Realize the Value of Doing Philosophy in Obtaining a Broad Perspective on Life
It is vital to realize the value of doing philosophy in obtaining a broad perspective on life, especially for students taking up Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person (MELC 1.2).
As an academic discipline, philosophy helps in obtaining a broad perspective on life. This is very much related to the fact that in philosophy, people are encouraged to take a holistic perspective.
*For the Filipino/Tagalog discussion on this topic, read: Nahihinuha na: Mahalaga ang Pamimilosopiya sa Pagkakaroon ng Malawakang pananaw
The value of doing philosophy in obtaining a broad life perspective
First of all, Philosophy broadens perspective. And there are plenty of obvious reasons we must realize the value of doing philosophy in obtaining a broad perspective on life. (Read also: Realize that the methods of philosophy lead to wisdom and truth)
In one of his lectures, Filipino Philosophy professor Jensen DG. Mañebog gives the following explanations how philosophy helps in obtaining a broad perspective on life:
a. Being the love of knowledge, philosophy broadens perspective in life. By philosophically reflecting on many ideas in the world, critically questioning statements, theories, and arguments, and rationally pursuing truth, one is introduced to various perspectives and worldviews he had never thought before.
b. Doing philosophy improves one’s problem-solving capacities by contributing to his capacity to organize ideas and concepts, and to extricate what is fundamental from amounts of information, thereby widening his view.
c. Philosophy helps a person appreciate varied perspectives so they can be synthesized into a unified whole. Philosophy helps an individual distinguish between various viewpoints to discern common ground among them.
d. Philosophy’s lessons on the judicious evaluation of evidence, logical problem-solving, and inferring the vital elements from complex bodies of information help a person to acquire the skill to think in a holistic or non-partial manner.
e. Philosophy enriches a person’s self-knowledge, foresight, and sense of direction in life. It thus leads to self-discovery, a development of consciousness, and self-renewal.
f. Philosophy brings a person into contact with the most profound and fundamental human questions. It thus helps people live a more fully human life by demanding that they deal with these questions.
Realize the Value of Doing Philosophy in Obtaining a Broad Perspective on Life: Socrates’ View
Philosophy encourages us to examine our respective life, and this is another proof that doing philosophy helps in obtaining a broad or comprehensive perspective on life is that
Socrates, the famous ancient Greek philosopher, once said that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” By this, he meant that a life that simply agrees to take what the society dictates about, for instance, what belief should be accepted, who one should marry, how to educate the youth, and how to structure the society’s political order is not sound.
As explained by Prof. Jensen DG. Mañebog, Socrates’ dictum underscores the value of critical self-examination and the worthlessness of an unexamined life. That is, living without obtaining a broad perspective on life is futile and never philosophically sound.
He is nonetheless quick to explain that living an examined life does not necessarily demand that one become widely-read on the philosophical classics; nor does it require that one devote his life only to philosophical reflection.
Yet, it does require examining more closely one’s experiences to determine whether or not some things deserve to play vital role in his lived experiences. As philosophy is an excellent tool for performing this self-examination, it is thus a critical factor in in obtaining a broad perspective on life—that is, in a life that is worth living!
*Free lecture for the next lesson (Philo of Man MELC): Do a philosophical reflection on a concrete situation from a holistic perspective
Note: Teachers may share this as a reading assignment of their students. For other free lectures related to this (especially for students), visit Homepage: Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
*Also available: Free lectures on Pambungad sa Pilosopiya ng Tao
-If you want to know about other topics in Philosophy (e.g. methods of philosophy, etc.), search here:
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Also Check Out:
Reasoning and Debate: A Handbook and a Textbook by Jensen DG. Mañebog
Related Articles:
Distinguish a Holistic Perspective from a Partial Point of View (Holism vs Partial Perspective)
The Blind Men and the Elephant: Attaining a Holistic Perspective
Mga Libreng Lektura para sa Pambungad sa Pilosopiya ng Tao:
Ang Pagkakaiba ng Pangkabuuang Pananaw at Pananaw ng mga Bahagi Lamang
Nahihinuha na: Mahalaga ang Pamimilosopiya sa Pagkakaroon ng Malawakang pananaw
Also Check Out: From Socrates to Mill: An Analysis of Prominent Ethical Theories, also by author Jensen DG. Mañebog