Methods of
Philosophizing
Lesson 2
The study of this subject is an initiation to the activity and process of philosophical
reflection as a search for a synoptic vision of life. At the end of the course:.
Able to reflect on their Acquire critical and Actively committed to the
daily experiences analytical thinking skills development of a more
from a holistic point and should be able to apply humane society and
of view this critical and analytical articulate their own
thinking skills to the affairs philosophy of life
of daily life and become
truthful, environment-
friendly and service-
oriented.
Objectives:
After going through this module, you will be able
to demonstrate various ways of doing philosophy and
evaluate opinions:
Distinguish opinion from truth PPT11/12-I
Realize that the methods of philosophy lead
to wisdom and truth PPT11/12-Id-2.2
Evaluate truth from opinions in different
situations using the methods of
philosophizing PPT11/12-Id-2.3
Philosophical method
• Philosophical method (or philosophical methodology)
is the study of how to do philosophy. A common view
among philosophers is that philosophy is
distinguished by the ways that philosophers follow in
addressing philosophical questions. There is not just
one method that philosophers use to answer
philosophical questions.
• Philosophy is concerned with determining the concept
of truth. Truth lies at the heart of any inquiry
What’s new?
Choose five words you found inside the box.
Write down other related words or ideas that can you
think of in relation to the words you choose. Write
your answer on the space provided.
• Truth in metaphysics and the philosophy of language is
the property of sentences, assertions, beliefs, thoughts,
or propositions that are said, in ordinary discourse, to
agree with the facts or to state what the case is. It is most
often used to mean being in accord with fact or reality, or
fidelity to an original or standard. Truth is also sometimes
defined in modern contexts as an idea of "truth to self", or
authenticity
o Propositions is a statement about the world or reality.
Propositions may or may not carry truth.
o Knowledge is the clear awareness and understanding of
something. It is the product of questions that allow for
clear answers provided by facts.
o Facts are propositions or statement which are observe to
be real or truthful.
o Claim is a statement that is not evidently or immediately
known to be true.
• This means that any claim can be proven by verification
• Therefore, truthful statements can be considered as
based on facts
• There are several views regarding truth. Philosophers
emphasize the importance of belief as a basis for
determining truth. But as a philosopher, we do not
assume that every statement is true. Remember the
famous French philosopher, Rene Descartes traced the
need to philosophize to doubt.
What is it?
In philosophy, systematic Philosophers always engaged with Doubt has a very
doubt is employed to help the concept of truth. important purpose in
determine the truth. This Philosophers consider truth as a philosophy as it drives our
means that every statement, kind of quality or value. desire to discover the
claim, evidence, and Knowledge is the clear truth. In philosophy,
experience is scrutinized and awareness and understanding of systematic doubt is
analyzed. something, since it is true employed to o help
knowing that we are able to determine the TRUTH.
determine what is true.
What is it?
A belief is true if it can be Getting consensus or having people Philosophers also believe that
justified or proven through agree on a common belief is claims and belief should
the use of one’s senses. another way of determining also be subjected to test to
Another basis for what is true. Although this determine truth. In
determining truth approach has certain limitations. determining truth requires
is a belief or Getting everyone to agree on also that a person can
statement is true something may not take that prove a statement through
if it is based on belief true. an action.
facts.
Distinguish Opinion from
Truth
Lesson 2.1
What’s new?
Let us take a look at the following statements and
determine which one states fact or opinion
1. It takes me 30 minutes to walk from my home to
school.
2. Living near the school is better because we do not
have to spend much for transportation.
3. My sister ate the last piece of pizza pie.
4. My sister is a selfish person because she ate the last
piece of pizza pie and did not share it with me
5. The policeman firmly pushed the suspect to his knees
and placed him in handcuffs.
6. The aggressive manner by which the policeman
arrested the suspect is an example of the brutality that
characterizes our police force.
Did you know?
Statements 1, 3, and 5 are more factual than statements
2, 4, and 6. Using the philosophical tools we learned,
they fit into the category of facts since they contain
ideas or information that are easily verifiable. While
statements 2, 4, and 6 could be considered as opinions.
These statements go beyond providing facts. It also
provide conclusions or perspectives regarding certain
situations. Opinions are also the bases for making
arguments and convincing people that a certain claim is
a fact
• Fact is something concrete that can be proven. You can
find facts in legal records, scientific findings,
encyclopaedias, atlases, etc. In other words, facts are the
truth and are accepted as such.
• Opinion is less concrete. It's a view formed in the mind of
a person about a particular issue. In other words it is what
someone believes or thinks, and is not necessarily the
truth. Also, note in the examples below how facts are the
same fors such. everybody, but opinions can differ
What’s new?
Direction: Give a brief answer to the
following question. Write your answer in the
space provided.
• Give 5 examples of a factual statements and 5
examples of an opinion.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Opinions are Beliefs are Explanations are
statement that go statements that statements that
beyond providing expresses assume the claim to
facts. convictions that are be true and provide
A conclusion is a not easily and clearly reasons why the
judgment based on explained by facts statement is true
certain facts.
Arguments are Bias is
series of statements disproportionate
that provide reasons weight in favor of or
Fallacies are
to convince the against an idea or
arguments
reader or listener thing, usually in a way
based on faulty
that a claim or that is closed-minded,
reasoning.
opinion is truthful prejudicial, or unfair.
• The facts that form the bases of a conclusion may not be disputed but
the conclusion itself could still be contested or questioned. To judge the
truthfulness of belief, we must also consider things such a person’s
experiences and views.
• Opinion is something intermediary between knowledge and ignorance.
While Public opinion is the intermediate faculty which seizes the things
that float between the two extremes (Plato)
• Opinion applies to what, bieng true or false, may be other than it is: in
fact, opinion is the apprehension of an immediate and unnecessary
premise (Aristotle).
• Opinion, founded in the probable, perhaps also the name of knowledge
(Leibnez).
• Opinion is a belief that is conscious of being insufficient both
subjectively and objectively (Kant)
• An opinion gives for truth something that has been said,
although sometimes they are absurd words, which mean
nothing, impossible to understand (Hobbes)
• Public opinion is the convergence of the opinions of the greatest
number of people in a community, so that they form a common
and dominant feeling, exerting diffuse pressure (Freund
Thanks!
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