truth and opinion

1. Introduction
to
Philosophy
Of the
Human Person
Teacher: Ms. Rizza Mae C. Pelomino

2. Learning Competency
Distinguish opinion from truth
Learning Competency Code
PPT11/12-lc-2.1

3. OBJECTIVES
 Discuss the philosophical bases of knowing the
truth.
 Differentiate opinion from truth.
 Act with self confidence in sharing own ideas and
conclusions
 Practice concern for others by respecting their
own opinions.

4. Philosophy was born out of
Man’s desire to know, to
interpret and to understand
the world.
It came to being a persistent
attempts to acquire real
knowledge and truth.

5. Methods
of
Philosophizing

6. Activity 1: Complete the phrase
I know that ……………………………….
I know why ……………………………….
I know how ……………………………….
KNOWLEDGE

7. It pertains to the
Ideas and beliefs
that we know to
be true.

8. There are also statements that are
not evidently or immediately know
to be true.
We say that man has a knowledge
of a thing?
Identify
Give examples
Point out
Relate or associates

9. Rene Descartes said that
doubt everything can be
doubted.
In Philosophy systematic doubt is
employed to help to determine the
truth

10. Basis of Determining the Truth
Lifted from the book of Roberto Abella
1. A belief is true if it can be justified or proven through the use of
one’s senses.
Lets investigate the nature of knowledge by simple giving
examples starting the very obvious thing that we know about our
self.

11. Basis of Determining the Truth
Lifted from the book of Roberto Abella
2. A belief or statement is true if it based on facts.
If your are claim for something then you have to use all the facts
that will guide you in searching for truth.
3. Getting a consensus or having people agree on a common belief.
This is another way of determining of what is true. But this
approach has certain limitations in getting everyone’s to agree
on something may not make the belief true. However you may
use other evidences to determine its truthfulness

12. Basis of Determining the Truth
Lifted from the book of Roberto Abella
4. A statement shall be proven through an action to determine its
truth.
Example: If you brag about your skills in baking cakes. You
should know how to do it and the quality of the product will
speak for itself.
5. Claims and beliefs should be subjected to test in order to
determine truth.
The claims should be subjected to prove to its validity.

13. Things to remember…
Truth lies the heart of any inquiries.
Discovering truth about oneself is a
first step in exploring knowledge and
truth.

14. Basis of Determining the Truth
1. A belief is true if it can be justified or proven through the use of
one’s senses.
2. A belief or statement is true if it based on facts.
3. Getting a consensus or having people agree on a common
belief.
4. A statement shall be proven through an action to determine its
truth.
5. Claims and beliefs should be subjected to test in order to
determine truth.
Systematic doubt and Senses
Facts
Action
Test
Other evidences agreed by group of people

16. The first concept about truth is
rooted in an ancient Greek
Philosophy’s concept of knowledge
as “justified, true belief” This
concept rest on three conditions:
(1) True things can be known,
(2)something is true because you
believe it to be true, and that (3)
there is justification for such belief.

17. Theories in Determining the Truth
1. Correspondence Theory states
that something is true if it
corresponds to reality or the
actual state of affairs. This theory
assumes a direct relationship
between an idea and reality to be
able to take a statement as
“facts”

18. Theories in Determining the Truth
1. Correspondence Theory
Analyze the following headlines
using the Correspondence Theory.
1. Manananggal terrorizes
Mantalongon, Dalaguete.
2. Man gives birth to twins.

19. Theories in Determining the Truth
2. Coherence Theory proposes that something is true if it makes
sense when placed in a certain situation or context. Based on this
theory, there is a possibility that there will be varied “truth” from
different perspective. An idea is true because it makes sense in its
own context, and that it has a certain degree of consistency which
renders it truthful. Coherence and consistency are also important in the
context of law and politics. Laws make sense if they conform to
previous laws and to a set of general principles like justice, democracy, and liberty.
Within a democratic society, only democratic laws and practices are accepted to be
true. Relativism is a philosophical concept which contends that there are no absolute
truths. An idea or principles is only true within a particular context, it differs with
every knowing individual and thus, it is possible for alternative truth to exist in various
context or situation

20. Theories in Determining the Truth
2. Coherence Theory
Analyze the following headlines using
the Coherence Theory.
Pope Francis Says Abortion is an
acceptable practice for Catholics.

21. Theories in Determining the Truth
3. Constructivist Theory holds that knowledge
is shaped by social forces and influenced by
culture and history. What is true, or what a
person considers true, is shaped by the
structures within the individuals society and
culture. The constructivist perspective also
believes that knowledge is gained as part of
social experience and requires interaction and
collaboration.

22. Theories in Determining the Truth
3. Constructivist Theory
Analyze the question using the
Constructivist Theory.
1. How important family here in the
Philippines?

23. Theories in Determining the Truth
4. Consensus Theory views knowledge as based
on agreement, and that something is true if
almost everyone agrees that it is true. Certain
beliefs, traditions, and practices are often that
product of consensus as they may be imposed
by influential groups or institutions such as
government or religious organizations. It is also
used to determine the truth of scientific claims,
where experts must agree on a certain
phenomenon before it can be established as
true.

24. Theories in Determining the Truth
4. Consensus Theory
List down ideas and statements you know that are
primarily based on consensus. Identify the
authority or group which arrived at this consensus.
Use the table below.
Idea, Statement Group or Authority

25. Theories in Determining the Truth
5. Pragmatic Theory holds the view that
something is true if we can put it into practice or is
useful in real life. It also believes that ideas should
be continually tested to confirm their validity. It
related to the concept of verificationism,
considers that ideas must be verified using the
senses or experience. The scientific method, where
experiments are designed to test hypothesis or
confirm conclusions, is an example of a pragmatic
approach in determining truth.

26. Theories in Determining the Truth
3. Pragmatic Theory
Analyze the question using the Coherence
Theory.
1. Why is testing and verification
important in determining the truth?

27. Theory Something is true if… We can determine truth by…
Correspondence
Theory
It corresponds to reality
Determine if the idea has a basis
in reality or is factual
Coherence
Theory
It makes sense when placed in a
certain context or situation
Looking for consistency when
placed in a certain context
Constructivist
Theory
It is shaped by society, culture,
and history
Looking at background influences
and events and determine how
these shaped ideas and truth
Consensus
Theory
Almost everyone believes it to be
true
Looking at the decisions and
views of recognized authorities
and influential institutions
Pragmatic Theory
We can put it into practice in real
life
Subjecting the idea to testing and
verification

28. 1. The sun is the center of the solar system.
2. Asia is the largest continent in the world.
3. God made the world in seven days.
4. Man has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
5. A person must always consider the interest of his family before
his own happiness
6. Citizen have the right to take up arms and
overthrow an oppressive government.
7. The President has done very little to uphold democracy and
look after the interest of the Filipino people

29. If you would be a real seeker after truth.
It is necessary that at least once in your
life you doubt as far as possible , all things
-Rene Descartes-

31. Who
Knows
Best?

32. Other things we consider in determining the truth
In determining the truth of any statement or claim, we must be
familiar with how ideas are presented. Ideas and claims are often
presented in the form of arguments, and these arguments are phrased
in such a way that they seem reasonable. Arguments is a series of
statement which provides reasons that convince a reader or listener
that an opinion is truthful. A number of arguments, however, may be
based on faulty argumentation, and these are called fallacies.
Fallacies or errors in reasoning may be intentional, as the person
making the claim is desperate to convince you to accept his or her
argument. The following are examples of fallacies.

33. Other things we consider in determining the truth
Argument made an assumption that a certain claim is yet to
determine.
Argument is not the same with fighting because fighting expresses
anger and hurt without being sensitive of your choice of words. So, if
you don’t know how to argue with reason and logic then that is what
do we call fighting. However, argument is coming thru an agreement.
If you don’t know how to do it right then it can’t resolve any conflict.
Logic is a branch of philosophy that focuses on arguments.

34. Fallacy Characteristic Example
1. Ad hominem
(against the person)
attacking the person focus our
attention on people rather than
on arguments or evidence
“Why would I believe? You’re not
even the smartest person in our
section?”
2. Ad baculum
(Appeal to force)
using the threat of force or an
undesirable event to advance an
argument
“My father is known to be the
richest man in this town, I’m sure
you know what he is capable of.
Don’t you dare mess up with me!”
3. Ad Misericordiam
(Appeal to emotion)
Strong appeal to sympathy and
pity
“Sir please, accept my late
submission of modules. I spend the
last five days, with our hours of
sleep each day, working extra time
on it.”

35. Fallacy Characteristic Example
4. Ad populum
(Appeal to the
people/popular)
the idea is presented
must true because many
people believe it
“Majority of boys at your age
already has a girlfriend, you
should go and find”
5. Appeal to tradition
the idea is acceptable
because it has been true
for a long time
"Marriage should be between a
man and a woman. It has been
so for a long time in this
country, it should remain so
today and in the future"
6. Begging the question
assuming the thing or
idea to be proven is true;
also known as "circular
argument
"I have a right to free speech,
therefore, you cannot stop me
from talking”

36. Fallacy Characteristic Example
7. Post Hoc, Ergo Propter
Hoc (Cause - and – effect)
assuming a "cause-and-
effect" relationship
between unrelated events
"Ever since you bought that
sweater, everything has
been going wrong in your
life. You should get rid of it.”
8. Fallacy of composition
assuming that what is
true for a part is true for
the whole
“because all of the
components of this car are
light and easy to carry, then
the car itself must also be
light and easy to carry.”
9. Fallacy of division
assuming that what is
true for the whole is true
for its parts
"You come from a family of
doctors and intellectual!
Surely you can do better in
this course”

37. Fallacy Characteristic Example
10. Slippery slope
Assuming a very small
action will lead to
extreme outcomes
“If we allow our 16 year old
to have a boyfriend, then
what’s next? A baby?”.
11. Ad Verecundiam
(appeal to authority)
Insisting that the claim is
true simple because a
valid authority or expert
on the issue said it was
true, without any other
supporting evidence
offered
“UFOs do not exist because
the astronomer Carl Sagan
said it”.

38. One should also know the difference between fact and
opinion. Facts are generally established truths that are
verifiable and do not easily change from one situation to
another. Opinions, on the other hand, are more subjective
and may express certain views a beliefs. When looking at
opinions, be aware of bias or the personal views of the
personal views of the person presenting it. Biases are not
necessarily errors in reasoning, but refer to a prejudice in
favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with
another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. The most
common biases are numerated below

40. Bias Characteristic Example
Correspondence
bias or attribution
effect
tendency to judge a person's
personality by his or her actions,
without regard for external factors
or influences
"These soldiers who fought in the
war are all bloodthirsty murderers”
Confirmation bias
tendency to look for and readily
accept information to fit with
one's own beliefs or views and to
reject ideas or views that go
against it
"How can I accept his view that
there is no God? I am a Christians?
Framing
focusing on a certain aspect of a
problem while ignoring other
aspects
"Preliminary evidences have still
not pointed out the actual cause of
the plane crash, but investigation
are currently focusing on the
possibility of pilot error.

41. Bias Characteristic Example
Hindsight
the tendency to see past events as
predicable, or to ascribe a pattern to
historical events
"Magellan's assault on Mactan Island was
foolhardy venture, made by an
overconfident, careless man who
underestimated the valor of the native
Filipinos
Conflict of
interest
a person or group is connected to or
has a vested interest in the issue
being discussed
"As the President of the company and the
daughter of the accused, I believed I have
the right to express my opinion on the
issue of his alleged corrupt practice;.
Cultural bias
analyzing an event or issue based on
one's culture standards
"I do not agree with his western practice
of placing aged parents in retirement
homes. We Filipinos take care of our
family members

42. ASSIGNMENT

43. ASSIGNMENT

44. ASSIGNMENT

45. ACTIVITY
Test 1: Direction: Fill each blank with correct answer. Write your answer on the blank
provided.
_________ 1. It is shaped by society, culture, and history.
_________ 2. It uses threat of force or an undesirable event to advance an argument
_________ 3. The idea is presented must true because many people believe it
_________ 4. It makes sense when placed in a certain context or situation.
_________ 5. Assuming that what is true for the whole is true for its parts
_________ 6. We can put it into practice in real life.
_________ 7. Strong appeal to sympathy and pity
_________ 8. Attacking the person focus our attention on people rather than on arguments
or evidence
_________ 9. It corresponds to reality.
_________ 10. The idea is acceptable because it has been true for a long time

46. ACTIVITY
Test 2
DIRECTION: Write “TRUE” IF THE STATEMENT EXPRESSES OPINION AND “OPINION” IF IT
EXPRESSES A TRUTH.
_________ 11. The use of illegal drugs is prohibited.
_________ 12. Drug addicts deserve to get a shoot to kill order.
_________ 13. President Duterte is the best Filipino President ever.
_________ 14. The National Telecommunication Commission stops ABS-CBN’s operation due
to an expired franchise.
_________ 15. Cigarette smoking can cause lung cancer.
_________ 16. Mars is the fourth planet from the sun.
_________ 17. Filipinos celebrate Christmas day every 25th of December.
_________ 18. Labradors are the best king of dogs to have as a pet.
_________ 19. Orange taste better than mango.
_________ 20. Covid-19 virus is experienced worldwide.