lesson 2

• SOCRATIC METHOD 

  Elenchus means to “inquire or to cross-examine"
•  This method which is also known by the Greek term elenchus is an exchange of ideas using Socratic questioning. Socratic questioning is a type of interrogative statement that clarifies points through understanding the deeper meaning of a claim.
• It was developed by Socrates, a Greek philosopher and teacher, who laid the groundwork for Western systems of philosophy and logic.
• DIALECTIC METHOD 

  The term dialectic comes from the Greek word dialektike which means the “art of conversation”. 
•  Basically, 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.
•  The aim of dialectics is to clarify controversial notions and arguments with other people. In this process, personal and shared conceptions should be considered and corrected
• SCIENTIFIC METHOD 

   - The process begins with an idea about any given topic. Hypothesis testing is done to prove the validity of this idea. In Philosophical view, the means of hypothesis testing and its results are considered the most important feature of the method. It also values observation as an important aspect because it contributes to further understand the results of the hypothesis testing
• The scientific method also called the EMPIRICAL METHOD , could trace its history from the Classical period with Aristotle giving the earliest structured theory on the scientific approach.
• HISTORICAL METHOD 

  The term history is from the Greek word iotopia which means “to investigate” or to “find out”.
• The historical method is the process of gathering evidences, examining them and formulating ideas about the past to come up with present truths. It is much like researching for an answer to a particular question and reviewing what has been done in the past as the primary method of looking at a solution to a present problem.

   
• FACT

    - is something (event or information) that has actually taken place or known to have existed or it is a statement that can be validated with pieces of evidence. It is often used in conjunction with research, statistics, documentation, etc.
• OPINION 

  • is defined as the personal view or judgment about a subject that may or may not be substantiated by facts. It is highly influenced by a person’s feelings, thoughts, perspective, desires, attitude, experiences, understanding, beliefs, values, etc., which cannot be tested by concrete evidence.
• To further understand the concept of fact and opinion, remember that fact is universal and does not differ from person to person. As against this, every human being has a different opinion on a particular subject and so, it varies from one person to another. Facts can also change anybody’s opinion but opinion cannot change facts.
• HUMAN PERSON - refers to the individual and all the attributes and characteristics that set him/her apart from other human being.  

  So what is the human person made of?

  Let us consider 3 general points of view.
• PLATO’S  concept of DUALISM 

  What is the human person made of? 

  The body’s existence is dependent on the soul while the soul’s existence is independent of the body.
• Human person


  Metaphysical dichotomy between the body and soul
• Body

  • Material
  • Mutable
  • Destructible
• Soul

  • Immaterial
  • Immutable
  • Indestructible
• Plato believes that the body and soul are separable
• Plato: '"The gods made the soul prior to the body and more venerable in birth and excellence to the body's mistress and governor."'
• For Plato, the human person is just a soul using the body
• ARISTOTLE BELIEVES THAT THE IS THE FORM TO THE BODY WHILE THE  IS THE MATTER TO THE SOUL. 

  For Aristotle, there are 3 kinds or 3 levels of soul:

  1. VEGETATIVE: soul of plants

  2. SENSITIVE: soul of animals

  3. RATIONAL:: soul of humans
• For him, everything that exists is composed of matter and form and these two are inseparable. We cannot talk of any object if either of these entities is not present so therefore, body and soul constitute the human person as a whole.
• VEGETATIVE: SOUL OF PLANTS have souls because they possess the three basic requirements for something to become a “living being” that is, the capacity to grow, reproduce and feed itself. However, they only possess nutritive faculty and do not share the higher levels of soul.
• SENSITIVE: SOUL OF ANIMALS  have the capacity to grow, reproduce, feed themselves and are capable of sensation. They have the sense of touch that can either give them pleasure or pain hence, they possess both nutritive faculty and sensitive faculty.
• RATIONAL: SOUL OF THE HUMAN person as rational souls have the capacity to grow, reproduce, feed themselves and feel but unlike sensitive souls, they are capable of thinking thus they possess nutritive faculty, sensitive faculty and mental faculty. 
• According to Aristotle, the highest level of soul is present only in humans. He concluded though that the human person is just an animal that thinks thus his famous dictum,

  “MAN IS A RATIONAL ANIMAL.”
• Christian Point of View:

  THE HUMAN PERSON IS A TRIUNE BEING

  According to the Bible, mankind is distinct from all the rest of creation, including the animals, in that he is made in the image of God. As God is a Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), so man is three parts – body, soul and spirit. 
• 1. BODY

  The outer being which touches the material world though the five senses of sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch.
• 2. SOUL

  The inner being which bears the imagination, conscience, memory, reason and the emotion.
• 3. SPIRIT 

  The innermost being that receives impressions of outward and material things through the soul. The spiritual faculties of the spirit are faith, hope, faith, reverence, prayer and worship. 
• BODY

  Our body through its five senses contacts the visible, touchable, tangible things of the material world. It is the most outward and visible part of our being, and by it, we experience the things in the physical realm. 
• SOUL

  Our soul, which is unseen, is just as real as our body. By our soul, we experience things in the psychological realm since it is composed of our mind which enables us to do things like think, reason, remember and wonder. Further, it enable us have feelings like happiness, anger, loneliness, compassion.
• Furthermore, the human soul constitutes our will which enables us to make decisions. In a word, our mind, emotion and will make up our soul.

  But man as Christians believe, is more than just a body with a soul within. The human person has a spirit which enabled him to contact the spiritual realm. No other creature was created having this third part. By our spirit we can contact God, receive Him and have fellowship with Him.
• 1. PHYSICAL DISABILITIES 

  Example: Blindness, Amputated leg, Deafness.
• 2. DISEASES AND ILLNESSES 

  Example: Asthma, Cancer, Diabetes etc.
• 3. FAILURES AND EXPERIENCES 

  Example: Failing a subject, Being an object of bullying, Broken home.
• 4. SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

  Example: The state of being financially poor.
• 5. LOCATION OF COMMUNITY 

  Example: armed, disorganized, or violent neighborhood
• 6. SUBSTANCE ABUSE 

   - substance abuse problems are able to quit or can change their unhealthy behavior. Addiction, on the other hand, is a disease