INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

Philosophy
-Come from a Greek word “philo” and Partial Perspective is looking at the situation
“Sophia” only in one part not seeing the whole situation.
Philo = Love
Sophia = Wisdom Big Questions
Ex. What is my purpose?
Philosophy originally meant, “love of Wisdom” Small and Precise Questions
Ex. What is your name?
Philosophy – Is defined as the attitude of Particular Questions
mind that by natural light of reason studies Ex. What is the best ice cream flavor for
the first causes or the highest principles of all kids?
things.
Sages – wise men
Under this definition, four things are to be Thales of Miletus – First Philosopher
considered: Pythagoras of Croton- coined the term
Philosopher which means, Lover of wisdom.
1. Scientific Approach – it uses scientific
approach because the investigation is
systematic. It is an organized body of EMPTYING - Is suspending one’s judgment
knowledge just like any other sciences. and conclusion about a matter and mentally
2. Natural Light of Reason -It means that exploring the pros and cons, the characteristic
philosophy does not use supernatural revelation or and the purpose of an idea or situation.
faith to investigate something.
3. First Cause or Highest Principle, it is principle Branches of Philosophy
because everything in the world and every situation
has a starting point and beginning. 1. METAPHYSICS
-Is only an extension of the fundamental
The first Principle are: and necessary drive in every human being to
1. Principle of Identity know what is real.
-Whatever is, is; and whatever is not is not;
everything is what it is. Everything is its own being 2. ETHICS
and not being is not being. -Is the branch of Philosophy that
2. Principle of Non contradiction explores the nature of moral virtue and
-it is impossible for a thing to be and not to evaluates the morality and virtue of human
be at the same time. actions.
3. Principle of Excluded Middle
-a thing is either is or is not; Everything must ETHICS HAS FIVE MAIN
be either be or not be; between being and not being, FRAMEWORKS:
there is no middle ground possible.
4. Principle of Sufficient Reason 1. Divine Command
-Nothing exists without a sufficient reason What does God ordain us to do?
for its being existence. 2. Consequentialism or Utilitarianism
What has the most desirable
Holistic Perspective -is seeing the situation as a consequences?
whole by connecting its parts and looking What is the good for the greatest
through the bird's eye view. number of people is the best choice and moral
choice.
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 3. Deontological Ethics
-Whatever is my moral duty to do? /
regardless of what people thinks or feels about
the situation.
4. Virtue Ethics
-What kind of person i ought to be?
5. Relativism
What does my culture or society think i
ought to do?
3. EPISTEMOLOGY – Deals with the nature,
Sources, Limitations, and Validity of
knowledge.
Epistemological Questions are:
1. How we know what we claim to know?
2. How we can find out what we wish to
know
3. How we can differentiate truth from
falsehood.
How do we acquire Human knowledge?
Induction – They believed that general ideas
are formed from the examination of particular
facts.
--------- Empiricism- view that knowledge can
be attained only through sense experience.
Deduction- They believed that it is more
important to find a general law according to
which particular facts can be understood or
judged.
---------Rationalist- is that real knowledge is
based on logic, law, and methods that reason
develop.
Pragmatists – believed that value in use is the
real test of truth and meaning. The meaning and
truth of an idea are tested by its practical
consequences.
4. LOGIC- it means a treatise on matters
pertaining to the human thought. Logic
is not interested in what we know
regarding certain subjects. Its concern,
rather, is the truth or the validity of our
arguments regarding such objects.
5. AESTHETICS- Is the science of the
beautiful in its various manifestations.
Importance of Aesthetics:
1. It vitalizes our knowledge – It makes
our knowledge of the world alive and
useful
2. It helps us live more deeply and
richly- A work of art—whether a book,
a piece of music, painting, or television
show—helps us rise from purely
physical existence into the realm of
intellect and the spirit.
3. It brings us in touch with our culture
– Things about us change rapidly
nowadays that we forget how much we
owe to the past.
6. POLITICS- is ethics applied to a group of
people in the society. It tells us how a society
must be set up and how one should act within
the society.
----Attaining a comprehensive outlook in life---
A. Western and Non-Western Traditions
Three great original centers of
philosophy
 Greek / western
 Indian
 Chinese
During the First Centuries, East has more
philosophical activity than the West.
Western Tradition
Reversal from the time of Greek Triumvirate
1. Socrates
2. Plato
3. Aristotle
The western Thinkers started to indulge in
feverish philosophical speculation, whereas the
Asian thinkers began diminishing philosophical
activity.
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In the present Century, Almost all the major
philosophical ideas emanate from western
thinkers.
China x American = imitation.
Global Information
-Cannot be understood by
oversimplification. “One size does not fit all”
There are Multiple cultures, and different types
of states in terms of recent economic
modernization.
“East” is very different from that of the West,
but that does not mean each culture is incapable
of Understanding certain features of the other.
Ex. OFW
Society or Culture
-Has its own ideas of itself a definition
of what is important in life, Its own notions of
what the world like in general terms; thus, each
society or culture can be said to have its own
“philosophy”
Three Attitudinal Imperatives that we must bear
in mind if we are to appreciate either the
Oriental or Eastern and Occidental or
Western thought.
In Contrast to the propensity (an inclination or
natural tendency to behave in a particular way)
of the West to
1. Think in a linear manner, that is, In
terms of beginning and ending in a
straight line.
Ex. Death in Us
Oriental thought runs in a circular manner in
which
2. The end conjoins the beginning in a
cyclic style.
Ex. Death and a new life in Asia
In a manner of Speaking, Nothing actually
begins absolutely or Ends absolutely. A man
may have been born at a precise time and may
have died at a precise time and when he dies,
his life continues in another form.
This is indispensable to the understanding of
Samsara or Rebirth.
The world in fact did not have an
absolute beginning but was merely a
continuation of an earlier world in an earlier
time, therefore a succession of worlds and a
succession of lives.
In the East, philosophy is a religion and
religion is philosophy.
The oriental does not separate
philosophical thought from religion that is life
in action. They thought that it is philosophy in
action.
Orientals believe that life must be the
extension of thought, its fruit and its application.
3. The readiness to revert to extra logical if
not illogical modes of thinking.
-The acceptance of the validity of
intuition and mysticism.
-The readiness to revert to extra logical
if not illogical modes of thinking.
Ex. Support (pagkakaisa)
B. Filipino Thinking: From Local to
Global
“Filipino thought”
Three Dimensions of Filipino Thought are:
 Loob
 Filipino Concept of Time
 Bahala na
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  Loob: Holistic and Interior
Dimensions
Kagandahang loob, kabutihang-loob and
kalooban – are terms that show sharing of one’s
self to others.
Loob – puts one in touch with his fellow beings.
(The values of loyalty, hospitality,
pakikisama and respect to authority are such
values that relate to persons) (Ex.marine,)
A Leader or Manager with
MAGANDANG KALOOBAN – is not
passive but plays an active role in economic
development
Ex. Boss na pinoy, Ofw na minaltrato)
A good leader motivates people to achieve
economic success giving them
LAKAS NG LOOB- to regard themselves in a
positive light, amid misfortune, obstacles and
unpredictability of the economy.
 FILIPINO CONCEPT OF TIME
“LIFE is like a wheel, sometimes you are up,
and while sometimes you are down”
“A human being is like a bird who flies up and
goes downs”
“gulong ng palad” or wheel of furtune
(Hoping, kung anong puno syang bunga) =
optimistic
Lagi tayong hoping na kapag may
nangyayaring masama may magandang kapalit.
“the sun would shine and nature would heal
itself”
“If one has reached the lowest ebb, there is no
way to go but up”
Ilan lamang sa patunay na Time is considered
cyclic.
At jan na nabuo yung idea na kinuha sa concept
ng India na
KARMA (what goes around comes back around)
and Yin Yang thought in Chinese.
Kaya, dapat maalam tayo makisama,
Pakikisama- “living in harmony with nature”
–japan philo
Filipino Time is mistakenly interpreted as
always delayed in the committed time of arrival.
This notions can be misleading since the
Filipino farmer are early risers to go to their
field and waste no time for work.
Siesta time or Power naps – is also important
for Filipino culture that must not be necessarily
considered negative.
 BAHALA NA
Filipino people believed in a Supreme Being,
“bathala” humans live with cosmic spirits or
presence.
BATHALA – is not an impersonal entity but
rather a personal being that keeps the balance in
the universe. (God)
BAHALA NA (COME WHAT MAY) means
to leave everything to god who is bathala in the
vernacular.
----------- It is one of the most outstanding
Filipino Virtues
---------It is one aspect perceived as courage to
take risks.
Ex. Working Abroad, pagpapasadiyos.
C. Filipino thought and Values: Positive
and Negative Aspects
 Utang na Loob – receives protection
and other favors from above and should
be ready to do the same toward his ties
below.
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The Filipino gives great value to endurance and
hard work as means to economic self-
sufficiency – refers not to individual self, but to
the family to which one owes a special debt of
gratitude for having brought him life and
nurtured him.
BAYANIHAN – or helping others in times of
need. It is another moving spirit of the Filipino
people.
D. PHILOSOPHY: Transcending and
Aiming for a life of Abundance
Abundance –To overflow nonstop. (“siksik,
liglig at umaapaw na kasaganaan”)
ABUNDANCE IS NOT WHAT WE KEEP
BUT WHAT WE GIVE AWAY
---- To live in an abundant life, one must pursue
one’s desires and inner self. One must go after
what fulfils, before making more money. It is
paradoxical because to be able to have, we
must first let go.
Aguilar, para ang buhay ay maging
masagana, dapat marunong tayo mag control.
For they have impact on the other people.
Harsh words, pollution and eating unhealthy
food where choices influence or effect not only
ourselves but others as well. --- Karma
EX. Masama lagi ang sobra, pagmamalabis,
babalikan tayo ng lahat ng ginagawa natin pag
tanda natin. Kapag suwait ka
ABUNDANCE IS NOT WHAT WE HOLD
BUT WHAT WE SHARE
----reminded us that money should not
matter much, for every moment is a blessing,
even if one does not have money. Abundance
comes to the one who has money and heart,
money and values, money and relationship,
money and deeper happiness
Ex., kaya kapag may nakikita tayong mayaman,
na patuloy yumayaman sinasabi natin kaya
ibinibless kase maalam sa tao at sa Panginoon,
ABUNDANCE IS A CHOICE
-Is a choice which translates into commitment,
determination and perseverance?
-Abundance is more of an effort of the heart
than mind alone,
Para ma achieve, one must commit. Kahit
gaano pa kapait ang mundo at kahit hilahin
tayo pababa dapat marunong tayo manindigan
kase, abundance is a choice.
Book: The secret by Rhonda bryne
Our dreams regardless of who we are,
the universe will answer our wishes. Our
wishes will come true because we attract them.
Cooperate with the power of dreams or God
himself. God will grant our wishes in his due
time.
ABUNDANCE IS TO EVOLVE INTO A
HIGHER BEING
-A deliberate or conscious desire to act
upon what can make us happy and others happy
Ex. Testimony – Nechelson Macaraig.
METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING
PHILOSOPHIZING – is to think or express
oneself in a rational and logical manner.
A. PHENOMENOLOGY : ON
CONCIOUSNESS
PHENOMENOLOGY- Study of reality and
the structures of consciousness,
-Focuses on careful inspection and
description of phenomena or appearances
defined as any object of conscious experience,
that is, that which we are conscious of,
Edmund Husserl = founded phenomenology.
“TRUTH IS BASED ON THE PERSON’S
CONCIOUSNESS”
It refers to our ideas.
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PHENOMENON = APPEARANCE
PHENOMENOLOGICAL METHOD- is a
series that continuously revises our perception
of reality.
Ex.manananggal/ si bella na.
B. EXISTENTIALISM: ON FREEDOM
Existentialism- one’s search for truth might be
based on one’s attitude or outlook.
(Truth is based on exercising choices
and personal freedom)
-It is supported by diverse doctrines
centered on certain common themes include:
- founded by Soren Kierkegaard
 The human condition or the relation
of the individual to the world.
(malayang makakapili ng gusto
nyang maging sa mundong ito, calling)
 The human response to that condition
(dapat ba akong maging mabait?
Ano ba para sakin ang mabait?)
 Human freedom
(sa mga ginagawa natin, diba hnd
naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon
dinidiktahan tayo, kahit sa klase may
personal kang diskarte kahit sa nililigawan
mo.)
 The significance (and unavoidability)
of choice and decision in the absence
of certainty and
(minsan may mga bagay na kaht
mali na, patuloy padin tayo kagaya kapag
nagmamahal ka Malaya ka mamili ng
mamahalin at walang sino man ang
makakapagsabi ng para sayo)
 The concreteness and subjectivity of
life as lived, against abstractions and
false objectification.
(hindi tadhana ang gumagawa ng
kapalaran natin, tayo padin ang pumipili
kung sa anong paraan natin gusto mabuhay)
C. POSTMODERNISM: ON CULTURE
POSTMODERNISM- is more of an attitude
and a reaction to modernism which is a
worldview of order, logic and authority based
on knowledge.
(it is accepted that truth is not absolute and in
logic, truth is based on reasoning and critical
thinking)
Postmodernists – naniniwala na ang
katutuhanan ay nasa tamang pagiisip at kasama
ang spiritual na paniniwala (spiritual =
patakaran ng diyos)
Ex. Transgender, make up. plastic
surgery
Post Humanism- advocates the use of science
and technology to alter human condition.
Ex. anti-aging formula, death and even
giving birth.
D. ANALYTIC TRADITION
-Can language objectively describe truth?
Ex. Pogi mo eh.
-truth can change depending on what
people have decided it to be.
Ex. Puzzle, problem, mathematics
E. LOGIC AND CRITICAL THINKING:
TOOLS IN REASONING
LOGIC – centered on the analysis and
construction of arguments
CRITICAL THINKING- is distinguishing
facts and opinions or personal feelings.
LOGIC AND CRITICAL THINKING
– serve as path to freedom from half-
truths and deceptions.
---need of emptying – suspend beliefs and
judgement until all facts have been gathered
and considered.
2 BASIC TYPES OF REASONING:
Inductive reasoning = specific to
general (applied in prediction, forecasting or
behaviour)
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 Ex. Many people are holding their
umbrellas, the ground is wet and the
wind is strong so probably it is raining
Deductive reasoning = conclusion
(broad to specific)
Ex. All philosophers are wise Confucius
is a philosopher therefore, Confucius is
wise.
F. Fallacies
-Defect in an argument other than its having
false premises. To detect fallacies, it is required
to examine the argument content.
Some committed errors in reasoning:
1. Appeal to pity
-A specific kind of appeal to emotion in
which someone tries to win support for an
argument or idea exploiting his or her
opponent’s feeling of pity or guilt
Ex. Umabsent sa klase, ang sinasabi para hnd
sya mapagalitan masamang masama ang
pakiramdam. (nagpapaawa para matakluban
ang kasalanan)
2. Appeal to Ignorance
-Whatever has not been proven false
must be true and vise versa.
Ex. Sa korte, kapag hnd pa napapatunayan na
may sala ka ikaw ay criminal pa din, at kapag
ikaw ay hnd nagawa ng kasalanan parang wala
ka ng kakayanan.
3. Equivocation
-This is a logical chain of reasoning of a
term or a word several times, but giving the
particular word a different meaning each time.
Ex. Human beings have hands; the clock has
hands.
He is drinking from the pitcher of water;
he is a baseball pitcher
--- sa mga salita maaring mali ang mali ang
pagkakaintindi natin, kagaya ng pag sinabi
mong mahal, pwedeng tao pwedeng bilihin.
4. Composition
-This infers that something is true of the
whole from the fact that it is true or some part
of the whole.
Ex. Birds with the same feather flock together.
5. Division
-One reasons logically that something
true of a thing must be true of all or some of its
part.
Ex. Kapag ang kamaganak ay magaling, or
father mother ang tingin sayo magaling ka
nadin kase kamag-anak ka ni ganto, or kapag
mayaman ang kamaganak, mayaman ka din.
6. Against the person
-This fallacy attempts to link the
validity of a premise to a characteristic or belief
of the person advocating the premise.
Ex. Bakla, sinungaling kase bakla.
7. Appeal to force (argumentum ad
baculum)
-An argument where force, coercion, or
the threat of force is given as a justification for
a conclusion.
Ex. Kapag eexam = babagsak
Kapag sasakay ng eroplano = baka
bumagsak
8. Appeal to the people
-An argument that appeals or exploits
people’s vanities, desire for esteem, and
anchors on popularity.
Ex. Mother’s day celebration
Post lahat ng luto hindi naman pala sya ang
nagluto.
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 9. False cause
-Since that event followed this one that
event must have been caused by this one. This
fallacy is also referred to as coincidental
correlation or correlation not causation.
Ex. Pag kakain sa restaurant, kahit
masarap yun pala’y mahal.
10. Hasty generalization
-One commits errors if one reaches an
inductive generalization based on insufficient
evidence. This fallacy is commonly based on a
broad conclusion upon the statistics of a survey
of a small group that fails to sufficiently
represent the whole population.
Ex. Manloloko may nagsend lang ng merry
Christmas sasabihin nang bababae na
11. Begging the question
-This is a type of fallacy in which the
proposition to be proven is assumed implicitly
or explicitly in the premise.
Ex. Bilog and mundo,
LESSON 3
TRANSCENDENCE IN THE
GLOBAL AGE TRANSCENDENCE
- (the quality or state of being)
Is life in our contemporary world dictated by
technology?
Who we are?
According to Thomas Merton, (1948) a
therapist monk,
“There is no other way for us to find who we
are than by finding in ourselves the divine
image”
The divine image he was referring to was the
design, purpose, and mission God made in our
lives.
Transcendence- convey the basic ground
concept of the word’s literal meaning of
“climbing or going beyond”
Three main philosophies/major religion
1. Hinduism
2. Buddhism
3. Christianity
-it focuses not only mental, emotional,
physical aspects of humans but also on man`s
spirit and soul.
Spirit and Soul – represent the deepest essence
of humanity.
The Human person as an Embodied spirit.
A. HINDUISM
-Brahman is Selfhood
Brahman or Atman (absolute truth)
– is what indians consider as the God
from which all reality and all souls ultimately
came from and will return.
(eternal self: the spiritual essence of who you
are)
For Indians,
God first created sound and the universe arose
from it.as the most sacred sound called the
Aum (om)- is the root of the universe and
everything that exists, continues to hold
everything together
for Indians, Sound is the basis of reality and
existence not sight.
3’uo
According to Hinduism, Human being have a
dual nature:
 Spiritual and immortal essence (soul)
 Empirical life and its traits
Ang soul daw ang pinakatotoo sa
dalawang ito, ang soul daw ay hindi
illusion ito daw ay katotohanan at ang
person’s body ay ang illusion at
temporary at mawawala ng tuluyan.
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 Hindus believed that the soul is eternal
but us bound by the law of karma (action) to the
world matter. God allots reward and
punishments to all beings according to their
karma
(kapag gumawa ng kamaganda, he will
get good karma, and vise versa)
For this reason, humanities basic goal in
life is the liberation (moksha) of spirit (jiva)
Hinduism holds the humanity’s life is a
continuous cycle, (samsara)
The body on the other hand goes
through a transmigatory series of births and
deaths.
Transmigration or metempsychosis
- is a doctrine that adheres to the belief
that a person`s soul passes into other creature,
human or animal.
Transmigration of soul
– means a person’s soul moves from
animals to human or human to animal after
dying and getting born again depending on the
persons good karma or bad karma.
If the person led a good life, the soul goes
upward the scale. The soul of an evil person on
the other hand may pass into the body of an
animal.
(can break away or liberate ones spirit from
monotonous cycle thru good deeds to one`s
family)
Different views about the method of release
from this transmigration
Ultimate Liberation
– freedom from rebirth is achieved the
moment the individual attains that stage of life
emancipation, from which inevitably arises a
total realization by the individual of spiritual
nature as well as the transient character of the
body.
-meaning after a long series of good acts
done over a long period of time, can person
achieve and escape from the cycle of deaths and
rebirths
.
Ultimate Moksha
- leads the spirit out of the monotonous
cycle of life and death to a state of nothingness.
(hindi na sya kalian man maghihirap at
mananalasa na sya as a reward galing kay
brahman makakapamuhay na sya ng walang
kahirapan /suffering)
Oneness of Reality
- a concept common to all expressions
of Hinduism.
*this is found in Bhagavad Gita*
This means, all physical realities we see
and the souls we feel in our hearts are all
connected and ultimately will return to one
place or reality.
Si Brahman lang ang totoo lahat na ay
manifestation. Ang sarili natin ay illusion
lamang at ang totoong sarili ay may isang
brahman.
Ito ay isa lamang patuna na ang paniniwala
nila, kahit gaano ka kaganda, o kht sino ka man
illusion ka lang, wala kang halaga.
(ang punto)
Four primary values in order of increasing
importance common to all hindu:
1. Wealth
2. Pleasure
3. Duty
4. Enlightenment
Wealth and pleasure: good and desirable
The spiritual value of Duty or
righteousness: refers to patience, sincerity,
fairness, love honesty and similar virtues.
The spiritual value though, is
enlightenment: by which one is illuminated
and liberated and most important, finds release
from the wheel of existence.
(and repeated existence is the destiny of those
who do not achieve enlightenment.
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--- law of karma, the law of sowing and reaping.
B. BUDDHISM
Dharsanas
– School of thought (doctrines) tenets of
buddhism are diffenitely one of the most
widespread.
Wherever it has spread Buddhism has
adapted itself to its environment with the
generous flexibility. India itself absorbed it into
Hinduism.
Taoism in china, Shintoism in japan, in Tibet, It
was greatly altered into faith called Lamaism. It
was practiced in its purest form in Burma and
Ceylon.
From tears to enlightenment.
Nothing exist without a cause, more
important, there is no independent, categorical
and permanent self. All beings have a Buddha
nature.
Lahat ng individual ay may potential
Buddha and kaya matuto ng patas at
pagkakakapatiran bilang isang tao.
Siddharta Gautama or Buddha – founder of
Buddhism
At lahat ng natutunan nya ay nagmula sa buhay
at life experience ng kagalang galang na si
Prince Gautama of the sakya clan in the
kingdom of Magadha who lived from 560-
477bc
Gautama began searching for answer to the
riddle of life’s sufferings, disease, oldage and
death. He explored brahminic philosophies
then tried rigors of asceticism, pero wala
syang nakuha, habang sya ay nagpapahinga sa
tabi ng puno nagkaron sya ng malinaw na
realisation na ang sulusyon nya sya problema
nya ay sya lang pala ang makakaisip.
From here on, Gautama’s life was devoted to
sharing his dharma or way of salvation – a
simple presentation of inner cultivation of right
spiritual attitudes, coupled with a self-imposed
discipline whereby bodily desires would be
channelled in the right directions.
Naniniwala sila na para makaescape ka sa
lahat ng pasakit, at kalungkutan kailangan daw
ay you have no earthly desire for money,
ambition, wealth or sexual feelings.
“FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS” Gautama
thought
1. Life is full of suffering
2. Suffering is caused by passionate desires,
lust and craving caused by the bodies and
emotion to people
3. Only as these emotions, desires and wants
are obliterated will suffering cease;
4. Such eradication of desire may be
accomplished only by following the
Eightfold path of earnest endeavour.
a. Right belief in and acceptance of the
fourfold truth
b. Right aspiration for one’s self and for
others
c. Right speech that harms no one
d. Right conduct, motivated by goodwill
toward all human beings
e. Right means of livelihood or earning
one’s living by honourable means
f. Right endeavour or effort to direct
one’s energies toward wise ends
g. Right mindfulness in choosing topic
of thought
h. Right meditation or concentration to
the point of complete absorption in the
mystic ecstasy.
EIGHTFOLD PATH – to perfect character or
artmanship which gives assurance of entrance
to nirvana at death.
Kung gagawin natin ito lahat, kung maniniwala
tayo, kung kaya natin labanan lahat ng
masamang kaisipan at emosyon kung kaya
natin madisiplina ang ating utak at katawan at
mahalin ang lahat nga bagay bagay sa mundo
don na masasabi na ready ka na pumunta sa
ipinangakong Nirvana (enlightened wisdom) of
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complete elflessnes- means obliteration and
total removal of the self the distinct and unique
individuality that each person possesses
disappers, becoming spirit. Nawala na ang law
of karma, nabreak mo na ang cycle Malaya ka
na sa mundong ito, makakapagpahinga ka na
at hnd ka na muli pang mahihirapan sa langit
walang beer. :D
Shangha or order of monks and later the nuns
also.
= self-purification in total loyalty to the Buddha,
or pagsunod sa mga alituntunin nya.
The following precepts represent the first
steps that one can take after reading, hearing
and pondering Buddhist teaching and
establishing some confidence in it.
1. Refrain from destroying life
2. Refrain from talking what is not given
3. Refrain from a misuse of the senses;
4. Refrain from wrong speech (do not lie or
deceive) and
5. Refrain from talking drugs or drinks that
tend to cloud the mind(abstain from
intoxicants; eat moderately and not after
noon; do not look on dancing, singing or
dramatic spectacles; do not affect the use
of garlands, scents or ornaments; do not
use high or broad beds and do not accept
gold or silver.
FOUR STATES OF SUBLIME
CONDITION:
1. Love
2. Sorrow of others
3. Joy in joy of others and
4. Equanimity as regards one’s own joy and
sorrow.
C.CHRISTIANITY
Augustine of hippo
“Faith believe what you do not see; the reward
of this faith is to see what you believe”
Thomas Aquinas
“Love follows knowledge”
This section is considered to be the most
influential in the early medieval period. This
period focus on the rationality of belief in
God’s existence. “God Exist” = theistic
hypothesis
(ibig sabhin, paniniwala na ang lahat ay sya
ang naglikha, sya ang gumawa lahat ng
nageexist sa mundo)
The religious problem reflected in the Old
Testament
1. Atheism = not the denial of God but the
worship
2. Polytheism = to worship too many God
New testament = nagkatawang tao lalang ng
spirit santo, namuhay sya sa mundo kasama ng
tao, nagsimula ang mga early missionary na
ibalita ang mabuting balita ng diyos at unang
naniwala ang mga jews, at si paul naman ang
nagbalita sa mga non-jews pero para sa kanila
napakahirap iexplain ng mga bagay bagay na
walang patunay at para sa kanila ang
paniniwala ay iba iba at nababase sa tao, so
parang bumuo lang ng argument.
For Augustine,
Philosophy is amor sapiential, the love
of wisdom; its aim to produce happiness,
kakontentuhan sa buhay, mayroong panata at
paninindigan sa isip, maging sa financial at
relayon sa kapwa. Para sa knya, hindi lng ito
ang dapat paniwalaan ang pilosopiya daw
dapat natin ay isabuhay bilang isang relihiyon,
ito ang pinagmulan ng away nila Augustine,
Aquinas at St. Anselm of Canterbury.
(Ang pagmamahal daw pala ay faith of his
existence, goodness and commands and in his
plans to bring salvation and good among
human beings.)
Simula nung nailathala ang tunay na Kristo ito
na ang tanging katutohanan, ito na ang simula
at paniniwala =philosopiya
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Where does the knowledge of God came from?
-It begins with faith and made perfect by
understanding.
Kung hindi ka padin sigurado may mga bagay
na dapat iconsider, ang mga bagay bagay sa
mundo na maari mong pagbasehan.
Pag summer sobrang init talanag ang citrus
fruits
FAITH = is the motivation and guide that
points reason to the right places to gain
knowledge about the world and people.
Dapat natin syang paniwalaan dahil sya lang
ang meron tayo sa huli, lahat ng yaman lahat
ng talino achievements at pinaghirapan mo sa
mundo ay hindi mo madadala sa langit.
As John 15:5 “I am a vine; you are the
branches, if you were remain in me and I in you,
you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you
can do nothing.”
Psalms 95: 5-6
“Thy thoughts are very deep! The dull man
cannot know, the stupid cannot understand this”
God is experience in the depths of the soul as
well as in the realm experience.
Only the pure heart shall see God.
For Thomas Aquinas
-all creatures, human beings have the
unique power to change themselves and things
for the better. He considers human being as a
moral agent. May spirit at katawang element;
the spiritual and material the spiritual seperates
us from the animals; it differentiates the moral
dimension of our fulfilment in action. Thru our
spirituality, we have conscience. Good or evil
becomes our responsibility.
EVALUATING ONE’S OWN LIMITATION
AND THE POSSIBILITIES FOR THEIR
TRANSCENDENCE.
Evaluating One’s own limitation and the
possibilities for their Transcendence.
a. Forgiveness
For Sebatu, negative minds, feelings and
attitudes are signs of masochism. They are our
own enemies. Hatred is a form of anger
directed inward.
It is a suicidal act.
Sebatu recommended different methods of
forgiveness and healing:
 Counselling
–requires active listening.
Allowing the counselee will let him
go all the hurts and negative feeling.
 Talking to god
--Includes short inhale and long
exhale breathing. Asking forgiveness by
talking to god is a healing process
 Emmaus method
--Jesus opened the eye of the
apostle on the way to Emmaus. This is
about establishing self-identity.
 Forgiveness method
-Emptying the mind by starting to
look back at what one has done and what
is happening at present is realized.
Forgiveness is difficult but at the end of
the day. If hatred overcomes us.
b. The beauty of nature
For Aquinas, the existence of god or the
unmoved mover(universe did not begin in
motion) originates change, and the fact that
there are degrees of excellence to infer the
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existence of a perfect being. (Everything that
exist must have had a source.
c. Vulnerability
To be invulnerable is somehow inhuman,
to be vulnerable is to be human
Ex. To work in the office, or study in
school, without acknowledging the help of
others, is to live without meaning and direction.
For Aquinas,
Human being is considered as moral
agent. We are both the spiritual and body
elements, the spiritual and material, our
spiritual seperates us from animals; thru our
spirituality we have conscience weather to be
good or evil becomes our responsibility. It
means that he can rise above ordinary being or
self to a highest being or self and it is made
perfect by doing daily tasks.
The power of change cannot be done by
human beings alone, but achieved in
cooperation with god.
d. Failure
Our failure confronts us to confront our
weakness and limitation. (kung nagkamali tayo,
kung hnd sa atin ibinigay ng tadhana ang mga
gusto natin ang tingin natin ang bigat ng
mundo, pasan ko ang mundo, parang ako na
ang pinakamalas na tayo. Ayon sa 4 noble truth,
life is full of sufferings, and suffering is caused
by desire. Buddhism taught ‘ putting an end to
desire’ = harm
e. Loneliness
-Our loneliness can be rooted from our
sense of vulnerability and fear of death.
However it is our choice to live in an
impossible world where we can always be
happy.
f. Love
-to love is to experience richness,
positivity and transcendence. To love is to open
strength and courage.
In Buddhism, the move we love, the more risk
and fears there are in life.
In Christianity, the soul is like a lover who
longs to return to god. It instruct us to love
others as we love ourselves.
Lesson 4
The human person in the Environment
Intro.
What is the world made of? How did the world
come into being? And how can we explain the
process of change?
Eastern sages probed nature’s depths intuitive
through the eyes of spiritual sages
Greek thinkers viewed nature through
cognitive and scientific eyes.
The speculation of the pre-socratic (represent
the first intellectual and scientific attempt to
understand the origings of the universe)
philosophers represent a
Paradigm shift – a change from the mythical
explanation of the origins of the cosmos to a
more rational explanation.
Paradigm shift means a change in worldview a
change in how reality, truth and facts are
viewed.
-laws and nature itself they wanted to
understand scientific progress not listening to
stories about god.
one of the most prominent philosopher of
nature(the physical world and its relationship
with men’s behaviour and with his fellowmen)
is Lao Tzu- founder of taoist.
Lao Tzu compared the Tao or the way to water,
heaven, emptiness of a vessel, color, music and
flavour and even to weakness- he claimed that
weakness can overcome strength. (alon at bato,
hangin at wall)
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  Relaxation
Taoist Goal is to become one with all things  Satisfaction
and to coexist with heaven and earth.  Calm
 Peace
Chuang Tzu – the most eloquent representative  Social interaction
of the Taoist school, believed in nourishing  Growth toward holism and
nature, returning to destiny, and enjoying nature.
 Self-understanding
Chinese thinkers rejected this since fifth century.
Noticing Disorder in the Universe
There are different views or concept in nature
or the environment.
Humans, adopt an exploitative attitude
whenever nature is merely considered as an
Two main frameworks:
instrument for one’s profit or self interest.
Anthropocentric model – (is based on the
premise that human are essential and central to
Ex. Quarrying, or cutting age old trees.
the universe)
Ecocentric model – (highlights the ecological
Current researches by Zimmerman (1994)
or relation integrity of humans that provides
Elgin (2009)
meaning to our morals and value)
And pettman (2012)
“exposed the environment consequences of
Categories Included in an Antropocentric
international political-economic specialization
Model for specific countries and global regions”
 Human
 Culture Research shows the implications for both
 Individualism abuses of natural resources and of the
 Mind generation of wastes and emissions. =
 Calculative indicators to understand environmental impact
 Human over/against environments such as carbon footprint.
 Global/technological
The emission of greenhouse gasses such
Ecocentric Model as carbon dioxide, methane, fluoride and
nitrous oxide as part of production of good and
 Nature services consumed in many country. =climate
 Wild change
 Holism Carbon footprint has eight categories:
 Nature/cosmos  Construction
 Body  Shelter
 Relational  Food
 Earth/wisdom  Clothing
 Ecology over/against human  Mobility
 Manufactured goods
According to payne, classroom cannot set  Services
aside the importance of aesthetic as well as the  Trade
environment that suggest valuing that includes:
 Aesthetic appreciation Anthropocentric claims ownership or authority
 Enjoyment over the land.

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The Ecocentric model puts the
ecosystem first and assues that the natural
world has intrinsic value. Nature is not valued
for the future survival of human species, but is
invaluable in itself.
Instead, love, respect, admiration for
nature, and a high regard for its value are
essential.
(land for instance preserved with integrity,
stability and beauty.)
to blindly follow the crowd because it is
familiar, easy and less stressful (existentialism)
Caring for the environment
a. Deep ecology
Ecological crisis is an outcome of
Anthropocentrism the controlling attitude of
human kind is extended to nature when in fact,
humanity is part of nature. Deep ecology en-
courages humanity to shift from anthropocen-
trism.

APPRECIATING THE BEAUTY OF b. Social Ecology

NATURE ecological crisis results from authoritarian
social structures.
One ancient thinker, Anaximander, employed
the term “boundless” – to convey the further c. Ecofeminism
thought that nature is indeterminate. / there is
no boundaries. Domination works by forcing the other to
conform to what is superior.
PYTHAGORAS
– described the universe as a living
embodiment of nature order, harmony, and
beauty.
Biophilia (love of other living things)
Cosmophilia (love of other living things)

b. Modern thinkers

IMMANUEL KANT
- expressed that beauty is ultimately a
symbol of morality
Herbert Marcuse – humanity has dominated
nature, there can only be change if we also
change our attitude toward our perception of
environment,

GEORGE MEAD
– as human beings we do not only have
rights but duties.

SOREN KIERKEGAARD
– insisted that the authentic self was the
personally chosen self, as opposd to public or
“herd” identity which is the tendency of people

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