INTRODUCTION TO THE

PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN

PERSON
 Inquire and Discover

Human beings are inquisitive

Young children are very curious and we
often hear them ask simple and silly
questions
As we grow older, our question are
influenced by our experiences and
circumstances
Still there are other questions that make us
pause and think
 Discuss

What questions about your life are you

struggling to find answers to? Share some of
them in class.
 What is philosophy?

Comes from the Greek words philos (love)

and sophia (wisdom)
Love of wisdom
Study or discipline that uses human reason
to investigate the ultimate causes, reasons,
and principles which govern all things
Philosophers (lover of wisdom) are the
people who engages in philosophy
 Think
What words come to mind when you hear
the word Philosophy
?

? Philosophy ?

?
 Discuss

What does it mean to be a lover of

wisdom?
What characteristics should a philosopher
possess?
Since ancient times, philosophers have been
pondering some of the most enduring questions
regarding human existence. The following are
some of them:
1.What is real? Are we able to perceive and
understand reality and everything in it?
2.How do we know what we know? Are the things
that we know true?
3.What is the ultimate cause of all things? What is
our purpose in this world?
4.To what extent are our choices and actions
considered “free”?
 Discuss

What other philosophical questions have

you asked yourself? What led you to
ponder those questions?
Do you think that you will be able to figure
out the answers to these philosophical
questions? Explain.
 Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers
Pythagoras (570 BCE to 495 BCE)
mathematician/scientist
credited in formulating Pythagorean theorem
When a triangle has a right angle (90°) and squares
are made on each of the three sides, then the
biggest square has the exact same area as the
other two squares put together! a2 + b2 = c2
he established a community of learners who were
devoted to the study of religion and philosophy
 Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers
Heraclitus (535 BCE to 475 BCE)Before Common Era
Everything that exists is based on higher order/plan
which he called LOGOS
Change is a permanent aspect of the human
condition
No man ever steps in the same river twice
 Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers
Democritus (460 BCE to 370 BCE)
Study of natural phenomena (sunrise, the
weather, decomposition, free fall and erosion)
Among the first to propose that matter is
composed of tine particles called ATOMS
 Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers
Diogenes of Sinope (412 BCE to 323 BCE)
Advocate of living simple or virtuous (righteous)
life
Not talk about virtue but it should show in words
and actions
No man ever steps in the same river twice
Lived like a beggar
Critic of Plato and Aristotle
 Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers
Diogenes of Sinope (412 BCE to 323 BCE)
Influenced the development of several schools of
philosophy such as :
Cynicism - an inclination to believe that people
are motivated purely by self-interest;
Stoicism - the endurance of pain or hardship
without the display of feelings and without
complaint.
 Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers
Diogenes of Sinope (412 BCE to 323 BCE)
Influenced the development of several schools of
philosophy such as :
Cynicism - an inclination to believe that people
are motivated purely by self-interest;
Stoicism - the endurance of pain or hardship
without the display of feelings and without
complaint.
 Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers
Epicurus(341 BCE to 270 BCE)
Philosophy could enable man to live a life of
happiness
Epicureanism – a school of philosophy which
believes that wisdom and simple living will result in
a life free of fear and pain
 Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers
Socrates(470 BCE to 399 BCE)
Considered the foremost philosopher of ancient
times
Made a great contribution in the field of Ethics
He was the critic of intellectuals during his time
He himself did not claim to be wise
He considered himself a midwife that helped
inquiring minds achieve wisdom
 Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers
Socrates(470 BCE to 399 BCE)
Formulated the SOCRATIC METHOD (method of
Elenchus or Socratic debate) which a means of
examining a topic by devising a series of questions
that let the learner examine and analyze his
knowledge and views regarding the topic
 Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers
Plato(427 BCE to 347 BCE)
Student of Socrates
He wrote down Socrates’ teachings and
incorporated some of his own ideas
His teachings were considered the foundation of
Western philosophy
He proposed the “THEORY OF FORMS”
 THEORY OF FORMS
Everything that exists is based on an idea or template
that can only be perceived in the mind
Plato's philosophy asserts that there are two
realms: the physical realm and the spiritual realm.
The physical realm is the material stuff we see and
interact with on a daily basis; this physical realm is
changing and imperfect, as we know all too well.
The spiritual realm, however, exists beyond the
physical realm. Plato calls this spiritual realm
the Realm of Forms. Plato's Theory of Forms asserts
that the physical realm is only a shadow, or
image, of the true reality of the Realm of Forms.
 Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers
Plato(427 BCE to 347 BCE)
Focused his studies on ideal society
Proposed an ideal model of government and
society which is ruled by wisdom and reason
Known for his dialectic – a method of inquiry
where two opposing ideas are discussed in an
attempt to arrive at new knowledge
Founded the ACADEMY, an institution of higher
learning which was the first of its kind in the
Western World
 Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers
Aristotle(384 BCE to 322 BCE)
Prominent student of Plato
Disagreed with Plato’s Theory of Forms
All ideas and views are based on perception and
our reality is based on what we can sense and
perceive
This view greatly influenced physical sciences
 Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers
Aristotle(384 BCE to 322 BCE)
Involved in great variety of disciplines such as
zoology, psychology, ethics and politics
Studies in logic led to formulation of formal
process of analyzing reasoning which gave rise to
deductive reasoning – the process by which
specific statements are analyzed to reach a
conclusion or generalization
 Western Philosopy
Roots in ancient Greece
Pondered significant questions regarding
human existence
Became more systematic and specialized
in its approach
Gained popularity in many places
throughout the world
 Eastern Philosopy
Roots in communities and civilization in
Asia
Places greater emphasis on social
relations, the family and the community