Lesson 1: Doing Philosophy: Distinguishing Holistic Perspective from a Partial Point of View Subject introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Lesson 1: Doing Philosophy: Distinguishing Holistic Perspective from a Partial Point of View
Subject introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Prepared by: Dr. Ely Sayno Alpe Jr.

1. LORD, MAY EVERYTHING WE DO BEGIN WITH YOUR INSPIRATION AND CONTINUE WITH YOUR SAVING HELP. LET OUR ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE ALWAYS FIND ITS ORIGIN IN YOU, AND THROUGH YOU REACH COMPLETION. LORD POUR OUT ON US THE SPIRIT OF UNDERSTANDING, TRUTH, AND PEACE. HELP US TO STRIVE WITH ALL OUR HEARTS TO KNOW WHAT IS PLEASING TO YOU. WHEN WE KNOW YOUR WILL, MAKE US DETERMINED TO DO IT. AMEN. OPENING PRAYER

2. Lesson 1 Doing Philosophy: Distinguishing holistic perspective from a partial point of view SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON TEACHER: DR. ELY SAYNO ALPE, JR.

3. Learning Objectives At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to: Distinguish holistic perspective from a partial point of view. (MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY) Appreciate others’ perspectives as equally important as their own perspectives. Collaborate with others in forming a comprehensive statement about life.

4. Source: nrsl.wordpress.com

5. ACTIVITY 1 (3 Minutes) Watch and Share: Watch a 1 :50 – minute video clip and share your answer on the following questions after watching . What was the basis of each blind man’s claim? Why was it mentioned that “ THOUGH EACH IS PARTLY IN THE RIGHT…ALL WERE IN THE WRONG”? What do you think this parable of John G. Saxe mean?

6. Points to Ponder You cannot see the whole picture of a certain thing if you simply focus on your own senses, your own opinion, or your own perspective; but when you collaborate with others and share each one’s idea or point of view, a bigger, clearer and holistic picture will be formed. Valuing others’ idea is equally important as valuing yours.

7. ACTIVITY 2 (3 Minutes) Observe and Reflect. Look at the following images and answer the corresponding questions.

8. Is this glass half full or half empty? Why? davidsummertonconsulting.co.uk  

9. What do you see? researchgate.net  

10. What do you see? researchgate.net  

11. Deepening of Activity 3 How did it happen that while we were looking into the same image, we differently perceived it? Do you think that even if we have different perspectives we can still arrive at a certain truth about something?

12. Points to Ponder When you conceptualize a theater play , the ideas of every member of the cast, the managing directors, as well as producers are equally important because there are areas or angles of looking into the holistic play that everyone can see differently in their own respective positions or situations. In playing basketball , there are things that the coaching staff can see that the players cannot and vice versa, so collaboration and teamwork is important. In promoting your events place to potential customers, you have to present to them the best features of your place though you cannot control their own judgment. Differences in perspectives do not in any way change the truth about something; each one may just hold partial truths which when shared with others would result to a general truth. Valuing: Respect others point of view as they respect yours!

13. Activity 3 (2 Minutes) Analyze and Share : In the empty box, put a tick mark (/) on the experience that you think expresses moments of being in the world of philosophy. Leave blank the item/s which you think are not.   1. Your father went to Divisoria , called your mother via CP and asked her what items he needs to buy?   2. Your father went to Divisoria , called your mother via CP and asked her how much the budget is to spend for the items?   3. Your father went to Divisoria , called your mother via CP and asked her why it is wise to buy in Divisoria than in the mall?   4. Your father went to Divisoria , called your mother via CP and asked her why items in Divisoria are cheaper than the items in the mall?   5. Your father went to Divisoria and asked himself why do people spend money to buy things when supposedly these are God-given gifts to all?

14. Item 3 : “Your father went to Divisoria , called your mother via CP and asked her why it is wise to buy in Divisoria than in the mall?”. This is definitely a kind of high order thinking skill because it requires an ability to compare. When one is engaged into an act of comparing, then he or she uses critical thinking. And, this would not provide us a definite and exact answer, as there would be different opinions that would come out from different people’s perspectives. Does it trigger a philosophical reflection? CRITICALLY YES

15. Item 4: “Your father went to Divisoria , called your mother via CP and asked her why items in Divisoria are cheaper than the items in the mall?”. Compared with item 3, this also belongs to the higher order thinking skills, however, it is more challenging because it requires an ability not only to compare but to analyze various perspectives. It pushes us to be more analytical in our judgment. Science actually can provide us experimentally proven ideas why being vegetarian is more ideal. But, does it trigger a philosophical reflection? ANALYTICALLY YES

16. How about item 5, why is it considered as a good philosophical question? Such kind of question pushes us to be critical thinkers. This separates a simple question from a philosophical question. Unlike a simple question, philosophical question does not provide us a definite or ready answer; it is the kind of question that endures or perennially exists because the answer it gets is also questioned making it endless series of quest for truth; lastly, it makes sense of our experiences because it affects our being. Does it trigger a philosophical reflection? YES

17. Activity 4 (2 Minutes) Q & A: Using ¼ sheet of intermediate or yellow paper, write your answer on this particular question:

18. Does it trigger a philosophical reflection? YES & NO IT DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE. SIMPLE UNDERSTANDING ENDURING UNDERSTANDING - To study - To find my purpose in life - To see my friends - To have a meaningful existence WHY AM I HERE? What am I doing here? (A search for ANSWER) What am I here for? (A search for MEANING)

19. PARTICULAR VS UNIVERSAL PARTIAL POINT OF VIEW VS HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE PARTIAL POINT OF VIEW HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE Refers to part of the whole Refers to the whole Emerges from a simple question Emerges from a philosophical question Leads to exact and definitive answers Leads to philosophical reflections Provides a partial truth Provides a universal truth Has simple understanding Has enduring understanding T o philosophize is to look at life from a holistic perspective

20. Activity 6 Directions: You have 10 seconds to answer each question.

21. WHAT DO YOU READ?

22. WHAT DO YOU READ?

23. WHAT DO YOU SEE?

24. How many human figure do you see?

25. Activity 6 (3 Minutes)

26. Deepening of Activity 6 Our differences in terms of our talents and capabilities, economic status and social status, our varied cultural orientations are most of the time considered as aids or obstacles for us to be able to achieve our dreams. As we focus on our limitations, we easily get disappointed and discouraged to continue. However, when we start to realize that no gigantic problem is impossible to solve when we collaborate with others, then we are able to see beyond the horizon.

27. Deepening of Activity 6 THE BIGGER PICTURE OF LIFE’S POSSIBILITIES IS NOT IN YOUR HANDS BUT IN EVERY HAND OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU. WHAT YOU SEE IS YOUR PARTIAL POINT OF VIEW, BUT WHAT YOU SEE THROUGH OTHERS IS LIFE’S HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE.

28. Points to Ponder: Everyone has partial point of view about something but through collaboration, the holistic perspective can be disclosed. Believe! The human mind has power to achieve whatever it conceives.

29. Activity 8 (2 Minutes) Check your understanding. Complete the following statements to form correct concepts. Write your answers on a separate work sheet. A particular phenomenon may have various interpretations because of differences in one’s ___________. STPECRPEIVES A philosophical question leads to a philosophical _____________. NORELECFTI Particular refers to part of a whole, while _____ pertains to the whole. ALUNIRVES While individuals have partial point of view, collaboration can lead to ___________ perspective. SILHOTIC

30. Assessment (3 Minutes) A. Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper. 1. Which best describes a holistic perspective? A. It emerges from a simple question. B. It leads to exact and definitive answers. C. It has simple understanding. D. It provides a universal truth. 2. Which allows a person to look back on previous experiences and evaluate the meaning or significance of his or her life? A. philosophical question B. philosophical perspective C. philosophical reflection D. philosophical thinking 3. Which demonstrates a partial point of view? A. It emerges from a simple question. B. It refers to the whole. C. It emerges from philosophical question. D. It has enduring understanding.

31. Assessment A. Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper. 4. Who may have already developed a broader philosophical perspective? A. PJ who monitors his classmates’ emotional well-being. B. Vaughn who listens to both sides of arguments before making judgment. C. Vladimir who chats his friends about their beliefs D. Jacques who is so talkative. 5. Which is correct? I. Both partial and holistic perspectives are contributory to knowledge II. Reflection is not required in doing philosophy. A. I and II are false B. I is true, II is false C. I is false, II is true D. I and II are true

32. Additional Activities Assignment Act what you think. Construct at least five philosophical questions about your perspectives in life. Write your answers on a separate answer sheet. Example: What is the essence of life?