Philosophy of

Man
“Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher,
and philosophy begins in wonder”

-Socrates
 Ice Breaker: This or That

Choose 1:

Would you rather travel every single day or never

leave home?
Philosophy as a CONCEPT

Philosophy is a system of beliefs about reality. It

is one's integrated view of the world. It includes an
understanding of the nature of existence, man, and
his role in the world. It is a necessary product of
man’s rational mind.
Philosophy as a SYSTEM

Philosophy is used as a method of inquiry.

It is an engagement in the search for the
meaning of life, its value and relevance. It is a
process for finding significance in existence.
“The unexamined life is not worth living”

“He who has a why to live for can bear with

almost any how”
BRANCHES of
Philosophy
Logic

It comes from the Greek word “logos”, which has a

variety of meanings including word, thought, idea,
argument, account, reason or principle. It is the study of
reasoning, or the study of the principles and criteria of valid
inference and demonstration. It attempts to distinguish good
reasoning from bad reasoning.
Formal Logic

– is the practice of 

understanding logical conclusions from
premises that are known or assumed to
be true.
Informal logic

– is a broad term for any of the various methods of

analyzing and evaluating arguments used in everyday life.
Informal logic is commonly regarded as an alternative to
formal or mathematical logic. Also known as non-formal
logic or critical thinking. It allows for a great range of
ideas to be explored.
Symbolic Logic

– a way to represent logical expressions by using

symbols and variables in place of natural
language.

Example: () = .
Ethics

The word "ethics" is derived from the Greek

"ethos" (meaning "custom" or "habit"). The field of
ethics, also called moral philosophy, involves
systematizing, defending, and recommending
concepts of right and wrong behavior.
Meta-ethics

– investigates where our ethical principles come

from, and what they mean.
– Meta-ethical answer questions focus on the issues
of universal truths, the will of God, the role of
reason in ethical judgments, and the meaning of
ethical terms themselves.
Normative ethics

– takes on a more practical task, which is to arrive at

moral standards that regulate right and wrong
conduct.
– This may involve articulating the good habits that we
should acquire, the duties that we should follow, or
the consequences of our behavior on others.
Applied ethics

– involves examining specific controversial issues,

such as abortion, infanticide, animal rights,
environmental concerns, homosexuality, capital
punishment, or nuclear war.
– By using the conceptual tools of meta-ethics and
normative ethics, discussions in applied ethics try
to resolve these controversial issues.
Epistemology

– It discusses the nature of human knowledge.

Metaphysics

– It deals with questions regarding reality and

existence.
– Topics of metaphysical investigation also include
objects and their properties, space and time, cause
and effect, and possibility.
Aesthetics

– is the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and

appreciation of art, beauty and good taste. It has also been
defined as "critical reflection on art, culture and nature".
– The word "aesthetics" derives from the Greek
"aisthetikos", meaning "of sense perception".
Social/Political Philosophy

– It is the study of man and his place in society.

 Why is there a need for man to
philosophize?

How can philosophizing benefit you

as a person?
Reflect:

1. Write a paper describing a situation in your life when

you were able to engage in philosophy.
2. Describe the circumstances or dilemmas which brought
about your need to philosophize.
3. How did philosophy help you address your particular
situation?