Intro to the philosophy of the human person _ ch 2-2 dialectic method of philosophizing

Dialectic Method of Philosophizing
Chapter 2 (Methods of Philosophizing)
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Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
• define and explain the dialectic method of
philosophizing,
• compare the dialectic and Socratic methods of
philosophizing;
• distinguish an opinion from truth by analyzing the given
situations, and
• justify the validity of the statement "The dialectic
method leads to wisdom and truth.”
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Introduction
While waiting for your teacher, you overhear your two
classmates debating on which part of the day is better for
studying for an exam. One of them said that she prefers to
study at night because it is quiet, while the other stated
that he likes to study in the morning because it is when he
feels most active. After an exchange of factual knowledge
about their study habits, your classmates both agreed that
studying during the morning is better than studying at
night.
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Introduction
• How did your two classmates come up with that
conclusion?
• What do you call the process that led them to do so?
Find out the answers in this lesson!
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Review!
Methods of Philosophizing
A method of philosophizing is a process of determining the
truth or drawing conclusions from a statement using
various philosophical methods, such as:
– Socratic,
– dialectic,
– scientific, and
– historical.
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Learn about it!
Dialectic Method
In the previous example, your two classmates were able
to conclude that it is better to study in the morning
after having analyzed the facts that they presented to
each other. To come up with that, they used a process
called dialectics or the dialectic method.
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• The term 'dialectic' comes from the Greek
word dialektike which means 'the art of
conversation.'
• It is the act of talking back and forth, disagreeing with
one another, and arguing about contentious issues.
• In philosophy, it is a method of coming up with a
conclusion from an exchange of contradicting logical
arguments.
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• The aim of dialectics, as a process of the dialogue, is the
clarification of controversial notions and arguments with
other people. In this process, personal and shared
conceptions should be considered and corrected.
• Many philosophers, such as Hegel, Aristotle, and
Socrates, had their own beliefs and explanations about
this approach; however, the basic concept remains to be
the same.
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Examples:
• discussing the pros and cons of a variety of human
resource strategies as forms of managing employees
in the workplace, then choosing the best option
• evaluating two physical activities regarding their
ability to increase work performance
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Dialectic or Socratic
• Both the Socratic method and the dialectic method
are based on a dialogue between two or more people
who may hold differing views but wish to pursue the
truth by seeking agreement with one another. To
avoid confusions between the two methods, study
the chart of comparison below.
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Now, how do you compare and contrast the dialectic
method and Socratic method as methods of
philosophizing?
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Opinion and Truth
• The dialectic method may involve both opinions and
facts as long as they are logical and lead to the truth.
It is therefore important to distinguish opinion from
truth.
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• An opinion is a personal view formed about a
particular matter, such as your perception of using e-
books rather than actual books.
• Truth is something that has real and proven existence
regardless of one’s opinion, such as the fact that the
heart is a muscle.
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• Read the following statements, then distinguish the
opinion from the truth.
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• Statement A is an opinion since there is no proof or
evidence that the president is indeed the most
intelligent person in the country.
• Statement B is a truth because the president is the
head of the state and the chief officer of the country.
Thus, he is the most powerful leader of the country.

The Dialectic Method Leads to Wisdom and Truth
• The dialectic method can easily be seen in the day-to-
day interactions of people. It is much like a debate
that poses two clashing but valid arguments to
determine an endpoint that is correct and true. In
this sense, the truth of both arguments is always
expected to rise from each conversation.
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Explore!
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• In recent years, technology has played a significant role
in education. Electronic resources such as e-books have
begun to replace actual books as primary learning
resources. Some academicians are arguing against the
reliability of this tool as an appropriate medium of
instruction, while some are promoting it for practicality
issues. Both sides have valid points, but if you were to
observe your fellow students, what type of resources
would they prefer? What other points did you realize
that made you choose that decision?

Try it!
Engage your friend in a non-aggressive discussion about any
topic that you disagree on. Before the start of your
conversation, explain to your friend the activity’s purpose
and premises. Make sure that throughout the discussion,
both of you share logical points about your chosen topic. As
you go through the discussion, you may try to categorize all
your statements as opinion or truth. In coming up with your
conclusion, see to it that all points are taken into
consideration. You may do this activity for some time with
different people.
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What do you think?
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• Can the dialectic method be used to arrive at a
conclusion for three or more conflicting points? Why?
Why not?

Tip
• The dialectic method deals largely with logical ideas.
Opinionated points are allowed as long as they are
logical and they help in coming up with the truth;
however, the endpoint should always be the truth.
• Dialectics, as a philosophical method, should not be
mistaken for dialectical materialism. Although both
concepts fall under philosophy, dialectical
materialism is a Marxian topic that caters to a more
liberal readership.
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Keypoints
• Dialectics is a method of coming up with a true
conclusion based on contradicting logical ideas.
• The dialectic method may involve both opinions and
facts as long as they are logical and lead to the truth.
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Keypoints
• An opinion is an expression of a person’s feelings
based on facts, emotions, and beliefs, while
the truth is something that has actual and proven
existence scientifically and historically regardless of
one’s opinion and beliefs.
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Keypoints
• Hegel, Aristotle, and Socrates were so convinced in
the validity of the dialectic method that they
postulated their own versions and explanations of
the whole process.
• The dialectic method of philosophizing leads
to wisdom and truth.
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Question 1
What does the Greek word dialektike means?
• Select your answer.
a) "the art of construction“
b) "the art of debating“
c) "the art of philosophizing“
d) "the art of conversation"
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Question 2
Who among the following philosophers did not create
his own version of the dialectic method?
a) Kant
b) Aristotle
c) Hegel
d) Socrates
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Question 3
Which of the following elements is expected to come
out and must prevail in every dialectic process?
a) Compassion
b) Truth
c) Opinion
d) acceptance
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Question 4
Which of the following scenarios demonstrates the dialectic
method?
a) looking at the bulletin board to read about the
suspension of classes
b) haggling with a vendor for a certain product and
eventually agreeing on a price
c) giving a speech at your friend’s birthday party
d) replying to the text message of your mother
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Question 5
What is the difference between truth and opinion?
a) Truth can be objective or subjective, but opinion
is always objective.
b) Truth is subjective, while opinion is objective.
c) Truth is objective, while opinion is subjective.
d) Truth is always subjective, but opinion can be
objective or subjective.
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Question 6
Your classmate argues that your school fee will have a 40% increase in the
next quarter. You disagree. How will you respond to her if you want to
facilitate a dialectic conversation?
a) "The administration would have already given us a detailed memo
by now if that is true.“
b) "My parents will be shocked to hear that.“
c) "The tuition is already too expensive. I cannot afford that.“
d) "Many students will want to avail the scholarship for the next
quarter."
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Question 7
Which of the following situations expresses an opinion?
a) In a patriarchal society, men are the head of the family.
b) Niel tells a blind boy that red is "like eating a red chili
pepper.“
c) Sally believes that all things visible to the eyes are
material things.
d) At a young age, Liza already knows that dragons and
unicorns are mythical creatures.
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Question 8
Which of the following statements is true?
1. Opinions can be used in making a dialectic argument.
2. The dialectic process should involve at least two people.
a) statement 2
b) Both statements 1 and 2 are true.
c) Both statements 1 and 2 are false.
d) statement 1
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Question 9
Which statement supports the basic premise of the
dialectic method?
1. Conclusions are made from conflicting ideas.
2. The truth is determined solely by objective reason.
a) statement 1
b) both statements 1 and 2
c) neither statement 1 nor 2
d) statement 2
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Question 10
How will you justify the dialectic method as an appropriate tool for
resolving three different conflicting ideas?
1. As long as objective and subjective forms of communication can be
made about these conflicting ideas, then the number of conflicting
points does not matter.
2. As long as a conclusion can be made from these conflicting
thoughts, then the number of conflicting points does not matter.
a) statement 1 c. neither statement 1 nor 2
b) both statements 1 and 2 d. statement 2
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