Senior High School

Introduction to the
Philosophy of the
Human Person
Quarter II- Module 13:
Meaningful Life

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Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person – Senior High School
Quarter 2 – Module 13: Meaningful Life
First Edition, 2020

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 Senior High School

Introduction to the
Philosophy of the
Human Person
Quarter II – Module 13:
Meaningful Life

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Introductory Message
For the facilitator:
Welcome to Philosophy and the Human Person Alternative Delivery
Mode (ADM) Module on Meaningful Life!

This module was collaboratively designed, developed, and reviewed to

assist you in helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12
Curriculum. This lesson is anchored on the Most Essential Learning
Competencies (MELC) in Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners in guided and

independent learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this
also aims to help learners acquire the needed 21st-century skills.

As a facilitator, you are expected to guide the learners on how to use

this module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while
allowing them to manage their own learning. You are also expected to
encourage and assist the learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

For the learner:

“Human reason has the peculiar fate in one species of its cognitions
that it is burdened with questions which it cannot be dismiss, since they are
given to it as problems by the nature of reason itself, but which it also cannot
answer, since they transcend every capacity of human reason.”- Immanuel
Kant, Critique of Pure Reason

The ability to inquire or ask questions is inherent among human beings.

The act of asking is the person’s way of making sense of all the things around
him/her that he/she does not understand. Through this module you will be
able to understand the different philosophical views with regards to our
treatment of the environment we live in and how these views emerged due to
the growing need for environmental protection during their respective times.

You will write your answers of the pre-test, assessment and other
exercises on this paper. In addition, you can refer your answers to the Answer
Key to Activities, which are found at the last part of this module.

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 Let Us Learn!

Lesson

1 Meaningful Life

Upon the use and application of this module as a guide for learning,
the students should be able to:

1. explain the significance of death in the existence of the person; and

2. reflect on the meaning of his/her own life.

Let us Try!

Give your own definition to the following terms listed below.

1. Death
2. Life
3. Happiness
4. Suffering
5. Meaningful Life

Let Us Study!

You have encountered in the previous modules about all the concepts
you need to better understand human nature and what drives human to
establish relationships and the things that influenced the development of a
human person. You have gone through the journey of getting much deeper
understanding about all the aspects that relate with human nature.

Now, let’s explore what is the essence of living. Have you ever wondered
about how nothing seems to last forever? Objects get worn out, food and
drinks get expired, and even trends become outdated after some time. Even

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more, what about the cycle of being born, growing up, getting old, being sick
and dying? These go to one very important reality at some point of our human
condition; we are temporal beings which means that we are human beings
oriented towards impending death.

Surely, the very thought of death and the mystery surrounding it have
caused a lot of grief and anxiety to a person. You may certainly feel that
thinking about death at this point of your life is a bit inappropriate or
unnecessary since you are still young and you still have your whole life ahead
of you. Thus, the idea makes you a bit uncomfortable but then it is an
essential element in the human condition which definitely deserves attention.
Only in reflecting on the reality of death can we begin to explore and
understand the meaning of our own and very existence.

Let’s Practice
Meaningful Life MAT

Materials:
1. Scissors
2. 2 pcs. Of colored paper (varied color)
3. Ball pen
Directions:
1. Make strips of paper out of 2 different colored paper.
2. On each strip, write your happy experiences on one color and your sad
ones on the other color.
3. Weave the strips like a mat.
4. Look at your work of art and appreciate the beauty of it as a whole.
Question:
1. Try to remove one of the colored strips. Now, look at your work of art
once again.

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 2. Do your remaining strips still make a beautiful mat? What does this say
about the meaning of life? Give your insights.

Let Us Practice More!

#YOLO (You Only Live Once)

Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.

In the essence that we, humans, are oriented towards our impending death,
this concept has given rise to such various expressions being mentioned
above. Commonly, death is understood as the end of bodily functions which
signals the end of a person’s life. It also refers to the separation of the body
and the spirit. As you have learned in the past modules, the human person is
an embodied spirit. The
body, being material, is subject to growth,
death, and decay. While the spirit, being
immaterial, will continue to exist even after
the body has passed.

Accepting the fact that we are persons facing

the reality of death allows us to determine
the course of our actions and of our entire
life. Thus, the essence of freedom is self-
determination which refers to the capacity to
choose and act for oneself. For instance, a
person cannot stop the natural bound law of
growing old, however, he/she can choose to embrace aging gracefully by
taking pride in their gray hair, wrinkles, and the fact of having grandchildren.
But others might take a different path and use any means to mask their
physical aging by getting cosmetic surgery and having “age-defying”
treatments.

Ultimately, we must embrace the fact that death is an integral part of our life
so that once we have come in good terms with that inevitable aspect of being
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human, we can focus not just on the quantifiable aspects of life (e.g.
possessions, luxurious years) but also on its quality. It can give us clearer
purpose and focus on our daily activities. Since we cannot do everything in
our lifetime, we must be able to reflect on what we need to do and identify the
goals we need to achieve so we can say that we have lived in a meaningful
existence.

Let Us Remember

Write a letter of support and encouragement to a person who you know is

undergoing difficulties in life. Highlight the points where you apply your
learning about happiness, suffering, death, and meaningful life. Write it in
your Activity Notebook.

Let Us Assess

Direction: Answer the following questions using your own words: Express
your answer with a maximum of 5 sentences. Write it in your activity
notebook.

Challenge: Based on what you have learned about happiness, suffering,

death, and the meaning of life, could you give advice to the following people
in various situations? Be realistic as much as possible.

1. Your sister is an overachiever. Being on top of the class is what makes

her feel fulfilled. However, she got lower grades than usual for this
quarter. She is extremely saddened and discouraged by this and
becomes withdrawn and aloof.

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 2. Your best friend is dating a married man. Despite her family’s
disapproval, she does not want to break up with him. She says that he
is the only one who makes her very happy.

Let Us Enhance

Activity No. 4:
Create a photo collage showing the things that makes your life meaningful.
You can also include things that makes you happy or things that drives you
to do more in life despite of adversities. Bring out your uniqueness and
creativeness.

Criteria
Organization & Composition: overall content - 15 pts
Originality: theme - 10 pts
Creativity & Neatness: overall appearance - 5 pts
TOTAL:30 points

Let Us Reflect

INSTRUCTIONS: Reflect on the following questions and write your answers

on a separate piece of paper.

1. What do you think is the reason why you were born?

2. How does a death of a love one make sense to you?

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Let Us Reflect Let Us Enhance
Rubric:
15 – Content Rubric:
10 – Coherence Organization &
5- Grammar Composition: overall
content - 15 pts
Let Us Remember:
Rubric:
15 – Content Let Us Practice!
Let Us Assess Rubric:
10 – Coherence
Rubric: 15 – Content
5- Grammar
10 – Coherence
15 – Content
5- Grammar
10 – Coherence
•
5- Grammar
Let Us Try!
Answers may vary
Answer key to Activities
 References

Book:
Abella, R. (2016). Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person.
2016. C & E Publishing, Inc. Quezon City
E-sources:
Image: Girl Waking up in Bed. Retrieved from:
https://classroomclipart.com/clipartview/Clipart/Home/girl-waking-
up-in-the-morning-streching-in-bed-clipart_jpg.htm
Image: Man Finding Wallet on the Ground. Retrieved from:
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/lost-wallet-224154025
Image: Man Reporting to the Police. Retrieved from:
https://www.gograph.com/vector-clipart/male-cartoon-police-
officer_4.html
Image: Man Picking-up lost Wallet. Retrieved from:
https://depositphotos.com/13950964/stock-illustration-cartoon-
wallet-prank.html
Image: Boy Running. Retrieved from:
https://www.clipart.email/clipart/fast-clipart-free432828.html
Image: Man, Rescues Drowning Children. Retrieved from:
https://www.shutterstock.com/search/water+rescue+child

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Region XI

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Email Address: [email protected]