LESSON 1: PARADIGM SHIFT

Gabriel Marcel’s 2 Types of Reflection

SCIENCE
- the empirical study of the world. ● Primary Reflection - It sees
- is investigative. persons not according to their
but science: being but as something
- cannot answer everything in this associated with predicates.
world. - Humans are defined according to
- looks at reality partially. one’s own name, student
- cannot solve a basic moral or number or even address etc..
political problem.
● Secondary Reflection - It looks
● Method of Religion - involves not on man only through his
the receiving of revelation from predicates, but on his whole
God. being, the totality of his being a
● Method of Philosophy - The person.
armchair is the principal piece of
apparatus of a philosopher; for ● Thales - the father of Philosophy
the philosopher is strictly an
armchair thinker.
- Philosophers need conversation.
- Philosophy is reflective.

Science Religion Philosophy

is accepts is
investigativ and reflective
e believes

How is Did God Why must

matter create change THE “WHAT” OF PHILOSOPHY
transforme the be based
d into universe? upon Etymological Definition of Philosophy
energy in permanenc
● Philo - Love
atomic e?
explosions? ● Sophia - Wisdom
“Love for Wisdom”

“Philosophy is not about more

knowledge you get, but more
understanding.”
Historical Definition of Philosophy
SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY
 ● Merchants - “lovers of gain or ● Wisdom- is the active utilization
pleasure.” of knowledge.
● Athletes and Politicians -
“lovers of fame.”
The Starting Point of Philosophizing
● Audience - “Lovers of
Spectacle.”
1. Wonder or Awe - The most
3 Types of People in Real Life important thing in philosophy is
1. The one who wants to be rich. that we are able to reflect on our
2. The one who wants to be famous. human activities.
3. The one who wants to
understand and reflect what life 2. Act of Questioning - Asking
is really all about. relevant questions. Asking
questions by recognizing and
● Socratic Motto: being aware of our own activities
- “An unexamined life is not worth will lead us to deliberate
living.” reflection

● Lexical Definition of Philosophy

- Philosophy is the study of the
ultimate reality, causes and
principles underlying being
acquired through the use of
human reason alone”.

THE “HOW” OF PHILOSOPHY

● Ostensive Definition of
Philosophy - Ostensive comes
from the Latin word “ostendere”,
(to show) or (to point out). One
defines a term by pointing it or
by showing it out.

● Philosophy is not just a

textbook knowledge - it is
basically an attitude, an activity
of the human mind and heart.
LESSON 2: THE VALUE OF For example:
PHILOSOPHY
Primary Secondary
- Improving the quality of your Reflection Reflection
thinking (philosophizing) about
Ballpen A writing A gift from
it, you can improve the quality of material, my father,
your life. brand, having a
color, shape sentimental
“How you think influences how you act.” value

THE VALUE OF PHILOSOPHY The Edmund Husserlian

Phenomenological Method
1. Philosophy - encourages us to
examine our lives. 1. Epoche - it means removal or
bracketing of the biases we have
● Existentialism - the with the object.
philosophical belief that we are 2. Eidetic Reduction - Eidetic
responsible for creating purpose comes from the Greek word
or meaning in our own lives. “eidos” means “shape or
2. Philosophy - helps us to essence”.
challenge our views and beliefs 3. Transcendental Reduction -
in order to achieve the truth. “my” very own experience of the
3. Philosophy - helps us to analyze phenomenon.
our daily experiences in life by
reflecting on it.
Method Questions to consider

Marcelian's Philosophical Reflection Epoche a.) What is the natural

attitude towards the
object or experience?
Primary Secondary
Reflection Reflection b.) What are the biases
and prejudices towards
Dissolving the Put all things into the object or experience?
unity, analyzing unity,synthesizin
the real meaning g the objectg and Eidetic a.) What is the essence of
or function of giving it a more Reduction the object?
the object. personal meaning.
b.) What is the actual
definition of the object
or experience?
 - Opinion is a kind of judgment. It
Transcen- a.) What is “my” own
dental experience of the object is based on someone’s point of
Reduction or experience? view. It is what someone thinks
or feels.
b.) What are my personal
understanding towards ● SKEPTICISM
the object or
- to know something is to doubt.
phenomenon?
- questioning the possibility of
certain knowledge.
LESSON 3: SKEPTICISM, - prompting critical examination
RELATIVISM, AND of beliefs and the foundations of
certainty.
PRAGMATISM: DIVERSE
APPROACHES TO
● PYRRHO OF ELIS -
UNDERSTANDING TRUTH - “One must resist making
judgments or stating conclusions
● TRUTH because sense perception did not
- defined as a correspondence correlate to reality.”
between beliefs and reality,
serving as a foundation for ● RELATIVISM
knowledge. - Truth is dependent on the
- paramount in knowledge person.
acquisition, fostering trust and - posits that truth is not absolute
understanding in various but varies based on context,
disciplines. culture, or individual
- immutable (eternal or does not perspectives.
change)
Example: Is the earth flat or round? 1. Cultural relativism - emphasizes
understanding beliefs within
TRUTH VS. OPINION their cultural context.
2. Moral relativism - questions the
universality of ethical standards.
OPINION - subjective
TRUTH - objective
● PRAGMATIC
- Truth is what works.
● OPINION
- defines truth as what works in
- Consists in not being sure that
practice, emphasizing practical
you have the truth, not being
consequences over abstract
sure whether what you say is
principles.
true or false; can be right or
wrong.
 - yields practical outcomes in LESSON 4: Philosophical
various fields, including Methods and Evaluating
education, science, and social
Opinions
reform.

● CORRESPONDENCE THEORY Methods of Philosophizing

- Truth is what corresponds from
- Are different processes of
the mind with the reality.
determining the truth or
- posits that thoughts must
drawing conclusions from
accurately reflect reality;
statements using various
for example: the statement "snow is
philosophical methods.
white" is true if snow is indeed white.
- posteriori (after experience/
1. Socratic Method - where two
empirical)
interlocutors took turns in
- believes in TABULA RASA
questioning and answering.
- Critiques of the correspondence
● “elenchus” – to inquire or
theory highlight challenges in
cross-examine.
verifying truth, especially in
complex or abstract domains.
2. Dialectic Method - Act of talking
back and forth disagreeing with
● COHERENCE THEORY
one another and coming up with
- Truth based on reason.
a conclusion from an exchange
- Priori method of truth, that is,
of contradicting arguments.
truth is known even before
● “dialecticae” – the act of
experience. A priori also means
conversation.
innate ideas- ideas that are
“born into” us.
3. Scientific Method - Hypothesis
- Rational thinking; believes in
testing is done to prove the
innate ideas.
validity of an idea.
● Evidence-based approach
● “scientia” – to produce
knowledge.
4. Historical Method - Gathering
evidence, examining them, and
formulating ideas about the past
to come up with present truths.
● “Iotopia” – to investigate or to
find out.
 5. Methodic Doubt - The Methodic Argumentum Ad Populum/ “appeal to
doubt is derived from the idea of people” or “bandwagon”
doubting a belief. It is not a - Populum – “people”
feeling but rather it is a rational - Exploits people’s vanity, desires,
insight. etc.
● According to Rene Descartes, the
first rule is to accept nothing as Argumentum Ad Traditio/ “appeal to
true which I do not clearly tradition”
recognize to be so. - Traditio- “tradition”
● To achieve the truth, we must - Advancing an idea since it is
doubt our senses since our practiced for a long time.
senses are fallible and
unreliable, that is, we must avoid Argumentum Ad Ignoratiam/”Appeal
our perceptual illusion. to Ignorance”
- Ignoratiam– ignorance
- Whatever has not been proven
FALLACIES
false must be true.

Argumentum Ad Hominem/ Petitio Principi/ “begging the

“Attacking the Person” question”/”circular reasoning”
- Hitting the person below the belt - Fallacy in which a conclusion is
instead of focusing on the issue taken for granted based on the
at hand. premise which is also called a
Argumentum Ad Baculum/ “appeal to “circular argument”.
force”
- Baculum – latin word which
EVALUATING OPINIONS
means “scepter” or “stick”
- Committed when a person uses
threats or force to advance an 1. Authority and Source
argument. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
- Who is the information's source?
Argumentum Ad Misericordiam/ - What are his/her credentials,
“appeal to pity” background, and reputation?
- Misericordia – “pity” or - Is she an expert on the subject?
“compassion” - What is the source of the
- When a person appeals to one’s - assertion?
emotion instead of objectively - Is the source trustworthy?
arguing.
 2. Relevance and Reliability 5. Hasty generalization and
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: Assumption
- How trustworthy is the person QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
making the claim? - Is there an effort made by the
- How long has he or she spent source to prove or support the
studying the issue? opinion?
- How extensive is his/her - Is it possible to obtain genuine
knowledge of the subject? documents?
- Is there any unsupported - Is the information a single point
generalization in the claim? of view or a collection of
- Is the information supplied numerous relevant points of
actually relevant to the view?
conclusion? - Is there enough evidence to
support the conclusion?
3. Context and Purpose - Are all of the significant
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: variables taken into account?
- What is the author's or source's
main and secondary objective?
- What are the target readers or
audiences?
- Is the message meant to
convince or persuade, or is it
simply propaganda?
- What is the context in which the
opinion is expressed?

4. Preconception and Bias

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
- Is the person taking a position
biased in favor of or against the
issue?
- Is she biased, preferential, or
prejudiced in favor of or against
a particular issue?
- Is the language used provocative
or emotional?
- Are proofs provided, or is the
foundation merely a
preconceived notion?