Lesson Development: LESSON 3: Regarding The Methods Leading To Wisdom and Truth

CHAPTER 2: METHODS OF
PHILOSOPHIZING
LESSON 3: Regarding the Methods Leading
to Wisdom and Truth
Objectives:
By the end this chapter, the learners are expected to:
a. Realize that the methods of philosophy lead to wisdom and truth
b. Evaluate opinions
Instructional Materials:
Module with Activity Sheets
Textbook: Atacador, R.B., Ramirez, C.L.R., Oroc, R.P., Kiamco, R.T.T.,

& Cayogyog, A.O. (2016). Introduction to the Philosophy of the
Human Person. Mutya Publishing House, Inc.: Malabon City
Web Links
Lesson Development
In this lesson we will know how the methods discussed
previously affect one’s transcendence in the follwoign
discussions.
Activity 5
Rewrite on the table provided below the opinions you have written
in Activity 3. By applying at least one of the methods of philosophizing,
evaluate your opinions.
Opinion Method Evaluation
DISCUSSION
REGARDING THE METHODS LEADING TO WISDOM AND TRUTH
1. The Elenchus and the Scrutiny of the Doxa

Doxa or opinion is a belief held by someone regarding something. Such a view is basically a
judgment about a thing based on how that thing appears to someone. In short, it is a subjective point of
view.
Now, a subjective point of view is not all the time erroneous but is somewhat limited. Biases and
prejudices are, according to one philosopher, important starting points of a rational inquiry. After all, one
sees the world from his own eyes and not from the eyes of other persons.
Elenchus may be used to establish the truth in opinions. The process of scrutinizing one’s opinion
is not for scrutiny’s sake, not to disprove someone’s claims or opinions nor designed to shame someone
or to make him appear foolish in front of others.
Let us examine, for example the ‘opinion’, for all statements begin as opinions, “there is no God”.
Zedar: There is no God!
Garion:What makes you think so?
Zedar: If there is no God and He is as what people believe He is, i.e. all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present,
then there should have been no wars, calamities and all other scourges of mankind!
Garion: Are you saying that God causes these things to happen?
Zedar: At the very least, he allowed it to happen when He should not have.
Garion: “Allowed” suggests that someone else has caused something to happen, right? And, in this case, it
is man.
Zedar: But why would He allow man to destroy himself when He professes love for His creation?
Garion: Would you rather have it the other way around? Would you rather live like a robot programmed
to do what He commands? Is giving freedom to man not a sing of His love?
Zedar: Well, at least He could have prompted us against doing things that may destroy us.
Garion: How long has it been since the last time you paused and ponder on these things? When was the
last time you read the Scripture? God has been prompting man all this time, but did we care to listen?
The above discussion is an example of purifying an opinion. As to what will the end of the discussion will
be of secondary importance. The more important thing is that the opinion of both are under scrutiny and
purification.
2. The Methodic Doubt and the Foundation of Truth
Descartes method is also about purification of opinion, in this case knowledge from experience
based on authority or of mathematics, in order to see how much truth is in it before it is used as
foundation of one’s life and action. It is very much akin to the Socratic elenchus with the process itself as
the difference. The Socratic elenchus is other-initiated, while Cartesian “Methodic doubt” is done by itself.
‘Experience’, as oftentimes said, ‘is the best teacher’. However it is only for those who have ability
to properly learn the lesson therein taught. One must do the asking himself in order to save him from the
tedious and painful process of being dragged in the real world. Is my ‘knowledge’ about things around me
real knowledge?’ A conviction must be made by doubting or questioning with the intention of making
‘opinion’, be it from experience, authority or ‘objective’ source, a knowledge that is pure and
unadulterated as possible, as Decartes said, “based on a reason so strong that it can never be shaken by
any stronger reason.” If, at the end of the day, the opinion in question has been proven false, then so be it.
It is much better to have it debunked than build one’s life in such a weak foundation.
3. The “Lived Experience” and the “Tangible” Truth
Truth may never be absolute, but it has to be tangible.

It is not to say that there is no absolute truth; there is – and all man’s efforts as recorded in the
history of thought and idea are geared towards attaining that Truth. However, it would also be misguided
and dangerous to believe that your ‘truth’ is absolute.
Phenomenology, which emphasizes on the meaning of things experienced to the one experiencing
it, is one such method that is about subjectivity. But it does not and must not be used to establish a claim
of monopoly to truth. Example, ‘This is such a wonderful morning,’ it does not mean that the morning is
absolutely wonderful. It may be for him, but it may not be so for others.
Moreover, truth must be tangible for it to have meaning. It means the connection ‘truth’ has to him
who experienced it. This method has emphasis on a lived experience as the way of truth.
4. Methods in philosophy in relation to truth.
Elenchus Scientia Phenomenological Truth TRUTH
Activity 6
On the space provided before each number, write (T) if the statement is true and (F) if the
statement is false.
_________________ 1. A subjective point of view is all the time erroneous.

_________________ 2. Episteme is the belief held by someone regarding something.
_________________ 3. Biases and prejudices are important starting points for a rational inquiry.
_________________ 4. Elenchus is designed solely for disproving someone’s opinion.
_________________ 5. The statement “Experience is the best teacher” is absolutely true.
_________________ 6. The sole purpose of questioning authority is to disprove it.
_________________ 7. Phenomenology denounces objectivity.
_________________ 8. Phenomenology is about looking into the world from the first person point of view..
_________________ 9. Your ‘truth’ may not be absolutely true.
_________________ 10. There is no absolute truth.
SUMMATIVE TEST
Name:_______________________________________________________ Rating: _____________________________
Grade Level/Section:______________________________________ Date: _______________________________
1. Fill in the blanks by supplying the missing concepts.

1. _________________ is the root word for doxa.
2. Episteme, for Aristotle, is the _________________.
3. Elengkhos means argument of _________________.
4. The _________________ Method is designed for people to realize the real worth of their opinion.
5. “_________________ ergo sum.”
6. Descartes likened his method to that of an _________________.
7. _________________ is literally the study of phenomena.
8. In Phenomenology, _________________ richer in content than sense-data.
9. Experience is more about an _________________ than a passive observation.
10. In Husserl’s “Intentionality” consciousness means _________________.
II. Grid Puzzle. Find the concepts and persons listed below. Encircle each concept or person as they
appear on the grid puzzle.
1. opinion 6. dokein 11. noumenon 16. Intentionality

2. truth 7. doxazein 12. phenomena 17. Cartesian
3. elenchus 8. epistasthai 13. Sense-data 18. ogito
4. doxa 9. persuasio 14. appearances 19. experience
5. episteme 10. scientia 15. phenomenology 20. Elengkho
III. Enumeration. Formulate 25 statements that can be considered an opinion.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
IV. Reflection and Discussion. Refer to your opinion in Activity 3 on improper waste segregation. Apply
any of the methods of philosophizing to evaluate whether each opinion holds some truth. Write your
evaluation in the box provided below.
5 (25pts) 4 (20 pts) 3(15 pts) 2 (10 pts) 1 (5pts)

Shows a thorough Shows a good Presents a Attempts to Shows
understanding of understanding of satisfactory address the theme, misunderstanding
the theme the theme understanding of but a little vague of the theme
the theme and inaccurate
Addresses all Addresses all Addresses most of Develops faulty Totally wrong
aspects of the task aspects of the task the aspects of the analysis of the task analysis of the
task concept
Shows coherence Shows coherence Ideas are almost Ideas are coherent Ideas are vague
and unity of ideas and unity of ideas coherent
Correct spelling, Spelling, Spelling, Spelling, Spelling,
punctuation, and punctuation, and punctuation, and punctuation, and punctuation, and
grammar grammar are grammar are grammar are grammar are
mostly correct somewhat correct mostly wrong mostly wrong
Values Integration:
How will you be able to scrutinize someone’s opinion without putting him into shame or without him
appearing foolish in front of others?
_______________________ Sr. Lilia C. Costas, OND

Printed Name over Signature of Parent/Guardian Teacher

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CHAPTER 2: METHODS OF

Textbook: Atacador, R.B., Ramirez, C.L.R., Oroc, R.P., Kiamco, R.T.T.,

Opinion Method Evaluation

1. The Elenchus and the Scrutiny of the Doxa

2. The Methodic Doubt and the Foundation of Truth

3. The “Lived Experience” and the “Tangible” Truth

Truth may never be absolute, but it has to be tangible.

4. Methods in philosophy in relation to truth.

Elenchus Scientia Phenomenological Truth TRUTH

_________________ 1. A subjective point of view is all the time erroneous.

1. Fill in the blanks by supplying the missing concepts.

1. opinion 6. dokein 11. noumenon 16. Intentionality

5 (25pts) 4 (20 pts) 3(15 pts) 2 (10 pts) 1 (5pts)

_______________________ Sr. Lilia C. Costas, OND

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