Intro to Philosophy

1. LESSON 2:
METHODS OF
PHILOSOPHIZING

2. A. PHENOMENOLOGY
- focuses on careful inspection and description of phenomena
or appearances of objects perceived by a conscious being.
- here, we give importance to truth according to our
consciousness about the matter.
Example:
Truth of Israelis vs Truth of Palestinians on War of Israel and
Hamas

3. B. EXISTENTIALISM
◦ Questions the purpose of man’s existence in the world-----
AUTHENTICITY
◦ Authenticity is the authentic self, personally chosen self, opposed to
public identity.
FREEDOM
- rational choice
- existentialists emphasizes the importance of free individual choice,
regardless of the power of other people to influence.
- the human will’s ability to make choices/ freedom to chose gives
meaning to human choice.

4. SARTRE ON FREEDOM
◦One is never free of one’s “situation”, but one is always free
to “negate” that situation and to try to change it.
◦A person might not be able to change his circumstances but
he can change his attitude toward that situation.
Example: One maybe shy/ assertive, but such behavior is
always a choice and one can always resolve to change.
◦Situation may become challenges to overcome or excuses for
doing nothing.

5. C. POSTMODERNISM: ON CULTURES
◦In attaining truth, humanity should realize the limits
of reason and objectivism.
◦There is no one truth that is true for all people at all
times. There is no objective truth.
◦Values the relativity of one’s culture.