Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person.

Revised: 7/22/2020

LESSON TIMETABLE
MODULE : NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
Sub-Module :

COURSE/SUBJECT : INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE

HUMAN PERSON

DURATION : THREE (3±) Hours Lecture; ________ laboratory

CONTENT/TOPIC STRATEGY/ REFRENCE/ EVALUATION

DURATION
ACTIVITY TOOLS OUTPUT
Introduction
 Opening Prayer
(Optional)
 Introducing the
Laptop
instructor
Lecture- Module
30± minutes  Leveling/
Discussion Power Point
Motivation Presentation
 Articulating the
desired learning
outcomes for the
session
Presentation Lecture-
 Wisdom Discussion
 The wise person Laptop
 Philosophizing Module
3± hours Oral Recitation
and Question Power Point
metaphysical and Answer Presentation
involvement
 Finding the light
Application
 Reinforcement
Laptop
 Recap of Recitation 15-item
Module
30± minutes Learning insights Objective Type
Power Point
 Assessment lecture of Written Test
Presentation
 Closing Prayer
(Optional)

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 Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person. Revised: 7/22/2020

SESSION PLAN
Program/Year Level : ABM, HUMSS, STEM, TVHE, TVIA – 11 &12

MODULE : PHILOSOPHY: AN ACTIVITY

Sub-Module :

COURSE/SUBJECT : INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE

HUMAN PERSON

DURATION : THREE (3±) Hours Lecture; ________ laboratory

LEARNING OUTCOMES (LOs):

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
 Understand and explain in their own words the concept of wisdom.
 Understand, explain, and apply the concept of being a wise person.
 Understand and explain the process of philosophizing and the concept of
metaphysical involvement.
 Reflect on the process of finding the light and apply them to everyday life
situations.
LEARNING AIDS:
 Laptop / Computer
 Module
 Powerpoint Presentation
REFERENCES:
 À Kempis, Thomas. The Imitation of Christ. 1999. U.S.A: Bridge-Logos
Publishers
 Hadot, Pierre. Philosophy as a Way of Life: Spiritual Exercises from Socrates
to Foucault, 1995. England: Blackwell Publishers Ltd.
 Mabaquiao, Napoleon Jr., M. Making Life Worth Living: An Introduction to the
Philosophy of the Human Person, 2017. Philippines: The Phoenix Publishing
House Inc.
 Sibug, Atanacio Jr. C. Ing Pluma ng Bajoong: A Collection of Pampango,
Tagalog, and English Poems, 2015 (Unpublished)
 Tubo, Dennis Villanueva. Philosophy of Man: Existential-Phenomenological
Approach, 2006. Philippines: National Book. Store.
 The Jerusalem Bible: Reader’s Edition. 1968. England. Darton, Longman&
Todd Ltd. And Doubleday & Company

I. INTRODUCTION
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Preparatory Activities
 Opening Prayer
 Introducing the instructor
 Leveling/Motivation
Developmental Activities
 Articulating the desired learning outcomes for the session

II. PRESENTATION (Lesson Proper)

WISDOM:
Wisdom is “a state of complete liberation from the passions, utter lucidity,
knowledge of ourselves and of the world” which, according to Plato, Aristotle, Stoics,
and Epicureans “serves to define divine perfection, a state inaccessible to man . . . Man,
according to their view, can not truly attain wisdom and can only love it, thus being a
‘philo-sopher’ (lover of wisdom) or be in a state of ‘philo-sophia: the love of, or progress
toward, wisdom.” Therefore, man has to engage in a philosophical life and spiritual
exercises which lead to “conversion, a total transformation of one’s vision, life-style, and
behavior”. . . “interior transformation and complete change in his way of seeing and
living” (Hadot, pp. 103, 262).
Wisdom is also “the good and right application of knowledge.” Being deeper than
knowledge, it “involves understanding the implications of that knowledge and its uses
with the thought of how it could be beneficial for oneself and others.” Being
knowledgeable of something does not make a man wide (Tubo, pp. 2-3). In “The
Imitation of Christ,” Thomas à Kempis wrote, “If you know the whole Bible by heart, and
the sayings of all philosophers, what would all that profit you without the love of
(Yahweh) and without grace” (Kempis, p. 18). Biblically, the first requisite to attaining
wisdom is the “fear (love and obedience to) of Yahweh” (Proverbs 9:10).
For Kempis, “the highest wisdom” is “to disdain the world and hurry toward the
kingdom of heaven.” Since such is practically humanly impossible the philosopher can
only “only love it” or progress towards it.

WHAT IS A WISE PERSON

A wise person possesses wisdom and applies it in his/her life.

Wisdom What A Wise Person Does

Knowing what one knows and does He/She is aware of what he knows and does not
not know. know.
Having justified true beliefs. He/She holds beliefs that are not only true but
which he/she can justify.
Knowing things that are valuable in He/She knows a lot of things that are valuable in
life. life.
Having the ability to put knowledge He/She can put his/her knowledge to practical
into practical use. use.
Knowing what should be done and He/she does not only know what is true, but also

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acting accordingly. knows what is good or what ought to be done in a

given situation and he/she acts accordingly.

PHILOSOPHIZING: A Search for the Treasure

Fr. Roque Feriols, a former philosophy professor at the Ateneo University stated
that “If you want to fully understand what philosophy is, learn to practice it.” Practicing
philosophy provides man complete knowledge, not mere description. It provides man,
from his experience, enough explanations (Tubo, p.4).
Philosophizing can be equated to a man searching for the treasure – truth, the
goal of everybody. For Aristotle, one who finds the truth is the happiest man in the
world.
This is achieved by
 Start by wondering the things around.
 Ask questions. Some questions may appear meaningless.
 One can begin to philosophize if questions appear to be meaningful.

Meaningful Question: A meaningful question touches the very core of the

person: that question appears to be significant to him/her such that his/her whole
mind and body is consumed, busy, looking for the answer to the question.

Vehicles for Philosophizing: In order to philosophize,

 One has to use the specific vehicles of the “hows” and the “whys.”
 These methods may sound strange for some, thus, might create him a negative
attitude. Others may find them interesting.
 In search for the ultimate and final answer, one will notice a series of unending
questions from the unacceptable previous answer.
 This methods continue until final and sufficient answer have been established.

How a Philosopher Acts:

 “The philosophical act is. . . is a progress which causes us to be more fully, and
make us better.
 The philosophical act is . . . “is a conversion which turns our entire life upside
down, changing the life of the person who goes through it.
 The philosophical act . . . “raises the individual from the inauthentic condition of
life, darkened by unconsciousness and harnessed by worry, to an authentic state
of life, in which he attains self-consciousness, an exact vision of the world, inner
peace, and freedom.
 The philosophical act “is not situated merely on the cognitive level, but on that of
the self and being.” (Hadot, p. 83)

How Philosophers Live:

 “True philosophers (live) in society with their fellow citizens, and yet they live in a
different way from other people. . .
 They distinguish themselves from others by “their moral conduct, by speaking
their mind (leur franc parlez), by their way of nourishing themselves, dressing

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themselves, by their attitude with respect to wealth and to conventional values”

(Hadot, p. 30)

Metaphysical Involvement:
 Metaphysical involvement is a deep level of awareness and struggle to find
answers or explanations to some undiscovered truths when confronted with
different forms of crisis and tribulations.
Questions About Undiscovered Truth:
 Who am I?
 What is the purpose of life?
 What is the purpose of death?
 Is there eternal life?
 Is there a God?

Metaphysical Situations and Problems

Metaphysical Situation Methaphysical Problem

The experience of a dying relative. One What is the point of loving someone
can hardly accept that he will soon depart when it will just end in death?
from life.
The experience of someone close to Is there God? Is there life eternal?
death.
The experience of a troubled expectant How will I cope up my life after giving
mother who happened to be a victim of birth to this unwanted child?
rape.
The experience of a troubled expectant How will I cope up my life after giving
mother who happened to be a victim of birth to this unwanted child?
rape.
The experience of a troubled child after his How will I face life? I cannot live alone
parents parted ways. but who will take me?

Finding the Light

For every question there is always a corresponding answer. The truth remains,
however, that there are some questions that remain unresolved, no answer whatsoever.
In the field of philosophy, there are situations where man is confronted with no
assurance of right answers.
Metaphysical questions are indeed hard to solve because they are beyond the
realm of our senses. Sometimes an answer will take months or years before we have it.
The mind is very limited to comprehend the mystery of life. For one who is at the midst
of unforgettable metaphysical situations resulting to metaphysical problems, one will try
his/her best to find the ‘light’ or ‘insight’ that will ease or soothe his/her mind and heart
from those depressing problems, at least for the time being.

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Reflection:
 Reflection is a way of viewing things in an objective way. The ‘self’ as the
main actor becomes the object of his own perception. One can avail of
that light through deep and thorough reflection.
o Example:
o A person can visualize a departed loved one by simply looking at an
object related to that loved one.
o The image perceived from that object is a ‘reflection’ of the image of that
loved one.

Example:
A person can visualize a departed loved one by simply looking at an object
related to that loved one. The image perceived from that object is a
‘reflection’ of the image of that loved one.

o A person who is looking for something to free him/her from burdensome

feelings allows his mind to grope and wander for a reason.
o And whatever solution he/she finds is always a valid one.
o A person puzzled by problems always tend to look for some light with a
single purpose of alleviating himself/herself from an onerous situation.
o And that person is always ready and prepared to take the risk of
understanding it whatever the solution is.

Sayings: “Sayings are philosophical seeds shared to us by our ancestors. One

can see the light in every metaphysical problem in the form of sayings.”
Examples:
For those experiencing terrible poverty:
o “Life is a carousel. Sometimes you’re up and sometimes you are
down.”
o “Everything is in constant flux.”

For those who lead and dispense justice:

o “Justiciang alang sicanan
Ala ya ring cayupayan.
Sicanang alang justicia
Pamanlupig ing dapat na.” (Sibug, “Ing Pluma ng Bajoong)

For those who crave honor and recognition:

o “Cabud dimdam mu ing palacpac
Ding sabla king tagumpe mu,
Tingiran mu king balugbug
Libac da king cabiguan mu. (Sibug, “Ing Pluma ng Bajoong”)

Parables: Parables are extended similes. A simile compares the point of

commonality (similarity, thus simile) between two unlike things in order to
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demonstrate and teach a point. It is a brief story that is true to life, comparing the
point of commonality between two unlike things, given for the purpose of teaching
spiritual truth.
Three things to consider to understand a parable:
1. The setting – the scenario to appear.
2. The story – each parable has a number of details that relate to one spiritual
message.
3. The spiritual message – Each parable has one and central message to
make. The connection or applications we could establish into our own life.
Examples: Biblical parables in the New Testament.

Stories: A story is a written or spoken account of something that has happened.

It aims to deliver the meaning by finding the significant connection to the situation at
hand. A story can serve as a powerful device to deliver thoughts. In philosophy, story
is very significant because one can permeate to a deeper level of one’s own
consciousness after pondering it. Though simple they seem to be, stories will lead
one to gain the truth that one can cling to.
Examples:
o The Parable of the Prodical Son, Luke XV: 11-32, The New Testament.
o The Last Leaf and The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry;real name, William
Sydney Porter (Raffel, pp. 31-37; 65-70)
o Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
o The Devil by Guy de Maupassant (Galantière, p. 61-70)

REINFORCEMENT ACTIVITY
a. The Parable of the Prodigal Son.
b. The Last Leaf
c. The Devil
d. Christmas Carol
e. The Witch

Stories/Parables… Lessons I learned

The Parable of the Prodical Son .
The Last Leaf
The Devil
Christmas Carol
The Witch

RECAPITULATION OF THE LESSON / IMPORTANT POINTS DISCUSSED

Wisdom and the wise person
 What is a wise person
Philosophizing
 Actions and way of life of a philosopher
 Metaphysical involvement

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Finding the light

 Reflection
 Sayings
 Parables
 Stories
III. ASSESSMENT

IV. CLOSING PRAYER

Prepared by:

ATANACIO C. SIBUG, JR.

Teacher

Reviewed by:
Mr. Richard John W. Hernandez
Academic Coordinator, SHS

Approved by:
Dr. Vilma V. Esparrago
Principal, Basic Education

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