CHAPTER I

UNDERSTANDING
REALITY IN A
BIGGER PICTURE
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Pre-Assessment: Entry
Point
Mother and I
Proceed to page 3 of the book.
 LESSON 1
REVEALING THE
WHOLE

“Do not confuse the forest for

the trees.”
 Why am I here?
 Why do I exist?
 What is the purpose of my existence?
 Why love when you only get hurt?
 What is happiness?
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A. Discovering
Philosophical
Reflection
Difficult questions that do not have definite
answers like the ones we have been describing
are significant. These sort of questions are
called philosophical.

When we ponder on a philosophical question,

we are engaged in a philosophical reflection. A
philosophical question always contains a bigger
problem.
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Every person can find the value

and significance of philosophy in
his/her life.

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“Walang Forever”
Time is gold.
The truth hurts.

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“Not to ask a
philosophical question
is to go through life
confused and lost.”
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B. The Universal and

the Particular

Particular refers to a part of the whole, while

the universal pertains to the whole.
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“Why am I
here?”
If interpreted as a question of purpose for existing, we see how
the totality of existence is actually involved. Inevitably, we will
have to include the aspect who determines our purpose aside
from what is our purpose. Thus, to philosophize is to look at
life from a holistic perspective.
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Philosophy as
Universal
For Heidegger, a scientific question is
always confined to the particular, whereas
a philosophical question “leads into the
totality of beings” and “inquiries into the
whole”(Heidegger 2002, The Essense of
Human Freedom, 9).

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The Essence of Human

Freedom
Essence of man
Essence of freedom
Essence of God
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After a philosophical question

is raised, how does one
proceed to finding an answer?
 Every person who engages in a philosophical reflection must recognize that possible
answers to philosophical questions require adequate justification or rational basis.
 Answers that sound right or seem right will simply not do.
 To know what is real requires much intellectual effort and rational ability.
 A person is responsible for the answers he/she holds on to.
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How do we guard
against deceptions?

God did not give us a life manual, but He

gifted us with intellect or mind (faculty of
reason) to figure things out on our own.
This faculty of reason or rational capacity
allows us to pursue our questions so we can
come nearer to the truth.
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C. Truth and
Dialectics

Dialectics is an art of refutation that dates

back to the ancient Greeks. Dialogues
illustrate how dialectics is an effective
means of examining and evaluating truth
claims. Errors or inconsistencies of a claim
are demonstrated using rational abilities.
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Socrates
 Views need to be defended with
consistency and clarity.
 A claim or proposition requires sufficient
proof and logical argument to be
regarded as true.
 One has to give good reasons as basis
for any claim and the claim must be able
to withstand further scrutiny and
examinations.
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We need to welcome questions that

probe into the core of what we claim
because it is the best way to reveal
what is not obvious.
In the process, we learn more about
our position or view – what it
assumes, what it truly means and
what it entails.

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The interplay of opposing views is necessary
for progress. We need this exchange of ideas
so we can grow.

Debating amiably with someone allows us to

discover many things. It reveals our beliefs
and challenges us to defend those beliefs.

This rational activity teaches us to hold on

to those beliefs we can defend, and to
remain open so we can revise our views
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Thank you
for
listening
!
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QUIZ NA TAYO!
FAVORITE NIYO ‘TO.
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