WELCOME

PHILOSOPHY OF
MAN

Jayson U. Garcia,MAEd
Asst. Dean, College of
Education
What Philosophy Is
What Philosophy Is
What Philosophy Is
What Philosophy Is Not
What Philosophy Is Not
What Philosophy Is Not
 Formal Definition of
Philosophy
Pythagoras once argued that it is
really impossible for human being to
know everything because this
possibility is only available to God. With
this limitation, he says that man can
only befriend wisdom or somehow love
wisdom. From then the words philia
and sophia were used to name the
lovers of wisdom...the philosophers.
 Formal Definition of
Philosophy

Formally, Philosophy
is an act of questioning
and searching for the
meaning of his
existence and of the
 6 Important Parts of the
Meaning of Philosophy
Human according to Aristotle, man
by nature has the desire to know as
embedded on mans rationality.
Act it is not a content to be
memorized rather it is an activity to
be done or practice. It cannot be done
by one person for the sake of the
other.
 6 Important Parts of the
Meaning of Philosophy
Question it is an inquiry which starts
with wonder and curiosity with the
basic and ordinary experience in life.
Search after asking the right
question, the search for the answer
follows. The search is the process of
selecting the appropriate rational
explanation on something and then
thinking also the possible weakness of
 6 Important Parts of the
Meaning of Philosophy
Meaning it is the end and direction of
every activity. The meaning to oneself
and to everyone constitutes this
unending search.
Everything nothing is outside the
bounce of philosophical discussion.
Even those which are not yet known
are already part of it.
 Things to Consider in the
Definition of Philosophy
Philosophy is a science because it is a
unique realm for investigating things. It
is a science that has the ability to
construct or deconstruct itself.
Philosophy is not an exclusive science.
It encompasses all things.
Philosophy investigates things inside
and outside of the phenomena. It starts
to pour out gripping questions where
 Things to Consider in the
Definition of Philosophy
Philosophy uses the mind by necessity.
The philosophers goes outside the box.
The philosopher uses something that
signifies the reality.
Click icon to add picture

Who are the

Philosophers?
 Who are the Philosophers?
Everyone who is capable to question
and search for meaning will be
considered a philosopher.
In the strict sense, philosophers are
those who have courage to question
and rethink the meaning of the
common and ordinary things which
most of the time are explained through
the rule of common sense and the rule
The couple Mario, a civil engineer, and
Katrina, a nurse, who are both from
families of professionals are happily
married. On the second month of their
marriage, Katrina got pregnant. But
during the check-up they are informed
that Katrina has an ectopic pregnancy- a
pregnancy which develops outside the
uterus or womb. This situation means
that if Katrina continues her pregnancy
the baby might be live but it might result
to her death. If she will undergo an
operation she can recover but entails the
death of the baby. What then is the right
 The Branches of
Philosophy
Metaphysics deals with the origin of
being or everything. It talks about the
existence of things both material and
immaterial.
a. Theodicy talks about the
certainty and nature of the divine.
b. Cosmology deals with the origin,
laws and nature of the universe.
 The Branches of
Philosophy
Epistemology studies the certainty of
human knowledge.
a. Philosophy of Science clarifies
the certainty of scientific knowledge.
b. Philosophy of Mind deals with
the nature and functions of the mind.
c. Hermeneutics deals with the
interpretation of the meaning of text,
action and events.
 The Branches of
Philosophy
... Under Epistemology
d. Psychology deals with the
behavior of man being composed of
body and mind (soul).
 The Branches of
Philosophy
Logic it is the study of the systematic
thinking and argumentation.
a. Aristotelian (Traditional or
Formal) the study of syllogistic
arguments in word together with the
written and spoken fallacies.
b. Symbolic focuses with the
study of argument using symbols and
numbers.
 The Branches of
Philosophy
Aesthetics deals with the criteria of
what is beautiful.
Ethics deals with the act being good
or bad. This is also known as Moral
Philosophy.
a. Bio-ethics tackles moral
questions in the medical profession.
b. Business ethics deals with the
question of doing good in the
enterprise where everyone is driven by
 The Branches of
Philosophy

... Under Ethics

c. Environmental Ethics discusses the
care for the environment amidst the
drive for development.
d. Political and Social Philosophy
seeks about the best way to rule and
serve the people.
 The Branches of
Philosophy

e. Philosophy of Man questions

the identity of man as man, being,
and living with the others in the
world.
 Why study Philosophy?
Only a few opt to study philosophy,
they are those: a) preparing for
priesthood, b) preparing for law
school, c) driven by curiosity and last
d) who are forced to study philosophy.
What then is the value of studying
philosophy?
 Value of studying
Philosophy
Practical
Personal
Professional
Moral
Aesthetic
Socio-Political
Economic
 Method of Study
No one can teach anybody the best
way on how to philosophize. There is no
single method for this activity.
The method of studying philosophy
varies from every individual.
Apply philosophical survey to humbly
develop and cultivate ones own ideas
while respecting the strength and
weakness of others ideas.
 Points for Human
Perfection
No one can escape from thinking.
Learning philosophy is a personal
decision.
Studying philosophy is not living with
the ideals of others; rather it is
knowing their ideals, sustaining what is
helpful and denouncing those that are
worthless.
 Activity 1
My Pledge To Learning
Oral Discourse
 Historical Approach

Human Nature
Madaling maging Tao,
Mahirap Magpakatao
 What makes a man, man?

What is human and what is not?

What really is it that makes

human, human?
 Preliminary Quest for
Human Nature
Philosophy of Man is a question of
human nature.
Human nature is the identity which
separate man from other creatures. It
is mans distinct characteristics or
quality which makes him man, where in
the absence of this thing then one
cannot be categorized as man.
 The Question
Is there anything in nature which
separate man from the other?

If there is, then, What is this nature?

First Answer
Second Answer
Third Answer
Fourth Answer
 The End Question

What makes man a

man?
 Paradigm

A paradigm is a set of fundamental

principles that guides the thinking
process. It is rooted on everyones
biases and prejudice.
Whats your paradigm?
The Different
ANCIENT
Views About
S Man
SOPHIST

PRE-
SOCRATI
C ASIAN
MIDDLE PHILO
AGE
PHILO

MAN

MODER FILIPINO
N PHILO
PHILO
EXISTEN
POST TIAL
MODER MAN
N (LIFE
PHILO LOVE
 Challenge of the Study
Survey all the answers to the question
What makes a man, man?.
What is most important here in finding
the answer is not the answer itself
rather the process of finding the
answer.
The process of thinking is philosophy
and philosophizing itself.
 Points for Human
Perfection
Any search must start in finding the
right question, before looking for the
right answer.
Everyone has his own prejudice and
bias. So it is important to be open-
minded of all the choices before
selecting one idea. There is no
selection without choices.
Respect is the secret in the world of
 Words to Ponder

MAN cannot discover new OCEANS

unless he has the COURAGE to lose
sight of the shore.

- Andre Gide
 Activity 2
Me in the eyes of the other.
Oral Discourse
 Pre-Socratics

MAN AND THE

MANY
Truth springs from argument amongst friends.
- David Hume
 Backgrounder
Poet-theologians were the authority in
explaining things before the coming of
the philosophers.
Myths and fables were primarily used
on their explanations which are
centered basically on the concept of
the gods.
During the time of the philosophers
explanation shifted to rational
The Beginning of the First
Philosophy
 THALES 624-546
B.C.

The history of thought became different when Thales calculated an

eclipse and he challenged the prevailing belief at that time, that this
event will occur at a particular time not because of the will of the gods
but because it is mathematically possible. The people of Miletus waited
for the event with bated breath and anticipated Thales humiliation, but
the eclipse occurred. From then on, reason claims its place in human
history. This also signals the beginning of Philosophy. Thales was
considered the first philosopher and one of the Seven Wise Men of
Greece.
 The Problem of One and
the Many
Thales became widely recognized after
he predicted the eclipse and was asked
What the origin of everything was?.
Thales believed that water was the
source of everything. This was based
on his observation from living in an
island.
He also believed that human life starts
and ends with water.
 He proposed
that
Anaximander (610-546
everything
B.C.) was made out
of aperion or
boundless.
This is based
on the belief
that there is a
series of
causes which
will end up to
an endless
search.
Anaximenes (585-528 B.C.)

He believed that air is the origin of

everything. Convinced by the idea of
Thales, Anaximenes says that every water
will end up as air in the end.
Heraclitus (504-501 B.C.)
He believes that what is common and basic foundation of
nature is change. For him nothing will last forever. The only
thing that will remain in this world is change. The end of one
signals the beginning of the other. He suggested that human
relation is not excluded from this reality. He said that One
cannot step on the same river twice.
Empedocles (490-430 B.C.)
He declared a cessation to Heraclitus claim by
saying that if there are things that start with water,
air, fire and earth, then let these four stand as the
origin of everything. He tried to end the dispute by
simply acknowledging the idea of everyone.
 Points for Human
Perfection
Risk is very important before all
changes happen.
Criticisms and suggestions are very
important aspects of development.
They acknowledge the strength of any
idea and reveals points for
improvement.
Innovation symbolizes development.
 Activity 3
Let us Help Each Other
Oral Discourse

Our SHORTCOMINGS are the EYES

with which we see the IDEAL.
- Freidrich Nietzsche
 Sophists

MAN AND
RHETORIC
The real fault is to have FAULTS and not to amend them.
-Confucuis
Sophists
The sophists are basically the
teachers of the Ancient Greek.
Before the establishment of the
schools, colleges and universities,
formal education is basically
dependent on the travelling
teachers- the sophists. They just
walk from place to place to teach
whoever is willing to learn from
them.
 The Birth of Sophistry
Sophists are equated to those teachers
or thinkers who are into a free and
neutral enterprise of thinking simply to
attain knowledge for the sake of
wisdom. They would teach virtue for
the sake of good and no other things in
return. For them, certainty or truth is
necessary and attainable.
 The Birth of Sophistry
Sophists deals with those teachers who
are into teaching as a profession as
they teach for free. These new brand of
teachers shifted their attention to
human relation. They offer they
students the techniques on hw to be
successful, gain power, and prestige .
To them, authentic knowledge is
unattainable, what is important is how
to manipulate ones learning to attain
 Protagoras (490-420 BC)
Of all the available teachers in Athens that time,
Protagoras holds the position highest in rank. He
is considered the torch bearer of the new brand
of sophism.
 Protagoras Arguments
Man is the measure of all things.
A good argument can be made
worse and a worse argument can
be made good.
We cannot prove or deny the
existence of god.
 Georgias (485-380 BC)
In the absence of the best sophist who is Protagoras, Georgias
is the next in line.
He was also suspicious of the presence of truth.
He denied the presence of truth in different forms as created by
man.
 Georgias Arguments
Nothing exists.
If anything existed, it cannot be known
by man.
If it cannot be known, it cannot be
transmitted and explained to others.
 Trasymachus (459-400 BC)
Focused more on human relation.
For him, justice is created in the service of those who are
powerful.
Justice, therefore, is not an ally of the common good.
 Fallacies
Fallacy is derived from the Greek word
fallere which means to deceive.
Fallacies are used to win an argument
or to get the attention of the crowd in
any gathering or assembly.
Structural fallacy deals with the pattern
and structure of the argument.
Fallacies of content focus more on the
content or presentation of the
message.
 Appeal to emotion
Prestige Jargon
Misuse of Slippery slope
Authority Fallacy of the
Rationalization composition
Argumentum ad Fallacy of division
Baculum (use of Appeal to
threat) ignorance
Argumentum ad Two wrongs make
Hominen right
(argument Confident manner
against the
person)
Lifting out of the
content
False Dilemma
 Points for Human
Perfection
There is always something good which
will come from any experience.
Being familiar with the fallacies does
not open us to the possibility of using
such. It keeps us reminded and alert
when someone is already employing it.
Language is not a mere play of sounds.
It conveys message that has
truthfulness of the language used.
 SOCRATIC

THE REFLECTIVE
MAN
All I knowSocrates
is that I know
(469-399 BC)

nothing
 Socrates (469-399 BC)
Was considered the wisest man who
ever lived.
He acknowledged that a man has
limitations and cannot know infinite
knowledge.
His main contribution is the dialectic or
the Socratic method.
Reason for him is what separates man
from the beasts.
 Reasons for being
summoned to courts
Denying the traditional gods for
him reason is the highest ideal, so
God must be in the form of reason.
Corrupting the minds of the youth
 IDEA ABOUT MAN
man has rationality which is very
distinct and unique.
Knowing is doing on how to be a
good man, if you know the good then
do good
Rationality is humanity know thyself,
regulate and control oneself against
wordly desires. unexamined life is not
worth living, reflection and
Plato (427-347 BC)
 One of the best students of Socrates.
Built the school Academy which
became the pioneer and model of the
formal schools of today where the
youth stay and study.
let no one enter here without the
knowledge in Geometry
 Idea about Man
It is necessary to deal with
metaphysics first before dealing with
the theory of man.
There are two types of reality- the
world of forms and the world of
particulars.
What is real is found in the world of
forms or in the ideas of god. It is
unchanging and perfect.
 Man is composed of form (soul) and of
particular (body).
Soul is unchanging and perfect and
real.
The body is changing and is sharing its
perfection to the reality of the soul.
The soul is immortal in nature.
 How to be a GOOD MAN?
Body and soul are two distinct realities.
Man is purely soul before it united with
the body.
Soul is imprisoned in the body which is
prone to sensible pleasure, passions
and ignorance.
The purpose of man is to free the soul
from the body.
 The fullness of life of man will be
attained only when the soul as the
essence of man is freed from the body.
Man is composed of three faculties:
REASON, SPIRIT and APPETITES
REASON Drive to reach wisdom
genuine wisdom

SPIRIT Impulse towards Courage

beauty and goodness

APPETITES Drives for pleasures of temperance

the body
 Reason must be the superior in order
to free the soul from the body.
Man must have wisdom as superior to
control reason.
Courage is to direct ones spirit
Temperance is to control pleasure
seeking drive of the body embedded
on his appetites.
 Man and society have the same
components that need the same virtue
to attain harmony.
MAN VIRTUES SOCIETY

REASON WISDOM Leaders/Politicians

SPIRIT COURAGE Soldiers/Guardians

APPETITE TEMPERANCE Workers/Laborers

Aristotle (384-322 BC)
 After Platos death, he left the
Academy.
Devoted his time to teaching and the
study of the natural sciences.
He was summoned by Philip of
Macedon to educate his son, who
became one of the greatest
conquerors who ever lived- Alexander
the Great.
Founded Lyceum, in honor of Apollo
Lyceus, which became the rival of the
Academy
 Idea about Man
The sensible world is the real world-
the practical one.
Everything is composed of form and
matter.
The matter is capable of changing
because it is composed of many
accidence.
The principle of actuality and
potentiality.
 Actuality and Potentiality
Actuality is the current state or form,
while potentiality is the capability of
becoming a matter.
 3 Functions of Life
VEGETATIVE refers to the capacity to
reproduce, develop, and grow
SENSITIVE refers to the capacity of
the operation of senses, feelings and
movements
INTELLECTIVE refers to the capacity
to think, reason out, contemplate and
choose
 The Perfect Man
For Plato, the perfect man is in the
world of ideas.
For Aristotle, the perfect man is the
one using his intellect.
Man as we see in experience is the real
man for Aristotle. His intellect is the
form, while his body is the matter.
Changes in the body are due to
potentiality within him, but doesnt
 How to be a GOOD MAN?
Intellect is equated to virtue.
If man uses his intellect, the result or
end (telos) will be good.
The highest act of the intellect is not
just understanding the natural world
but contemplating the divine, to get
near to his origin.
 In human relation, man must follow the
virtue of the mean also know as the
middle.
Man must avoid the extremes.
Any deprivation and excess is bad.
Is it alright to rob a

bank provided that

the robber will get
just what is
appropriate for his
 Points for Human
Perfection
One should not boast about ones
learning or achievement because the
real sign of wisdom is humility.
It is good to look for what is ideal in life
or to change others. But it is better if
one starts with himself the good and
change what he wants others to do.
 Points for Human
Perfection
Man must have the capacity to think
for human perfection.
In respecting someone, we are not
only respecting his current human
status but also the potentiality within
him.
In the virtue of the mean, all excess,
defects and deprivation is a sign of
weakness.
 Medieval

The Man in the

Image of God
 The Medieval Era
Is the period between the ancient
and modern period.
Commonly known as the Christian
Age because it marks the rise of
the church.
Brilliant Moro or Muslim scholars
also emerged.
St. Thomas Aquinas , The Angelic
Doctor
 He is from a wealthy family in
Aquino, Rome.
His family was against his decision
to enter the seminary and be a
priest.
He was kidnapped by his own
family and brought to a far away
place to disconnect him from his
religious undertakings
His teachings are mainly embodied
in his two monumental works: the
Summa Theologica and Summa
 Aquinas followed the teachings of
Aristotle, but saw farther beyond the
vision of Aristotle who relied on the
natural powers of human reason and
experience in his search for truth.
There are truth that cannot be known
by human reason alone and which can
be received only by the aid of light of
divine revelation.
 The Two Truths
Those known through reason, and
The divinely revealed truths can
never contradict each other,
because they emanate from the
same source, God, who is TRUTH
itself.
 Idea about Man
God created man according to his
image and likeness.
 The Four Implications
FIRST God exists. Knowing God is
both available through faith and
reason. He believes that it is not only
in faith that the nature of God can be
conceived.
If someone is looking for a rational
explanation for Gods existence one
should consider his five proofs of the
existence of God.
 Argument from Motion movement is
the indication of life. Life and motion is
everywhere. There should be a
movement from the start. Such
movement should be caused by the
Unmoved Mover who is God.
Argument from Cause in nature,
everything comes from something. But
there couldnt be a series of infinite
cause. There must be the cause of the
first cause. Since infinite series of
causes is impossible, there must be a
God who is the Uncaused Cause.
 Argument from possibility and
necessity there are things that are
present yet not necessary. Like man, it
could be there is no man yet there is
man. So knowing that they are not
necessary, there must be knowledge of
what is necessary which is not a
possibility but a necessity. If that
necessary is a necessity, then such
Necessary Being is God.
 Argument from the gradation of Being
we experience a person whose
knowledge is unbelievable. After a
while we will find another who is more
knowledgeable than the previous man
weve met. One who possesses a
superlative degree of quality, one who
is the best, he must be the perfect
being who is God.
 Argument from design looking at the
beauty of the universe is a source of
amusement and inspiration for some.
There is not a hint of irregularity in this
otherwise harmonious universe. There
must be great designer, the Governor
of the world who is God.
 SECOND Man exists. Man is created
by God. In all occasions, the creator is
higher than the created. Therefore man
is not God. The creation of man by God
is not a right but a privilege or a gift
given to him by his creator.
 THIRD Man As a Special Creature
man is created in the image and the
likeness of God. This makes man
higher than other creatures. Since God
is good, his creation is also good. God
gave man the freedom of choice to will
and act according to his rationality.
FOURTH Man and His Duty
According to St. Thomas, it is the role
of man to bring back to God all these
gifts. The purposes of man therefore
are to: know, love and serve God.
Question: In what way can man love
and serve God?
 How to be A Good Man?
Responsibility: Human Act and Act of
Man
Human Act Components:
1. Knowledge
2. Freedom
3. Voluntariness
Act of man is the omission of any of
the criteria of Human Act fueled by
sensation.
 Modifiers of Human Act
Ignorance the absence of knowledge
A. Vincible Ignorance absence of
knowledge of what should be known
which can be easily be solved through
the light of reason.
Invincible Ignorance the absence of
knowledge about what should be
known but cannot be easily solved by
reasoning.
 Affected Ignorance it happens when
the agent voluntarily wants to be
ignorant to escape from possible
sanction
RULES:
1. V.I does not destroy but somehow
lessens the voluntariness and
responsibility of the agent.
2. I.I destroys the voluntariness of an
act.
3. A.I does not exempt the agent to
the consequence of his action. It
basically increases the culpability of
 CONCUPISCENCE (PASSIONS)- these
are strong bodily tendencies and
emotions such as anger, happiness,
excitement, love, hatred, desire,
horror, delight, hope, despair, bravery
and fear.
1. Antecedent happens
spontaneously with an event that it
paralyzes the judgment of reason.
2. consequent is present when a
traumatic or undesirable event
planned something to avenge such
experience
 FEAR is the heightened emotion
brought about by a foreseeable
danger. It is separated from passion
because with the apprehension of the
mind of the coming danger, there is
already a mental reasoning.
It could be a an act with fear or in
spite of fear- when one willfully
performs an act even if he is afraid.
An act done from fear or through fear-
when a person does an act because of
a possible danger to be done to him
or to others.
 VIOLENCE is the application of force
on a person compelling him to do
things against his will.
Acts out of violence is always
involuntary.
 HABIT is the repetition of the same
activity over time. If the act is
positive, it is considered virtue, if it is
negative, then it belongs to vice. Time
seems to be a culprit on the aspect of
habit because it seems that the
longer a person does an act it appears
the act is acceptable and good. But in
reality, time has nothing to do with
the goodness of an act.
Habit is always involuntary.
 When is an act good or
bad?
An act is good if it is an accordance
with reason, and bad is against
reason. Reason is the characteristics
of man which separates him from
other creatures.
Object (act itself) must be in
accordance with reason
Intention (end) the end the agent
wants to achieve
Circumstances are the conditions
 Principle of Double Effect
A graduating student found out that
she is pregnant. She has to decide if
she will continue pregnancy (which
according to the doctor is very
sensitive) or abort the baby. If she will
continue the pregnancy, the baby will
live but her studies will be sacrificed.
On the other hand, if she will abort the
baby, she can focus on her studies,
but the baby will be greatly affected
 Conditions
The acts must be good in itself or at
least indifferent
The good effect must precede the evil
The intention must be good
There must be a proportionate grave
act reason in doing the
 Aquinas Philosophy of
Happiness
Aquinas taught that man naturally
longs for perfection and happiness
and that this longing can be realized
on earth with the full and optimal
development of all mans powers, -
rational, moral, social, emotional,
physical.
The immortality of the human soul
which all men seek can be found in
 Transcendental Vision of
Man
According to St. Thomas and the
Christian teaching, man in his present
state of existence on earth is mortal,
finite and imperfect; but with the
attainment of his supreme purpose
and union with God, he is elevated to
the rank of the Divine. The Immortal.
The Perfect.
The immortality of the human soul.
 Modern

Man and Reason

Prevailing Conditions During the
Ancient and Medieval Periods
Production of books is simply done
by writing manually
Discussion and exchange of ideas
were limited
The nobles and the priests were
authorities in the search for truth
 Rene
Descartes
(1596-1650)

Ren Descartes was a French

philosopher, mathematician, and
writer who spent most of his adult
life in the Dutch Republic.W
Born:March 31, 1596,Descartes,
Indre-et-Loire, France
Died:February 11, 1650,
Stockholm, Sweden
Nationality:French
Education:Prytane National
Militaire,University of Poitiers
Parents:Joachim Descartes,
Jeanne Brochard
 Rene Descartes is considered the
Father of Modern Philosophy.
He is a scientist and
mathematician by profession.
He considered the ancient and
medieval period as pathetic.
He asked for the foundation of
truth which is certain and cannot
be falsified in whatever case.
 Idea about Man
cogito ergo sum I think
therefore I am.
Cogito or the thinking being is the
foundation of truth. It is the only truth
that is certain and cannot be doubted.
 Descartes Conjecture
When you are thinking then one thing
is for sure, that there is someone who
is thinking.
So, if you doubt that you are thinking,
the process of doubting is a proof
that you are thinking. Therefore,
someone is thinking.
If someone is thinking, then he is
existing.
What is existing is the mind, will or
 The Mind and Body
Problem
The dichotomy between the mind and
body evolved from the discovery of
self in the philosophy of Descartes.
The mind or consciousness can exist
even without the body.
The mind and the body are two distinct
substances.
The Pineal Gland
 The pineal gland is a pine cone shaped gland of the endocrine
system. A structure of thediencephalonof the brain, the
pineal gland produces several important hormones including
melatonin. Melatonin influences sexual development and
sleep-wake cycles. The pineal gland is composed of cells
called pinealocytes and cells of the nervous system called
glial cells. The pineal gland connects the endocrine system
with the nervous system in that it converts nerve signals from
the sympathetic system of the peripheral nervous system into
hormone signals.
Function:
The pineal gland is involved in several functions of the body
including: Secretion of the Hormone Melatonin
Regulation of Endocrine Functions
Conversion of Nervous System Signals to Endocrine Signals
Causes Feeling of Sleepiness
Influences Sexual Development
Location:
Directionally, the pineal gland is situated between thecerebral
hemispheres, attached to thethird ventricle.
Implications of Descartes
Discovery
The body has been labeled inferior
to the mind.
What you are and what you can
are determined by what you know.
The new man has a big mind but
with a weak body.
 How to be a Good Man?
Modernism talks about reason and
certainty. It has opened the doors to
the development of science. Everything
is measured to the decree of scientific
method. Outside the scientific method
lies falsity.
To be a good man is to use ones
reason, and be rational.
 One needs to be exact and specific.
Something which cannot be
measured and observed is
questionable.
Acts done without reason is a
malicious act.
Believing is measured according to
evidences and not on the basis of
impulse of emotion.
Man has to earn a degree.
John Locke FRS, widely known
John Locke
as the Father of Classical
(1632-1707)
Liberalism, was an English
philosopher and physician
regarded as one of the most
influential of Enlightenment
thinkers.
Born:August 29, 1632,
Wrington, United Kingdom
Died:October 28, 1704,
Essex, United Kingdom
Nationality:British
Education:Westminster
School,University of Oxford,
Christ Church, Oxford
Parents:Agnes Keene,
John Locke
 Modern Philosophy has been a
wrestling match between the
rationalists and the empiricists.
Descartes laid the foundation for
the rationalists.
John Locke is the forefront of the
empiricists.
Lockes works cover ideas in
medicine, science, politics,
religion, and philosophy.
 On Human Knowledge
Locke is convinced that the human
brain is in a blank state or tabula
rasa from the moment of birth. A
direct contradiction to Descartes
belief that there is an innate
knowledge on human soul planted by
God.
Locke conjectured that there is nothing
in the intellect that was not previously
 Through experience, mind acquires
ideas which are later turned into
knowledge or what we know.
Ideas are any materials brought
about by experience to the mind.
Experience has two aspects: first
are the sensation of everything
and process outside the mind.
Second is a reflection which is all
about the mental process that
makes everyone to be conscious
and see the connections of ideas.
 Idea about Human Nature
Man for Locke is basically good and
driven by his natural inclination to
reason.
Mans rationality makes him aware of
his rights.
Locke believes that man is capable of
ruling himself because he is naturally
good.
His reason is sufficient enough to look
for what is good for himself and the
 Self-rule does not pertain to anarchy.
Locke acknowledges that government
is still necessary to regulate man, but
government is not an authority
powerful than people, instead it is just
a contract created by the people by
submitting some of their rights so that
regulation for the sake of the common
good will be attained.
The will of the people stands higher
than any form of government
 How to be a Good Man?
Since mind is in the state of blank slate
or tabula rasa, it is very important for
Locke to be cautious in the process of
educating the youth.
Experiences during the infancy and
younger years are very important
because they set the foundation of
ones self.
The youth will be easily corrupted
without proper guidance in education.
 Immanuel Kant
(1774-1804)
Immanuel Kant was a German
philosopher who is widely
considered to be a central figure of
modern philosophy. He argued that
human concepts and categories
structure our view of the world and
its laws, and that reason is the
source of morality.
Born:April 22, 1724,Knigsberg
, Germany
Died:February 12, 1804,
Knigsberg, Germany
Nationality:German
Education:University of
Knigsberg
Parents:Johann Georg Kant,
Regina Dorothea Reuter
 Immanuel Kant is a man who practices
what he preach.
He advocates coherence, validity and
rationality.
The Philosophers Walk is a street
named after Immanuel Kant.
His philosophy states that there is
really truth which can be known
through the senses which is called
phenomena.
Things which cannot be known by the
senses are called noumena or the
 He is bridging the claim of the
rationalist that knowledge is innate
and can be deduced through reason
alone and that of the empiricist that
knowledge is known only in the
aspect of experience.
On the other hand, he is saying that
man cant know, such as God,
immortality and freedom.
Though some things are not
knowable, it is important also to
maintain the belief on them for the
sake of morality.
 Idea about Man
Man has gift of reason and free will.
Man has knowledge to decide what to
do and what not to do.
Man should be treated as equal.
Equality should be based on the
dignity of man himself. Man should be
treated fairly independent of his
height, color, family and other
attributes.
 How to be a Good Man?
Only acts preceded from reason is
moral.
Anything done and should be done out
of rational decision is good.
Categorical Imperative the rational
act based on duty to do what is good
for the sake of good.
Doing good is good because it is mans
duty and it is what his nature dictates
 Categorical Imperative
Laws of Universality something is
good if whoever in such position will do
the act. That, whatever is the case, the
act is still good.
Rape as an act
Giving water to the thirsty as an act
 Man is always an End every act
shows the dignity of the actor as
rational so his act must be directed
to the good of a fellow dignified
individual.
It is not good to use someone just a
means in attaining an end.
Prostitution
Helping townsfolk in return of votes
The good Samaritan
 Self Autonomy of Man- since
categorical imperative is universal it
is important to specify a criteria
about who are subject to it and how
it should be applied.
The criterion is not written in any
holy book but with every nature of
man.
Man has moral duty.
The denial of ones nature.
Categorical imperative is rooted on
mans reason and goodwill.
Post Modernism

Man and
Society
 Post Modernism Period
This is an era in the western history of
thought which the main project is
questioning the validity, truth, and
meaning of thing believed.
Everyone is called to be suspicious
and everything must be clarified and
put into question.
It deconstructs the dogmatic style of
the medieval and the arrogance of
reason of the modern.
 This time in the history of thought
open the ground to the idea of the
others.
Recognized pluralism and
indeterminacy which is in contrast
with the advocacy of the modern.
The Masters of Suspicions were
born in this era.
 Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher,
economist, sociologist, historian, journalist,
and revolutionary socialist.
 Marxs Concept
Period in Ancient Medieval Modern Post-
History Modern

Means of Land Land Capital Capital-

Production Information

Owner of the Common King/Queen Businessmen Businessmen

Means of Property Priests
Production

Abused None Commoners Workers Workers

*coming of
the
machines
Effects to There is the King and Still the gap There is a
Humanity equal Queen holds between rich culture of
distribution the power, and poor is inclusion and
of wealth uneven overwhelmin exclusion in
distribution g coming of
of wealth information
and money
 For Marx, economics is the driving
force of history. That is why whoever is
the owner of the means of production
is also the one holding the direction of
history.
Marx is convinced that the world is
divided by the those who have and
the those who have not.
Those who have are the bourgeoisie
or the owner of the means of
production. Those who have not are
the proletariat or the workers.
 With the play of power, Marx is
suspicious of the super structure in the
society such as the government,
church, academe, and the media. He
called these institutions as instruments
of those who-have to legitimize their
power and property.
These structures are called the
Ideological State Apparatuses
(according to Louis Althusser). This
ensure power of the bourgeoisie over
 The government legitimizes the
ownership of one hundred hectares of
land by a certain business man.
The church holds the moral
ascendancy to convince the workers
that it is not good to get the wealth of
another, whatever is the case. She
conditions the mind of the people to
focus on the heavenly.
Marx called the church as the opium
of the people.
The academe provides information to
create needs, and conditions the
 Education is only for those who can
afford. Those who study, create
their own business or work in the
higher positions are also those who
are rich.
Marx says that there is something
wrong in the society.
 Human Nature and
Alienation in Capitalism
Human labor is what makes and gives
man dignity and worth.
Mans work, place of work, time of
work, and nature of work determine his
humanity.
Marx is suspicious of capitalism by
simply saying that this style alienates
man from his nature on the following
ways:
 Alienation to self

In any business establishment, the

workers are called in numbers or
codes, reducing them to a piece of
material in a workplace.
 Alienation of Nature
Man is a social being. He is rational.
But in the workplace man is not
allowed to talk or chat with each other.
A call center agent will work from 5 pm
to 2 am. After working will go home
and eat. If he has wife, will have sex
and he will sleep. After waking up hell
work again. Man is reduced to a
working animal.
 Alienation to others

In the workplace, individual

productivity is a must. Socialization is
not an option.
The social animal is domesticated to
be alone, separating him from the rest
of the society.
 Alienation from the
product of Labor
For Marx, everyone is an artist. The
product of his labor is the
manifestation of his creative art.
One can feel the pride by looking at
the product of his work.
In the capitalist assembly line there is
the distribution of work. One stays at
the his job alone and one cannot see
the product of his labor.
 What is a Good Man?
If labor or work gives the essence of
being a man, it is necessary to make
everything related to work desirable.
The first step is to secure that man is
free from the four aspects of alienation.
He must be given a work that will not
reduce him to a machine.
He must have time to socialize with
others even at work.
 He must recognize the fruit of his
labor at the end of the day.
He should be given time to develop his
full potential and fulfill his
responsibility as a worker, as a citizen,
family man and a human being.
For Marx, if the conditions are not
satisfied in the workplace, it is the
duty of the workers to unite.
workers of all nations unite, you have
nothing to lose except your chains
 Friedrich Nietzche (1884-1900)
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a
German philologist, philosopher,
cultural critic, poet and composer.
 The height of postmodernism started
when Nietzche declared that God is
dead.
It has opened the ground for new
philosophy because God is equated to
the center of the standard such as
(Nature in ancient, God in medieval,
Reason in modern) which dictate the
truth and good in history.
For Nietzche, these centers are simply
founded by those individuals who are
pursuing their will to power before and
 According to Nietzche, there is no
need for center now. No one needs to
dictate the truth. Everything could be
a center, everyone can tell the basis
of truth so as long as the person is
pursuing his will for power.
For Nietzche, the tales of creation and
the saga of salvation are not viable
stories anymore.
He believes that religion is something
to be destroyed because it simply
bars man from developing his full
potential.
 Man and the Will to Power
Will to power is the principle in which
everything is to be understood and
finally to be reduced in Nietzches
philosophy.
It is the fundamental value and essence
of life of every being.
where there is life is there will, not will
to life but will to power, a struggle for
domination of ones self and of the
others.
 There is no point in human history
where there is no play of power.
Everything manifests power.
Everything asserts itself for power and
dominance.
The whole world is a will to power.
It is not self preservation that matters
most rather the will to power in human
relation.
People risk their lives just for the sake
of power.
The will to power is not only for the
 The will of the strong can be easily
seen, and the will of the weak
manifests itself in hidden and subtle
ways.
Everyone is driven by the desire for
power.
Hidden in every act of the weak is the
will to dominate and to overpower the
strong.
 Critic on Religion
Nietzche regarded religion, specifically
Christianity, as the most fatal and
seductive lie that has ever existed.
Religion disabled mans drive for power
and drive for self development.
Through religion, man created
someone [God] greater than him and
gave his future to this created one.
 Nietzche denounces religion as he say
I beseech you my brothers remain
faithful to the earth, do not believe
those who speak of other worldly
hopes.
God is dead doesnt mean that God
once existed and died. It simply
means that the idea of God as the
powerful, giver and saviour of
mankind is not anymore needed.
There is no one supreme powerful
God; rather there is only the will of
 According to Nietzche, it is therefore
the right time for man to set higher
ideals for himself and achieve the
fullest of his potential which was
corrupted in the coming of god.
Religion is nothing but a means of
attaining ones will power too.
There is nothing in Chriatianity which
is not used by the priests to foster
their will to power.
 The priests have taught the kind of
morality which considered them as
the highest type of men. Men must
follow the priests who found the
perfect status of being man.
The elevation of themselves [priests]
means the temperament to maintain
their power and their position.
Religion only fosters two choices:
follow and be saved or disobey and
suffer from eternal damnation.
 According to Nietzche, fear is the
principle behinf the gist of religions
doctrine. This can make nay man what
they want him to be.
 Critic on Morality
The collapse of religion is also the
collapse of morality.
The denial of the existence of God is
also the denial of the existence of truth
and of the foundation of good.
There is nothing now that the morality
can claim as its basis and foundation,
which is unchanging.
 Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist
who became known as the founding Father
of psychoanalysis.
 Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is the method of
psychological investigation, in which it
attempts to elucidate repressed mental
impulses in a patient.
This theory proposes the solution to
mental problems through the process
of talking or talk cure as initially
known.
 Man and His Nature

There are three elements in man as a

combination of body and Psyche.
The id, ego and super ego.
 The id
The id is the basic mans desire for
pleasure.
Sex is the most fundamental, that even
the development of man is rooted on
his sexual drive.
For Freud, sexual drive is not
necessarily of the opposite sex but
basically for everyone.
 The super ego
Super ego focuses on the morality
recognized by the society.
It is the drive to follow the demands of
the society.
For Freud, this drive controls the basic
inclination of man.
Society is detrimental to man and
might cause him unhappiness because
of unnecessary laws and guidelines.
 The ego
The ego is the rational aspect of man
which the main function is to balance
the tug of war between the drive and
the moral ascendancy.
it follows that man is good only if his
rational aspect has the power to
control the demand of the society and
to balance it with his personal desire.
 Points for Human
Perfection
Mans work has something to do with
his dignity.
Attaining ones full potential is the
project of everyone.
One should be suspicious of the
demand of the society.
 Eastern Philosophy

Man and Nature

 Eastern Philosophy
Asian or Oriental Philosophy
The thoughts and traditions on the
eastern side of the globe, which is
Asia
 Mohammed and the
Arab Expansion
Mohammed (AD 570-
632), a native of
Mecca, provided the
religion that became
the immediate
stimulus to Arab
expansion.
As a young man, he
made his living as a
camel driver and a
petty merchant.
During his travels, he
learned a few but
 Hegira or the flight to Medina marked
the beginning of the rapid expansion of
Mohammedism, for a short period of
time, Mohammed became the ruler of
Medina, and by the time of his death, he
won control of his native Mecca.
The Caliphs, successor to the Prophet,
united Arab tribesmen for the conquest
of Syria and Mesopotamia. Seized the
eastern provinces of the Byzantine
Empire and conquered the Persian
Empire.
Almost half of the Old Roman Empire fell
under Arab might.
 Islam
Muslim is the term used to denote those who
are believers of Islam.
They considered Allah as their supreme
being.
Muhammad is considered the last prophet of
Islam.
He was approached by Angel Gabriel who
handed him down the Koran or the Holy
Book and gave him task to propagate the
teachings of the Koran. From then on, he
started to preach and formed the first Islam
 The very word Islam means peace, purity,
submission, and obedience.
In religious sense, Islam means submission
to the Will of Allah and obedience to His
Law.
It follows that every Muslim should abide to
the said principle and teaching.
The Hamurabi Code, which follows the
rule an eye for an eye and a tooth for a
tooth, made it hard for Mohammed to
preach and propagate Islam.
 Islamic Beliefs and
Practices
The Five Pillars of Islam
There is no God but Allah and Mohammed the
Prophet.
A Moslem must pray at designated hours of the day,
facing Mecca.
he must, if possible, make a pilgrimage to Mecca
once in his lifetime.
He must give alms to the poor and needy.
He must fast from sunrise to sunset during the
month of Ramadan- the ninth month of the Moslem
year.
 Like Christians, there will be the DAY OF
JUDGMENT when Muslims will be judged on
the basis of their deeds while on earth and
will attain reward of Paradise or punishment
in Hell.
They do not believe that Christ or any
individual can atone for another persons
sin. Hell is where unbelievers and sinners
spend eternity.
The Koran, 98:1-8 states the unbelievers
(infidels) among the People of the Book and
the pagans shall burn for ever in the fire of
Hell. They are the vilest of all creature.
 The Nature of Islam
Misconceptions on Allah
Muslims like the Jews reject the
Christian belief of the Trinity and the
Divine Incarnation.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam all
claim to be Abrahamic Faiths and are
all monotheistic
 The Arabic and Muslim
Philosophy
The Arabs revived the Greek philosophy and it was
through Kindi, Avicenna and Averroes that the West
learnt about Aristotle, Plato and Socrates.
The Abbasid Caliphate provided the most
accommodating atmosphere for the development of
classical learning.
The Caliph Harun-ar-Rashid had some of the works
of Aristotle translated in Arabic.
Mamun-ar-Rashid founded the well-known Darul
Hukama (House of Wisdom).
 Al-Kindi (d/873 AD) the greatest philosopher of
the Arab race. Divine intelligence is the Cause
of the existence in the world.
Zakariya Al-Razi (865-925 AD) the eminent
physician and an Islamic scientist composed a
number of metaphysical, philosophical and ethical
works which profess the existence of five eternal
principles- Creator, the soul, matter, time and
space.
Avicenna (Ibn Sina)(980-1037 AD) the doctrine of
immortality. the soul and knowledge emanante
from Active intelligence, and that soul is an
indivisible and eternal substance.
Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali (1058-1111 AD)
Averroes (Ibn Rushd)(1126-1198AD) The
Incoherence of the Incoherence
 What Makes a Good
Muslim?
The 5 Pillars of Islam
Shahadah (Declaration of Faith)
Salat (Prayer)

Zakat (Alms Giving)

Saum or Siyam (Fasting and

Abstinence)
Hajj (Pilgrimage)
Buddhism
 Siddhartha Gautama
Is the founder of Buddhism.
He was born prince in India and was
expected to be a political leader.
He was given everything he ever
wanted in life.
One life-changing experience altered
the course of his life.
 On his way to the park, he
encountered these four:
An old man
Sick man

Dead man

Monk

At the age of 29, he left the palace and

lived an acetic life.
After 6 long years he went down from
the mountain with his discovery.
 The Fourfold Noble Truth
Life is a suffering (DUKKHA)
Suffering has cause (SAMUDAYA)

Suffering can cease (NIRODHA)

There is a path to the Cessation of

Suffering (MAGGA)
 The Eightfold Path

Right View
Right Aspiration Right Livelihood
Right Speech Right Effort
Right Action Right Mindfulness
Right
Contemplation
 Karma and Interdependent
Origination
Karma is the underlying principle in all
Buddhist thought.
It states that any voluntary action has its
effects.
Karma is both positive and negative.
It may happen within this life or to the next
life to come.
Karma sets the condition for the future life.
Karma operates within the cycle of the
present, past and future which is commonly
 Interdependent origination means
everything and everyone is a web of
interconnection, and every part of the
web expresses and reflects every
other part.
Ignorance is the beginning of this
origination.
ignorance is the root of all evil, unless
ignorance is overcome, man will never
be able to free himself from dukkha,
because it is the root of all evil,
dukkha folllows inevitably where
 12 Stages of the Cycle of
Origination
Ignorance
Volitional Feeling
formations Craving
Consciousness Clinging
Mind-and-form Becoming
Sense-bases Birth
contact Old-age-and-
death
 Confucius
Or Master Kung was a justice minister
during his time.
He was worried because people were
not concerned with the welfare of the
society China was disintegrated.
what you do not like when done into
yourself, do not do unto others
 Idea about Man
To live and be a man is a blessing for
Confucius
Goodness can be fully realized in a
society.
The society must be established to
create a conducive nature for human
relation.
For him, the society should be
comprised of three elements: people,
 Jen or the basic goodness of
man. No man is born bad and
indifferent, even the worst person
has the goodness within. Only
when every one acknowledges the
goodness within, there will be no
problem in the society.
 How to be a Good Man?

Rule of Propriety (li)

Rule of Righteousness (yi)
Filial Piety (Hsiao)
Rectification of Names (Ching Meng)
Taoism
 Lao Tsu

Is considered the founder of

Taoism.
Tao Te Ching is the book which
contains all his teachings/
Tao is interpreted as the way or
path
Yin-Yang
 Everything in the universe is within the
complementary principle of yin and yang.
The symmetrical disposition of the dark Yin
and the light Yang suggest interdependence of
the two principles.
Yin is the negative power which is associated
with the earth, in human relation, yin is
female, who is quiet and intuitive.
Yang is the positive which is associated with
heaven.
Other characteristics of Yang are male, strong
and creative.
There is an eternal cycle between heaven and
earth, male and female, or hot and cold.
Dots indicate that within each is the seed of
the other.
 How to be a Good Man?
Taoism advocates that the body is the microcosm
of the universe. Thus, the body needs to be aligned
with the harmony of the universe.
Man should learn to exist naturally and without
effort.
Man should practice the wei-wu-wei or the virtue
of doing without doing or the effortless action or
acting without acting
When one is acting or influencing others without
forcing himself on others.
Modelling by example.
Three Jewels of the Tao
Comapssion

Moderation

Humility
 Points for Human
Perfection
There are many ways on how to do
what is good, but in the end these
ways are simply pertaining to one
good divided by different names
and symbols
There is goodness in everyone.
Respect in anothers belief is in the
rule of cultural diversity.
 Activity 16
One With the World
Man is not the superior of all creations.
He is just one of them.
Direction: Make a haiku about your
belief regarding mans place in the
universe.
 Activity 17
Select 3 quotations from the given statements and
clearly explain each by applying in real life
situations.
A superior man i s modest in his speech, but
exceeds in his actions. Confucius
The mind is everything. What you think you become.
Buddha
You will not be punished for your anger, you will be
punished by your anger. Buddha
He knows that enough is enough will always have
enough. Lao Tzu
The journey of a thousand miles begin with one
step. Lao Tzu