Filipino ethics: A study of philosophy for children through their literature

• Main Author: Arias, Josephine D.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1994
• Subjects: Ethics; Philosophy; Philippine; Philosophy in literature; Children's literature
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/1197
• Institution: De La Salle University

Philosophy for the Filipinos is a practical philosophy. It is primarily a philosophy towards one's self, other-self (family and society) and even the world. Attitudes, beliefs, thoughts and perceptions in those things make up the Filipino Welstanchauung. The Filipino philosophy had evolved through time and involves the Filipino masses. The children can also be included as part of the Filipino body. But to allow them to understand a philosophy and life seems an unreachable goal. Though its significance is vital to the children because they are beings onward to becoming. They need to see and look through life by knowing how their blood relative had lived their lives. Philosophy even as it is a practical for the Filipinos will be hard to teach to children because they have constraints in words and experiences. The means seem practicable and adaptable to children is through stories. It is in this that philosophy can be incorporated conforming to the playful and curious thinking of the children. In encapsulating the general Filipino thought in children's literature can be attained by employing concrete actions, situations, and possible happenings in the story. The stories can be in a form of metaphor or analogy that make use of familiar objects and words suitable for the children. What to contain in the plot is governed by the function of the writer by setting the characters, sequencing the events, and maintaining unity of the story to show a complete picture of an action or even just a parcel of life. It is in this manner that the story is able to extend from a general picture to a particular yet remained as a complete picture of life and living. The universal concept of batas ng panunumbalik, cyclic view of life, the notion of life and death, the virtue of self-control and balance of nature have been found in the children's stories. Philosophy then is a statement about life. It is a collection of our understanding about living with nature, society and with one's individuality. These philosophical themes of batas panunumbalik, balance of nature, cyclic view of life, simulaing pangkatimpian and view of life and death make up the part of the crust of our Filipino philosophy. By means of literature, these Filipino philosophies were brought closer to living as they were described in particular and practical way. They were incorporated in the plot by the writer by elaborating in concrete terms and making a complete story as how life can be pictured. The above mentioned general concepts are the broken down into pieces so that it can reach the understanding of anyone even the children. Though children themselves have limitations, in so far as digesting the realities of life and understanding a particular view, it is however significant to show and mirror what could influence their becoming. This confirms our claim that children's literature can be a vehicle to teach children a philosophy.