CAL

• William Gladstone: 'Man himself is the crowning wonder of creation, and the study of his nature is the noblest study the world affords.'
• The best way to start the study of man is to first realize the necessity and importance of understanding our nature, the purpose of our existence, and the advantages of self-knowledge.
• If the man had only walked into the shadow of a tree, his own shadow would have disappeared. He could have sat down and did not have to take another step.
• Apparently, most of us are afraid to face the reality about ourselves, our very own nature, and to accept who we really are.
• Lack of self-knowledge and self-acceptance usually leads us to disastrous living. Our plans and ambitions may not actually fit our real identity, character and ability. Many have experienced failure by forcing themselves to a calling or profession or lifestyle that have proved to be irrelevant to their personalities and capabilities.
• Socrates: 'An unexamined life is not worth living.'
• Running away from our true selves and failing to live up to the real essence and nature of our beings may lead to dissatisfaction, failure and may even result in an unproductive life.
• Before taking further steps, look at yourself; face your identity, and examine your ability to make your every action and ambition a reality.
• Man is not only a contributory creature, but a total creature; he does not only make one, but he is all; he is not only a piece of the world, but a world itself; and next to the glory of God, the reason why there is a world.
• Philosophy


  The science of beings in their ultimate reasons, causes and principles as known by the aid of human reason alone
• Philosophy is based on certain knowledge of things derived from systematic study and demonstrations, where this evidence is reduced to a comprehensive rational system.
• Philosophy, as a broader study, encompasses the whole of the universe as its object. Philosophy even goes deeper as it studies beings by their ultimate reasons, causes and principles.
• Philosophy attains knowledge by the use of natural reason alone. This means that Philosophy does not base its knowledge on authority but solely on the reasoning powers of the human mind. Neither does it depend on the principles or articles of faith.
• Branches of Philosophy


  • Cosmology or Philosophy of Nature
  • Epistemology
  • Ethics or Moral Philosophy
  • Logic
  • Ontology or Metaphysics
  • Rational Psychology
  • Theodicy or Natural Theology
• Philosophy of Man as a subject actually does not appear as one of the major branches of Philosophy. It must be noted, however, that man is at the center of all the beings in this world.
• The philosophical study of man may encompass the nature of man as a compound of body and soul, as a thinking being, and as a being of morality.
• Philosophy of Man may be said to be a combination of Psychology, Logic and Ethics.
• In this subject, man will be discussed based on philosophy. The study is based on the philosophical investigation and inquiry of the nature, causes and laws underlying man's reality as eventually demonstrated by factual studies.
• Man will be dealt with through the scientific study of his physical and social aspects.
• Cosmology


  The study of material beings or the non-living universe
• Epistemology


  The study of certainty and validity of human knowledge
• Ethics or Moral Philosophy


  Deals with human acts and their morality
• Logic


  The science of correct thinking
• Ontology or Metaphysics

  The study of beings and the different reasons and principles of the reality of things
• Rational Psychology

  The study of living beings and the principles of life, the nature of vital operations and of their powers and classifications
• Theodicy or Natural Theology


  The philosophical study of God, of contingent and of emergent reality
• Ancient thought was characterized by its emphasis on the notion of cosmos or the order of the universe. Cosmology had a priority over theology and anthropology.
• According to the teachings of Pythagoras, Plato and the neo-Platonists, the human realm was inferior to the transcendent in dignity; its truth was degraded and obscured by bodily existence.
• During the middle of the 5th century B.C., the sophist Protagoras articulated, "man is the measure of all things." Socrates himself adopted and incorporated into his teaching the saying, "know thyself."
• Man has been regarded as an important theme of philosophical inquiry and investigation throughout the ages
• Philosophy, basically as a continuous search for meaning, has man as its most significant obsession
• The uniqueness of the human form is recognized but the significant interest of philosophers in man's nature varied from one era to another
• This chapter aims to outline the evolution of thought regarding man, focusing on Western thought which has laid greater stress on the existence of the individual human being than have the great speculative systems of the East
• Ancient thought


  • Emphasis on the notion of cosmos or the order of the universe
  • Cosmology had a priority over theology and anthropology
• Pythagoras, Plato and the neo-Platonists

  The human realm was inferior to the transcendent in dignity; its truth was degraded and obscured by bodily existence
• Man has been regarded as an important theme of philosophical inquiry and investigation throughout the ages
• Philosophy, basically as a continuous search for meaning, has man as its most significant obsession
• The uniqueness of the human form is recognized but the significant interest of philosophers in man's nature varied from one era to another
• This chapter aims to outline the evolution of thought regarding man, focusing on Western thought which has laid greater stress on the existence of the individual human being than have the great speculative systems of the East
• Ancient thought


  • Characterized by its emphasis on the notion of cosmos or the order of the universe
  • Cosmology had a priority over theology and anthropology