THE MEANING AND NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY

Does philosophy only belong in the halls of academia? The answer would be no. It belongs in the lives of
everyone. Philosophy is one of the most challenging undertakings a human can enter into. It is one of
the most powerful mental disciplines humans have developed in their time on this planet.

The Nature of Philosophy

Philosophy is a set of views or beliefs about life and the universe, which are often held uncritically.
We refer to this meaning as the informal sense of philosophy or “having” a philosophy. Usually when
a person says “my philosophy is,” he or she is referring to an informal personal attitude to whatever topic is
being discussed.
Philosophy is a process of reflecting on and criticizing our most deeply held conceptions and
beliefs.
These two senses of philosophy “having” and “doing” cannot be treated entirely independent of each
other, for if we did not have a philosophy in the formal, personal sense, then we could not do a philosophy
in the critical, reflective sense.

Practical Use of Philosophy

• Philosophy enables a person to engage in critical analysis and interpretation of concepts,
definitions, arguments, and problems.
• Philosophy also improves problem-solving and decision making.
• A philosopher is a good communicator who can clearly and adequately present his or her ideas.
• Wisdom is one intended product of philosophizing that refers to a person’s ability to apply
knowledge to daily life particularly in making sound choices and judgment.

Importance of Philosophy
• The study of Philosophy enables us to think carefully and clearly about important issues.
• In studying Philosophy, 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.
• Studying philosophy sharpens your analytical abilities, enabling you to identify and evaluate the
strengths and weaknesses in any position.
• It hones your ability to construct and articulate cogent arguments of your own.
• It prompts you to work across disciplinary boundaries and to think flexibly and creatively about
problems which do not present immediate solutions.
• Because philosophy is an activity as much a body of knowledge, it also develops your ability to
think and work independently

.Branches of Philosophy
The Main Branches of Philosophy are divided as to the nature of the questions asked in each area. The
integrity of these divisions cannot be rigidly maintained, for one area overlaps into the others.
• Logic - the systematic study of the rules for the correct use of these supporting reasons, rules we
can use to distinguish good arguments from bad ones. Most of the great philosophers from Aristotle to the
present have been convinced that logic permeates all other branches of philosophy. The ability to test
arguments for logical consistency, understand the logical consequences of certain assumptions,
and distinguish the kind of evidence a philosopher is using are essential for “doing” philosophy.
• Axiology - the study of value; the investigation of its nature, criteria, and metaphysical status. More
often than not, the term "value theory" is used instead of "axiology" in contemporary discussions even
though the term “theory of value” is used with respect to the value or price of goods and services in
economics.
• Epistemology is the study of knowledge. In particular, epistemology is the study of the nature, scope,
and limits of human knowledge.
1. Epistemology investigates the origin, structure, methods, and integrity of knowledge.
2. Consider the degree of truth of the statement, "The earth is round." Does its truth depend upon the
context in which the statement is uttered? For example, this statement can be successively more accurately
translated as …
"The earth is spherical"
"The earth is an oblate spheroid" (i.e., flattened at the poles).
• Metaphysics is the study of what is really real. Metaphysics deals with the so-called first principles
of the natural order and "the ultimate generalizations available to the human intellect." Specifically,
ontology seeks to identify and establish the relationships between the categories, if any, of the types
of existent things.

HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE VS. PARTIAL POINT OF VIEW

Adopting a holistic view enables a person to view a problem more objectively and come up with better
decisions or solutions. A holistic view also means that one does not confine one’s understanding of the
world to one’s own perspective, but also includes the perspective of others. This view also enables a
person to better appreciate his or her experience as vital components.

Before engaging in philosophical inquiry, one must be able to distinguish between a holistic and partial
point of view. This is critical for anyone doing philosophy because it sets a limit in coming up with
conclusions about a given situation.
Holistic perspective, in philosophy, is a school of thought that tries to explain the whole system by
evaluating the components. This means that it looks at all factors as dependent to each other.
Holistic Thinking refers to a perspective that considers large-scale patterns in system. It is often
described as looking at the “big picture” when describing and analyzing a situation or problem. It requires
an individual to have an open mind-set and an ability to get the general sense/impression regarding a
situation
Partial perspective is a view where one sees that a phenomenon is caused by a single factor, or
casual agency.
Partial Thinking focuses on specific aspects of a situation. It is an important component of analytical
thinking, as an individual focuses on certain areas or aspects of a problem in order to understand it. Though
partial thinking is useful, philosophy utilizes holistic thinking in making sense of problems and
issues related to the situation.
Looking at the characteristics of holistic and partial points of view, it can be concluded that using a holistic
perspective is more desirable in doing philosophy than using a partial perspective. Partial points of
view only promote limited knowledge on the situation. This leads to wrong conclusions.
The importance of holistic perspective in doing philosophy
Holistic Perspective is a map for understanding how we perceive reality. It helps us categorize
observations, knowledge, experiences and information into six fundamental perspective positions
that generate distinct natural laws that complement each other and together help explain reality
as-it-is: the one full reality. It helps us understand what is going on and what we really mean or refer to
when we interact and communicate with each other. Having a holistic perspective enables us to understand
what we mean when we speak of or think about different things.

How can we develop holistic thinking

Here are six key elements to consider when developing a holistic learning and development
function:
• Create a learning and development strategy.
• Enable a culture of continuous learning and development.
• Align with talent management.
• Deploy a learning and development infrastructure.
• Leverage learning management technology.

What makes a person to be called holistically developed?

Definition of holistic development Holistic development refers to human development that is meant to
involve all the parts of a person. This is development designed to accommodate physical
development, mental growth, emotional development and social development.

The Importance of holistic development in the life of a person

Holistic development essentially means the development of intellectual, mental, physical, emotional,
and social abilities in a child so that he or she is capable of facing the demands and challenges of
everyday life. These abilities are vitally important for success in professional fields of work.

Learning philosophy requires learning to look into all available perspectives and work on their
relationship to come up with sound, logical, and valid conclusions. In the process, doing philosophy
helps one to develop the skill of broadly looking at the situation first before concluding anything.
It is a common misconception that partial point of view is not important. However, partial point of view
is characterized in philosophy as a way or method of how the fact or the situation is seen or
interpreted.

WHAT IS TRUTH AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

In today’s society, we encounter a lot of information from various sources such as the media and our
interactions with our friends, family, and members of the community. Most of the information we
receive is helpful, but some may mislead us or may even be utterly false. Every day we are
confronted with news, claims and announcements from our peers, family members, figures of
authority, the government, and media. How do we know if they are telling the truth?
What is truth?
• Truth lies at the heart of any inquiry. It is a fact that has been verified. Science considers truth as
something observable and empirical. This means that any claim can be proven by verification and
experimentation.
• Truth, in metaphysics and the philosophy of language, the property of sentences, assertions,
beliefs, thoughts, or propositions that are said, in ordinary discourse, to agree with the facts or to
state what is the case.
• Truth is the aim of belief; falsity is a fault. People need the truth about the world in order to thrive. Truth
is important. Believing what is not true is apt to spoil a person’s plans and may even cost him his life.
Telling what is not true may result in legal and social penalties.
• Truth is not affected by the attitude of the one professing it with his attitude. An arrogant person
cannot make the truth he possess false, or a humble person to make the error he possess true.

The Importance of Truth

Truth matters, both to us as individuals and to the society as a whole. As individuals, being truthful
means that we can grow and mature, learning from our mistakes. For society, truthfulness makes
social bonds, and lying and hypocrisy break them. If you doubt this, consider what happens when you
find out that someone has lied to you. You feel less inclined to trust them next time, and less inclined
to trust other people more generally.

Truthful people will:

• Understand themselves, and know their own strengths and weaknesses. They will not delude
themselves about their successes or failures;
• Present themselves in a way that shows who they really are. Their reputation will be founded on what
they are and, whether in public or private, they will be the same;
• Meet any commitments or promises that they make;
• Be accurate in their descriptions of themselves or others, so that they do not mislead others.
• Truth is discovered, not invented. It exists independent of anyone's knowledge of it." An example is
the existence of gravity. There always has been gravity, and it is certainly true. It was discovered by
Newton or just before him.
• Truth is transcultural. If something is true, it is true for all people, in all places, and at all times. A good
example is that two plus two is always four for everyone, everywhere and all times
• Truth is unchanging, even though our beliefs about truth change. Society used to believe the earth
was flat. When it was discovered that the earth is round and not flat, the truth about the earth didn't
change, it was only our belief which chanted. Beliefs cannot change a fact, no matter how sincerely
held. Someone can sincerely believe something, but if his fact is not true, that means only one
person is mistaken.

FACT VS. OPINION

Understanding of opinions and facts and the means to distinguish one from the other can further
improve our understanding and appreciation of varied views and ideas. The ability to determine
truth goes hand in hand with the holistic perspective and enable us to make a wiser decision
especially in choosing the ideas and views which we find acceptable. An individual cannot live his or
her life just agreeing with everybody he or she meets. A critical mind aided by philosophy helps us
form our own personal point of view, that can guide us in making decisions and actions when faced
with a problem.

Fact About Facts

Facts are something that has actually taken place or unknown to have existed, which can be
validated with pieces of evidence. It is strictly defined and can be measured, observed and proven.
They refer to something that makes statements true and is used in connection with research and
study.
Opinion: Defined
An opinion is defined as the personal view or judgment about a subject, that may or may not be
substantiated by the facts or positive knowledge. In other words, an opinion is an inconclusive
statement, used in subjective matters, which cannot be proved true or false. It is what a person
thinks or feels about something or someone.
Differentiating Fact from Opinion
Here are some tips on how to differentiate between fact and opinion. Firstly, ask yourself, “Can it be
proven”? Evidence to support a fact can be easily found in books in a library’s reference section, as
well as by searching online using reliable sources of information, such as the websites of reputable
educational institutions. These sources will provide evidence for the same fact. However, for opinions,
what is stated may differ across sources of information.

Opinions are not just pale shadows of facts; they are judgements and conclusions. They can be the
result of careful and sophisticated deliberation in areas for which empirical investigation is inadequate or
ill-suited.
While it’s nice to think of the world so neatly divided into matters of fact and matters of opinion, it’s not
always so clinical in its precision. Facts and opinions need not be positioned in opposition to each
other, as they have complementary functions in our decision-making. In a rational framework, they
are equally useful.

HOW CAN PHILOSOPHY GUIDE US IN DISTINGUISHING TRUTH FROM OPINION?

Philosophy can help us examine various views on relevant issues in our lives. An objective
evaluation of opinions and an awareness of our personal biases can help us to make wise choices
regarding the most acceptable views to adopt and the right actions to undertake. This means that a
person having the opinion may have views and tendencies that affect the way he or she sees reality.
We must be aware of bias so that we can objectively and critically examine points of view.

How Can Philosophy Guide Us in Distinguishing Truth from Opinion?

Philosophy can help us determine ideas that are truthful and acceptable which we can then use to
form our own views regarding certain matters.
Philosophers often grapple with the concept of truth. Knowledge must be truthful to gain validity
and acceptance. For example, when we answer a “True or False” test, we judge if the statement we read
are true or false. This means that statement may have truth or may not have truth.
Ancient Greek Philosophers approached the problem of truth by looking at the nature of knowledge
and how we know what we know. We assume that everything we know about this world is true. But
philosophers who pondered upon the origins of knowledge doubted everything there is to know
about themselves and the world.
Example:
I am alive.
I have a body.
I can breathe.
Doubt has very important purpose in philosophy as it drives our desire to discover the truth. In
philosophy, systematic doubt is employed to determine truth. This means that every statement, claim
evidence, and is scrutinized, and analyzed. Nothing is taken as true unless there is sufficient reason
and evidence to prove that is indeed true. Let’s rewrite the statement as questions to make them easier
to analyze.
Am I alive?
Do I have a body?
Can I breathe?
The obvious answer would be examining yourself to determine if indeed you are alive, that you have a
body, and you can breathe.
Then you can now say:
I am alive!
I have a body!
I can breathe!
How do we know if something is true?
• It can be justified or proven through the use of one’s senses.
• It is based on facts.
• It is a product of agreement or consensus.
• It can be applied in real life.
• It can be tested and verified.

An opinion is simply what a given individual (believes) is the truth or what is factual in the case of
an event of some kind. As such, an opinion is usually not based on conclusive evidence or
deductive logic but instead on an inclination or an intuition which brings the individual to a
conclusion. An individual's opinion can also contain what is moral or ethical or the most expedient
thing to do in particular situation according to that individual’s belief.
Now, an opinion can be the truth. An opinion can also be false. An individual can insist that their
opinion is the truth and be either right or wrong. The secret is to obtain irrefutable evidence that an
opinion is true. Then the caterpillar of thought, known as opinion, then transforms itself into the
butterfly of truth.

WHAT IS A HUMAN PERSON?

A human person is a living being that contains a real and existing power to direct its own
development toward fulfillment through perfect, unconditional, and infinite truth, love, goodness,
beauty, and unity, and will do so if all the proper conditions are met.

It is important to have a clear definition of a human person so we may know how to truly live life.
According to our definition humans are truly here to live a purpose, and our purpose in truth, love,
goodness, beauty, and unity is what sets apart humans and make us beautiful.
What is a Human Person?
Human Person refers to the individual, and all the attributes and characteristics that set him or her
apart from other human beings. A human person refers to a human granted recognition of certain
rights, protection, responsibilities, and dignity above all. It is the totality of an individual, possessing
awareness, self-determination, and the capacity to interact with others and with himself. Aside from
the physical characteristics, another aspect of the human that defines us as persons is the spirit. The
intangible element enables us to exercise thought, possess awareness, interiority, and the capacity
to reach out to the outside world and other persons.

The Human Nature

When you look in the mirror, you are checking how you appear, what you seem to be, and whether it
matches how you feel inside. Thinking about human nature is the equivalent of our whole species looking
in the mirror to check its identity. Just as we all react differently to our own reflections in the mirror, the
reflection we call human nature is also often disputed.
By definition, human nature includes the core characteristics (feelings, psychology, behaviors) shared
by all people. We all have different experiences of the humans in our life, and this is where the disputes
begin. Some people will tell you humans are 'good' or 'bad', or 'predators' or 'capable of great
kindness.' These views are colored by the influence of the people we know and what our culture and
subcultures tell us. The group you are born into will pass on its particular ideas about what makes
humans 'human

How We Talk About Our Nature

Philosophers and scholars tend to talk human nature based on major schools of thought from human
history. Some religion scholars argue that spiritual or religious natures are the key trait in human nature.
For example, Judeo-Christian belief presents humans as creations of God that have free will, which
provides them both dignity and ethical dangers. Buddhists think that to be human is to be aware
(conscious) and to desire.
More broadly, in Western cultures, the discussions usually begin with Plato and Aristotle in classical
Greece. Plato thought that humans were rational, social animals, and he connected our nature with
our souls and ability to reason rather than our bodies. Aristotle differed primarily in his belief that
both body and soul contributed to our human identity. These theories are not mutually exclusive but
have been built upon each other and adapted over time.
Other ideas about human nature have been discussed by historically important figures including Rene
Descartes, Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud.

The following items represent changes in theories from the 1500s to the 20th century:
Descartes (1596-1650) expanded Plato's ideas, describing people as thinking spirits. He was later
critiqued by Gilbert Ryle, who, like Aristotle, could not completely separate human mental processes
from physical ones. By way of example, Aristotle and Ryle would agree that the action of hammering
a nail when building a house inherently weaves mind and body together. According to Darwin
(1809-1882) and the logic of evolution, humans are described as another form of primate. Human life,
like any animal's, is experienced as a series of problems to be addressed and resolved. Darwinian
thinkers do not raise humans above other animals, but recognize that human characteristics are a
product of nature, developed through circumstance and physical characteristics that affect
behavior.
Marx (1818-1883) believed that human nature is revealed through the natural progression of
recognized the cultural and social factors that alienated them from their natural identity. Like
Darwin, Marx took the stance that humans are characterized by the divine or a spiritual character.

The Body and Soul According to Aristotle

According to Aristotle a living creature is ‘substance’
Body = matter Soul = form
The soul (psyche) is the structure of the body - its function and organization. This was the word Greeks
gave to the animator, the living force in a living being. For Aristotle the psyche controlled
reproduction, movement and perception.
In contrast Aristotle regarded reason (nous) as the highest form of rationality. He believed that the
‘unmoved mover’ of the universe was a cosmic nous

Criticisms of Aristotle
Aristotle dismisses Plato’s Realms saying there is no clear evidence for them. Instead, he appeals to
our senses, claiming that it through them that we experience reality. However, we are still left with the
problem that there is no clear evidence that our senses are reliable. A religious person might argue
that we know the world through faith and revelation.

Human Beings are Special!

One important difference between humans and animals is the extent to which humans employ huge
amounts of knowledge processed by our extraordinary brain. Humans are unusual animals by any stretch
of the imagination. Our special abilities have allowed us to change our world dramatically and even
leave the planet.

Aristotle thought that the soul is the Form of the body. The soul is simply the sum total of the
operations of a human being.
Aristotle believed that there exists a hierarchy of living things plants only have a vegetative soul,
animals are above plants because they have appetites, humans are above animals because it has
the power of reason.

Other Philosophical Views on the Body and Soul:

Plato - Man is his soul
The real knowledge of the form is only possible, if the soul is pure and immortal. In death the true man is
freed from his imprisonment to see perfectly the pure light of absolute truth.

St. Augustine - The soul is not a soul if it is not the soul of a body. Man can be divided into body and
soul, and no doubt the soul is more real and important
Rene Descartes - The mind (soul) is immaterial, non-physical and non-spatial substance. Even if we
can prove the reality of the world and material things, the real essence of man is still different from his body.

LIMITATIONS AND POSSIBILITIES OF THE HUMAN PERSON

Limitations of the Human Person as Embodied Spirit
1. Facticity
Refers to the things in our life that are already given. This includes all the details that surround us in the
present our environment, our language, our past decisions, our past and present relationships, and
even our future death.
2. Spatial-Temporal Being
As temporal beings, our most obvious limitation is our finitude, our finite quality or state.
3. The Body as Intermediary
Our body serves as an intermediary between us and the physical world. Our body limits our experience
of the world to our world. This also imposes limitations concerning communication and expression.