pm. Cagayan de Oro in the afternoon, he
is supposed to arrive in Cagayan de
Oro in the morning but because he
feel lazy to wake up early and feel
bored to travel alone.
• Conclusion
-is a statement based on a
certain fact.
LESSON 3:
DIFFERENT
BETWEEN FALLACY
AND BIAS
• Friend 1: Hey have heard about Miguel? He was
with Algen last night, do they boy/girlfriend
• Friend 2: just saw him last week he was with
Jackilyn and I just asked Miguel if Jackilyn is his
girlfriend. And then he replied “yes”
• Friend 3: I am a friend of Algen, and I know her
boyfriend is.
Arguments
• are series of statement that provis
explanations to convince the listener or a
reader that the opinion is truthful.
Types of Arguments
• Fallacy or fake argument/s (maling
pangangatwiran) - goup of statements that
appear to be arguments to support
conclusion.
• Example:
There is no hope in the Philippine government,
because it is tropical country.
Bias
• refers to tendecies of influences which affects
the views of the people. when looking at an
opinion you must be aware of bias so that you
cn objectively and critically examined points of
view.
TYPES OF FALLACY
FALLACY CHARACTERISTICS EXAMPLE
Argumentum Ad (Agrument against the “Do not listen to his
hominem person) opinion he is fool”
Attacking theperson
presenting the argument
instead of the argument
itself
argumentum ad (Appeal toForce) Using the “If this peace agreement
Baculum appeal to threat of force or an will not be signed by the
force undesirable event to government, then we will
advance argument. have no recourse but to
go to war”
FALLACY CHARACTERISTICS EXAMPLE
Argumentum ad (appeal to emotion) It is by Please let me in. I was
Misericordiam using emotions such as pity or just late because I have
sympathy,one might be able to to attend to my son who
convince the person. is sick.
Argumentum ad Commited when a person
Ignorantiam not give a counter argrument
or he/ she could not present
any evidences or witnesses
Argumentum ad Appeal to popular or Every boy your age
Populum. bandwagon- The idea is already has a girlfriend,
presented as acceptable you should go find one.
because a lot of people accept
it.
• Fallacy of division
• assuming that what is true for the whole is true parte
parts
Bias Characteristics Example
Corresponding bias or You judge a person’s These rebels who fought
attribute bias personality based on the against the government
actions and never mind are all inconsiderate
the extrinsic (panlabas na murderers.
dahilan) factor
Confirmation bias Tendency to look for a How can I accept his view
readily accept information that there is no God? I am
which fits one’s own Christian
beliefs or views that go
against it.
-occurs when an entity or
Conflict interest individual becomes (or serving )interest and
unrealiable because of a professional duties or
clash between persona responsibilities.
Bias Characteristics Example
Framing Do not only settled in one in motorcycle accident
issue of the problem and yesterday, it is altogether
then you do not mind the a fault of the driver for
other aspects. Judging reckless driving.
and incidence without
looking at the other side.
hindsight the phenomea which Let us take an example on
occur has pattern and can the Magellan’s assault on
be predicted, such is Mactan, his defeat was
usually based in historical due to his looking as
evidence. people of no knowledge.
“The eyes sees only what the
mind is prepared to comprehend”
-ROBERTSON DAVIES-
