Name:

Grade/Section:
Date: _______________ Total Score:
Business Philosophies

Learning Competency:
Illustrate how these philosophies are reflected into business practices
(Quarter 3 Week 4)

Content/Concept:

Classical Philosophies
Socrates was a Greek philosopher who
searches for the foundations of his learners' and
associates' views by asking questions continuously
until a conflict or a contradiction is exposed, thus
proving the fallacy of the initial assumption. This
became known as the Socratic Method, and may be
Socrates' most enduring contribution to philosophy.
The infamous “Socratic Method” refers to asking
questions to find out how to act by learning the
essence of a thing—what makes it be, for example, Figure 1. Socrates in front of the National

an act of holiness or justice. Academy of Athens.

(Credit: Getty Images
)

Socrates’ implications on a business philosophy

The Socratic Method is a way of thinking that allows individuals to define
their own purpose for learning and explore this purpose through open-minded

GradeSheets
12
questioning of what they hold to be true. Entrepreneurs can find value in Socratic

Activity
Method because they, too, are bombarded by assumptions based on what others

Quarter 3 Week 4
and they themselves believe to be the best plan of action for pursuing a business
idea. Entrepreneurial Learning or the acquisition of knowledge necessary for
creating a business venture is built around the constant questioning and testing of
these assumptions theories about what we hold to be true for validity. These
assumptions can range from beliefs about what the market wants, where
opportunities lie, to the effectiveness of a new product feature.

Socrates insisted on our right to think for ourselves. Too often, he warned,
humans sleepwalk through life, simply going along with the crowd. This is
dangerous in questions of morality, and particularly in corporate governance.
 When corruption is uncovered, too often people say,
“everyone else was doing it.” But our characters are
our responsibility.

Figure 2. Entrepreneurial Learning(Credit:http://www.kellenkautzman.com/ideas-

better-customer-

Socrates was prepared to die rather than go against

his conscience. Does your organization encourage
independent thinkers and people who follow their
conscience? Does it allow people to give critical feedback to managers? Does it
create opportunities for good people to blow the
whistle on bad behavior?
Plato was a student of Socrates before
forming the Academy, his own school. Early
Platonic dialogues reflect the early teachings of
Socrates; later dialogues show more of Plato’s
original thought. Plato argued that our senses
provide only illusion and that reason can provide

true knowledge. Figure 3. Plato (Credits:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08vwn6h)

Plato reconciled the assertions of Parmenides (two views of reality: Truth vs.
Opinion) and Heraclitus (doctrine of change: “you cannot step twice into the same
river”) in his theory of forms. The temporal and changing world of becoming we
perceive with our senses derives its meaning from a world of being and from forms
that are timeless, immutable, and can’t be extended. Plato discusses psuche,
usually translated as “soul” or “mind” in numerous works that extend over years of
his life. He speaks of a tripartite mind including the appetitive soul, the affective
soul, and the rational soul.

Plato’s implications on a business philosophy

The Theory of Forms

The Theory of Forms represents Plato’s
attempt to cultivate our capacity for abstract
thought. Philosophy was relatively new in
Plato’s day, and it completed with mythology,
tragedy, and epic poetry as the primary
means by which people could make sense of
their place in the world. Like philosophy, art
and mythology do so by appealing to our
emotions and desires. Philosophy appeals to
the intellect. The Theory of Forms
differentiates the abstract world of thought from the world of the senses,
where art and mythology operate. Figure 4. The Theory of Forms (Credits:
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Platos-process-of-form-alteration-as-applied-to-the-process-of-change-of-a-
heritage_fig3_281110163)

Plato also argued that abstract thought is superior to the world of the senses. By
investigating the world of Forms, Plato hopes to attain a greater knowledge.

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 Aristotle was a student of Plato who, after leaving the Academy at Plato’s
death, founded his own school, the Lyceum. He recognized the importance of
pleasure and pain in human motivation, Aristotle advocated a “golden mean”
between the extremes of human activity. He recognized four factors that affected
human ability to achieve the good life: individual differences, habit, social supports,
and freedom of choice. Psychological thought after Aristotle moved from a pursuit
of knowledge to a pursuit of gratification and the determination of what constitutes
a good life.

Aristotle’s implications on a business philosophy

Virtue and Happiness

The word happiness in the Ethics is a translation
of the Greek term eudaimonia, which carries
connotations of success and fulfilment. For Aristotle, this
happiness is our highest goal. However, Aristotle does
not say that we should aim at happiness, but rather that
we do aim at happiness. His goal in Ethics is not to tell
Figure 5. Aristotle
Credit
s:http://www.liveyourmagic
. us that we ought to live happy, successful lives, but to
com/2014/02/aristotl
e-thepurpose-of-life/
-
tell us what this life consists of.

Moral Education
A question of high importance in any investigation of ethics is how we can teach
people to be good. Aristotle is quite clear that he does not think virtue can be
thought in a classroom or by means of argument. His ethics, then, is not designed
to make people good, but rather to explain what is good, why it is good, and how we
might set about building societies and institutions that might inculcate this
goodness.

“The rational person doesn’t seek money for its own sake. The rational person uses
money so that they can spend their time on good moral works and developing their
mind.” Aristotle concludes that the role of the leader is to create the environment in
which all members of an organization can realize their own potential. He says that
the ethical role of the leader is not to enhance his or her own power but to create
the conditions under which followers can achieve their potential.

He did raise a set of ethical questions that are directly relevant to corporate
leaders who wish to behave in ethical ways.

1. Am I behaving in a virtuous way?

2. How would I want to be treated if I were a member of this organization?

3. What form of social contract would allow all our members to develop their full
potential in order that they may each make their greatest contribution to the good
of the whole?

4. To what extent are there real opportunities for all employees to develop their
talents and their potential?

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5. To what extent do all employees participate in decisions that affect their work?

6. To what extent do all employees participate in the financial gain resulting from
their own ideas and efforts?

Confucius is a Chinese teacher, editor, politician,

and philosopher of the spring and autumn period of
Chinese history. The philosophy of Confucius
emphasized personal and governmental
morality, correctness of social relationships,
justice and sincerity. Confucius' principles had a basis in
common Chinese tradition and belief. He championed
strong family loyalty, ancestor worship, respect of elders
by their children and of husbands by their wives. He also
recommended family as a basis for ideal government. Figure 6. Confucius

He espoused the well-known principle "Do not do to others(Credits:https://www.biography.comsc

what you do not
want done to yourself", the Golden Rule.

Confucius’ implications on a business philosophy

Crisis in the Chinese language (pictured) literally translates to a combination
of Danger and Opportunity. Every ‘crisis’ poses a potential opportunity to the
Chinese, only if that ‘danger’ is managed properly. This mentality has made
Chinese thinking positive and flexible, providing an appetite for change and
opportunity. The Chinese similarly believe that when everything is going well, one
must plan for the worst-case scenario. This is not to say that you should be
prepared to fail, far from it. What the Chinese believe is that when you find
success, you have much more to lose, and that in order to prevent future failure,
one must effectively evaluate worst case scenario planning to ensure a business is
adequately prepared for any “crisis”.

The importance of “Guanxi”

“Guanxi” literally means “relationships”, and interpersonal relationships in Chinese
business are extremely valuable, as Guanxi has been stated to be their ‘second currency’.

The Chinese business mentality is very much one of “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch
yours.” In essence, this translates to exchanging favours, which are expected to be done
regularly and voluntarily. What underpins this ideology is the concept of respect within a
business context. Respect between all with whom you conduct business should be
something we imitate from the Chinese business culture, as Confucius said; “without
feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?”

Assessment:
Directions: Write the correct word/s from the choices inside the box to complete
the sentence in each of the given items.

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SOCRATES SOCRATIC PHILOS AND
METHOD SOPHOS

ARISTOTLE BUSINESS THE GOLDEN RULE

ETHICS

GUANXI CONFUCIUS PLATO

ETHICS THEORY OF BUSINESS

FORMS PHILOSOPHIES

1. The ___________________ is a way of perceiving things that allows individuals

to express their own purpose for learning and discover this purpose through
open-minded questioning of what they hold to be correct.
2. The ________________________ distinguishes the non concrete world of
thought from the domain of the intellects, where art and mythology function.
3. “We’ll look into each other’s back” is a perfect example of ______________.
4. Moral Education and Virtue and Happiness are some of the teachings of
__________________.
5. Philosophy which is a literal translation of _________________, shows the
nature of everyone to think for the greater good.
6. ____________________ is an important embodiment that is being used as a
director for the business to keep moving forward towards their vital aim.

Compare and Contrast

The different philosophies that affect the business gives different approaches and
perspectives, can you give the similarities and the differences of each philosophy?

1. Using the chart below, list down the similarities and differences that you can
think of the different business philosophies presented on this module.
2. Explain your answers briefly.
3. Copy the table and answer it in a separate sheet of paper.

Philosophies Similarities Differences

The Golden Rule

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The Theory of Forms

Virtue and Happiness

The Socratic Method

Table 1. Compare and Contrast Table

RUBRICS
Criteria (5 pts) (4 pts) (3 pts)
Complete and Partially complete and Incomplete but
reliable response was evident reliable response was
Content
response was evident
evident

Shows complete Shows partial Shows understanding

Demonstrated understanding understanding of the but answers are
Knowledge on the given activity with complete incomplete
activity answers

Explanation Explanation Explanation was Explanation was not

was deep, somehow deep, with deep, limited insights,
reveals feelings insights through use of uses some detail
and thoughts, specific details
abstract ideas
reflected
through use of
specific details

Crossword Puzzle
Directions: Find the terms that are related to the topic of business philosophies
that are hidden on the box of letters. There are 10 terms that are hidden on the
box, encircle the group of letters of each of the terms that you will find. Draw and
answer the box of letters on a separate piece of paper.

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Schools Division of Digos City only. Copies are not for sale.

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References:
Printed Materials:

Business Ethics and Social Responsibility First Edition by Aliza Raceli, Published by Rex Printing
Company, Inc., (pp49-76), 84-86, P. Florentino St., Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City,
Philippines

Websites:

The Socratic Method, The University of Chicago Law School, Retrieved July 23, 2020 from
https://www.law.uchicago.edu/socratic-method

What is Ethics?, Markulla Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, Retrieved July 23, 2020
from https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/what-is-ethics/

What is Philosophy?, Department of Philosophy, Florida State University, Retrieved July 23, 2020 from
https://philosophy.fsu.edu/ undergraduate-study/why-philosophy/What-is-Philosophy

Things Confucius could teach us about business, Leader in Heels (news article), Retrieved July 23, 2020
from https://leadersinheels.com/ business/5-things-confucius-could-teach-us-about-business/

Business Ethics and Responsibility Unit, Academia.edu’s Website, Retrieved July 23, 2020 from
https:// www.academia.edu/ 39774140/
Business_Ethics_and_social_responsibility_unit?email_work_card=view-paper

Let’s learn from Socrates, Deccan Herald, Retrieved July 25, 2020 from

Learning Materials are for nonprofit educational purposes which are exclusively used for the
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 https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/main-article/coronavirus-outbreak-let-s-learn-
fromsocrates-826825.html

Ideas for Better Customer Relationship Management, from Kellen Kautzman’s website, Retrieved July
25, 2020, http://www.kellenkautzman.com/ideas-better-customer-relationship-management/

The Theory of Forms, uploaded by Galen Newman, ResearchGate, Retrieved July 25, 2020,
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Platos-process-of-form-alteration-as-applied-to-
theprocess-of-change-of-a-heritage_fig3_281110163

Aristotle: The Purpose of Life, Live your Magic, Retrieved July 25, 2020,
http://www.liveyourmagic.com/2014/02/aristotle-the-purpose-of-life/

Confucius’ Biography, Biography™, Retrieved July 25, 2020,

https://www.biography.com/scholar/confucius

Robin Charles O. Ramos Insert Name Here Insert Name Here

Writer Illustrator Layout Artist

SHS in Digos City Insert School Here Insert School Here

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Schools Division of Digos City only. Copies are not for sale.

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 Answer Key

For teachers use only (Separate sheets)

Answer Key
Answers
varied

Robin Charles O. Ramos Insert Name Here Insert Name Here

Writer Illustrator Layout Artist

SHS in Digos City Insert School Here Insert School Here

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Schools Division of Digos City only. Copies are not for sale.

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 Para sa mga katanungan o puna, sumulat o tumawag sa:

Department of Education - Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd-BLR)

Ground Floor, Bonifacio Bldg., DepEd Complex

Meralco Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines 1600

Telefax: (632) 8634-1072; 8634-1054; 8631-4985

Email Address: blr.lrqad@deped.gov.ph *

blr.lrpd@deped.gov.ph

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