HOLISTIC AND PARTIAL THINKING

Holistic Thinking Partial Thinking

 Looks at all aspects of the given
problem or situations.
 All aspects are given importance when
making conclusions.
 All aspects are tied in together to form a
general overview of the problem or
situation.
 Looks at only a limited number of
aspects of the given problem or
situation.
 Conclusions are made based on
considering some, but not all sides of
the problem or situation.

WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?

Philosophy – the word philosophy is derived from the Greek words philia (love) and sophia
(wisdom) and means “the love of wisdom.”

According to Pythagoras, men and women of the world could be classified into 3 groups:
1. those that love pleasure
2. those that love activity
3. those that love wisdom

Philosophy – is study the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected
with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language.
Philosophy – is the rational attempt to formulate, understand, and answer fundamental questions.

Nature of Philosophy
1. Philosophy is a set of views or beliefs about life and the universe, which are often held
uncritically.
2. Philosophy is a process of reflecting on and criticizing our most deeply held conception
and beliefs.
3. Philosophy is a rational attempt to look at the world as a whole.
4. Philosophy is the logical analysis of language and the clarification of the meaning of
words and concepts.
5. Philosophy is a group of perennial problems that interest people and for which
philosophers always have sought answers.
Importance of Philosophy
 The study of Philosophy enables us to think carefully and clearly about important issues.
 We learn to take a step back from our everyday thinking and to explore the deeper, bigger
question which underpins our thought.
 The focus in the study of Philosophy is to learn not what to believe, but how to think.
 Because philosophy is an activity as much a body of knowledge, it also develops your
ability to think and work independently.

Branches of Philosophy

1. Logic – systematic study of the rules for the correct use of these supporting reasons,
rules we can use to distinguish good arguments from bad ones.
2. Metaphysics – the term metaphysics meant “first philosophy”, later the term came to
mean “comprehensive thinking about the nature of things.”
3. Epistemology – the technical term for the theory of knowledge is epistemology,
which comes from the Greek word episteme, meaning knowledge. It is a branch of
philosophy that studies the sources, nature, and validity of knowledge.
4. Value Theory – a branch of philosophy that studies values. It can be subdivided into
ethics, aesthetics, and social and political philosophy.
 Ethics – concerns itself with the question of morality
 Aesthetics – concerns the theory of art and beauty
 Social and Political – investigates value judgments concerning society, the
state, and the individual’s relation to these institution

PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION
Philosophical reflection is the process by which a person undergoes a reflective state or evaluates
his or her experiences first before making any related action.
The use of philosophical reflection is important as it enables thought to be overlooked into using
a deeper, holistic perspective. In effect, actions are directed towards greater sources of wisdom
and truth.
In the process, one can learn more about himself or herself, including personal beliefs, ideals, or
values.
Previous experiences may be seen as important aspects of making reflections because they
facilitate deeper thinking and understanding of the self.
 Learning from your previous mistakes and not repeating them again.
 Evaluating and knowing the best choice from a set of options.
 Gaining a holistic point of view first before making any conclusion.