INTRODUCTION A.

Philosophy MEANING DEF INITION

A specific Any definition meaning of a may be taken term may not as a particular necessarily meaning of a stand for its given term definition

P IL S P Y H OOH ISA PR C SOF PER ONAL R FLE TION O ES S E C ON THEME ANINGOF HUMAN LIFE TH , IT IS . US BE VE THA PH OS LIE D T IL OPHYISA QUE T FORA S PE S R ONAL OUTL OOKORPER ONAL LIFES S TYLE C ONC R E NINGTH WHOLE S OF R E NE S EALITY . Once S ocra said: The unex ined life tes am is not worth living . This m es philosophy undefina ak ble since the process of findingthe m eaningof hum an ex istence is endless.

The Definition of Philosophy: PHILOSOPHY, from two Greek words: philos (love) andsophia(wisdom). From its root words, philosophy meanslove of wisdom . As love of wisdom, philosophy is a desire or interest for an intellectual inquiryIt is a . discipline not to be defined but to be inquired into. Philosophy cant be defined for it knows no limits just as the human mind knows no boundaries in its search for the rational explanation of reality and of man himself.

Philosophy: a Discipline of Questioning The core in every philosophical inquiry is the discipline ofquestioning Anyone who asks . questions is then philosophizing. A questionis a conscious search for knowledge. It is authentic if it involves the three fundamental conditions, as follows: 1. It is for the knowledge of something; 2. It is an awareness of ignorance, and; 3. It is an awareness that there is more to be known.

Philosophy as a discipline of questioning can be explained in two points: 1. It is dynam icin the sense that it is an unending series of questions and answers. Philosophy is a discipline where the questions are more important than the answers and every answer becomes a new question. 2. It is personal in the sense that one mans answer to a question may be valid for him but not for the next man. Philosophical concepts, therefore, are not immutable doctrines it cant be formulated in articles of faith.

The Philosophical Method: Questions and answers are correlative. In arriving at the correct and consistent answer to a question, the philosophical method of rational analysis and argumentation is needed. L ic, as an art of og correct thinking, must always be considered as a tool in facilitating this method. Honer points out that philos ophical in quiry will always demand in tellectual s ill and in k tens ive knowledg of the various logical procedures. e

StudyingPhilosophy then should im prove our reasoningskills. Philosophical reasoningis im proved when it is: 1. C ritica followingthe established scientific rules l: for correct thinking. 2. R orou avoidinginconsistencies and ig s: incoherence. 3. S s m tic: observingcertain order or y te a procedure. 4. O je eor u ia ed : consideringthings froma b ctiv nb s disinterested point of view honestly considering , difficulties and problem objections, and s, alternative points of view .

We become more effective not because we discuss and answer well contentious issues and problems but because the time we spend in thinking about such issues is likely to produce in us a rational and independent minded person who can bring creativity and productivity to our respective profession and organization. Thinking hard, therefore, is a valuable experience. The more we do this, the better we get at it. Good luck and think hard young future philosophers!!!

T EO IG O P IL S P Y H R IN F H O O H 1H . indu
The H indus (India w a ns) ere skinga bout theproblemof thedepth -eg The w re bus o. y e y sea rchingfor the dee t self of m n which pes a directlyha an insepa ble be s ra aringwith the div . Thus, the ques ine ir tion: h a I? is Wo m w p ised in their be f of ell rem lie Atmn a (individual soul) a nd B h a (univ l soul). ra mn ersa

2. C hinese
Interested in the : h t a I? Wa m question. Here, they show their quest on the anthropocentric or the socio -political -m oral dim ension of the hum phenom an enon. This illustrates the passion of the Chinese to be always a person who is called to relate to others who are as hum as he is. an

3. Greek
R eadily disposed their utm desire to ost ask: h re a I? We m

W th t d c n a h n , c s ic l ith a ire tio s t a d la s a p ilo o h rsw u s fe in r th t th re h s p e o ld a ly fe a e m s b t r eo je t o p ilo o h a u t e he b cs f h s p ic l in u y : G d M na dW rld q ir o, a n o . T s h la w oa n n o c o rs h re o -H d o in u r n n -C in s lik R g a E n a o g o h e e e e in ld lle , m n o e s p fe n etolo a th o in l th r , re re c c te e rig a lo u o th p o ia im e so d in c s f e rim rd l p tu f o g p ilo o h o c rre inM tu . h s p y cu d ile s T er d h a ix o t ec im so T a s f h la lie n h le : th a c im d e c la e firs p ilo o h r t h s p e.

W yb c inth 6 th c n ryB . liv dam n a ak e e tu .C e a na e Py a ora w o isa c im da th firs m d th g s h c la e s e t ph op e ( b c u eh c e th te ilos h r e a s e oin d e rm p ilo h sop y ). B t b v eo th p in of orig of h u y irtu f e o t in ph op y w ic isth w d r b th w y it ilos h h h e on e, y e a , doe n m a th t P th g ra d n w d r s ot e n a y a o s id ot on e, th th gis T a sw d re e rlie th n e in , h le on e d a r a P th g ra ) it isT a s y ao s h le .

THE S UBJE MA CT TTERSOFPHIL OPHY OS 1. Cosmocentric The approach of the ancient . times when the world was the center of philosophical studies. Man during those times was seen as amicrocosm. 2. Theocentric God in the medieval times was . the center of their philosophical studies and man was studied always in relation to the existence of supernatural being. 3. Anthropocentric. Man becomes the center of philosophical studies in the modern times. Man is seen asmacrocosm.

THE BRANCHES0FPHIL OPHY OS : DIVIS ION S UBECT QUES TIONS MA TTER 1. Metaphysics Study of (1) What is ultimate Reality reality? (2) Is it one thing or is it many different things? (3) Can reality be grasped by the senses or is it transcendent? (3) What is the mind and what is its relation to the body?

DIVIS ION

S UBJECT QUES TIONS MA TTER 2. Epistemolog Study of (1) What is knowledge y Knowledge (2) Is knowledge acquired exclusively through the senses or by some other means? (3) How do we know that what we perceive through our sense is correct?

DIVIS ION

S UBJECT MA TTER Study of Human Action

QUES TIONS

3. Ethics

(1) What is right? (2) Are there any objective standards of right and wrong? (3) Are moral values absolute or relative

General----Ontology Metaphysic PHILOSOPHY Epistemology Cosmology Logic Special --- Theodicy Ethics Psychology or moral philosophy

L OGIC - Study of correct processes of thinking. ONTOL OGY - Greek word: ontologia; logia means talking while onto means being, thus literally it means talking about being - Latin word: onto meansplenum which means full of being COS MOL OGY- It studies the general nature of the world or the structure and history of the universe. THEODIC or natural theology - Studies the Y nature, operations, and attributes of God or the study about God in the context of reason and faith.

RATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY - It treats of mans nature as a being endowed with reason and intellect which studies the rational metaphysics of the human soul.

2. Philosophy of Man: It studies m in his an totality of beingwith realities (physical and spiritual) and m ysteries (e.g. relationships) surroundinghis existence.
APH S PH O H M NN TU A DO H M NE IS N E ILO O Y F U A A RE N F U A X TE C

B. PHIL OPHY OFTHE HUMAN PERS OS ON

EVOLUTION OF THE SUBJECT TITLE

1. Philosophical Anthropology: Greek word of man is Anthropos. Man is studied only from the physical point of view leaving behind some other considerations on his human nature.

MA refers to livingthing recognize as we N look at the world, whomAristotle called as a rational anim . As an anim m is still al al, an just one objects of the world, but with prestig added to it, that is, ra a e tion lity. P R O originally coined fromthe Greek ESN word prosopon the m worn by an ask actor

By Historical Development: Person later refers to the character himself or the character in the stage of life. In the drama of life, the person is not a mere object but as somebody who directs himself and who claims his rights. Person, therefore, have special dignity in contrast to things. There are persons who are not men, like divine persons of God, and angels. Thus, it is appropriate to couple the word person with human to make it human person.