IS THERE A FILIPINO PHILOSOPHY? Rolando M. Gripaldo MARGINAL I ZAT ZAT ION OF F I L I P INO PHI LOSOPHY The onslauh! onslauh! o" Orien!al and #es!ern philosophies philosophies in !he Philippines Philippines has $arinali%ed $arinali%ed Filipino Filipino philosoph&. philosoph&. 'The !er$ (Orien!al (Orien!al philosoph&) enerall& re"er re"ers s !o Indian Indian** +hine +hinese* se* and and ,apane ,apanese se philo philosop sophi hies. es.-- A rea! rea!ion ion !o !his !his $arinali%a!ion !oo/ !hree "or$s0 '1- Filipino philosoph& in !he !radi!ional sense does no! e2is!3 '4- i" a! all !here is Filipino philosoph& i! is in a holis!i ul!ural sense 5ased on Filipino lanuaes* "ol/ sa&ins* $&!hs* and !he li/e3 and and '6'6- Filipin ilipino o philo philosop soph& h& ons!i ons!i!u! !u!es es !he o$5 o$5ine ined d Filipi ilipino no shol sholarl arl& & philosop philosophia hiall 7ri!ins 7ri!ins on Orien!al Orien!al and #es!ern es!ern philosop philosoph& h&.. Eah o" !hese !hese rea!ions* o" ourse* needs !o 5e lari8ed. The 8rs! rea!ion rea!ion and !he !radi!ional !radi!ional sense o" Filipino philosoph& philosoph& no! a "e7 o59e o59e!ed !ed !o !he !he 8rs! 8rs! rea! rea!io ion. n. Ther There e are are er!ai er!ainl nl& & !heses !heses** disser disser!a !a!io !ions* ns* ar!iles* and 5oo/s:al5ei! a hand"ul:in Philippine uni;ersi!ies 7hih sues! !he e2is!ene e2is!ene o" Filipin Filipino o philosoph& philosoph& in !he !radi!io !radi!ional nal sense. M& o7n 5oo/* Filipino philosoph&0 Tradi!ional approah 'Par! I* Se!ion 1- '4<<
ul!uralhis!orial e2periene o" !he anien! Gree/s* and his!orians o" phil philos osop oph& h& re"er e"er !o i! 5& enu$ enu$er era! a!in in !he !he phil philo osoph sopher ers. s. So in Gr Gree ee/ / phil philos osop oph& h& 7e s!ud s!ud& & !he !he 7or/ 7or/s s o" indi indi;i ;idu dual al phil philos osop ophe hers rs li/ li/e Thal Thales es** Ana2i$enes* Herali!us* e! al. The sa$e is !rue 7i!h Frenh* Frenh* Ger$an* @ri!ish* or A$erian A$erian philosop philosoph& h&.. So Filipin Filipino o philosop philosoph& h& in !his sense $us! 5e an enu$era!ion o" Filipino philosophers. The Ae o" Enlih!en$en!* Enlih!en$en!* 7hih 5ean in en!ral Europe Europe in !he 1!h en!ur&* !ra;eled !o Spain in !he 8rs! hal" o" !he 1B!h en!ur& and reahed !he Philippines Philippines in !he seond hal" o" !ha! en!ur&. en!ur&. So !he 8rs! se! o" Filipino philosophers* philosophers* !he re"or$is!s re"or$is!s and re;olu!ionis!s re;olu!ionis!s 'par!iularl& 'par!iularl& ,ose Ri%al* M. H. Cel Pilar* Andres @oni"aio* and E$ilio ,ain!o-* 7ere Enlih!en$en! !hin/ers. The& 7ere inDuened 5& ol!aire* ,ohn Lo/e* ,ean ,aues Rousseau* and o!he o!hers rs.. The The Ae Ae o" Enli Enlih h!e !en$ n$en en!! e2!ol 2!ols s !he !he pri$ pri$a a& & o" rea easo son* n* !he !he ine;i!a5ili!& o" proress* !he essen!ial hu$ani!& o" $an* !he sini8ane o" edua!ion* and suhli/e. One o" $& radu adua!e s!ud !uden!s in philoso losop ph& re$ar/ ar/s !ha! !ha! Fili ilipino ino Enlih!en$en! Enlih!en$en! philosophers philosophers 7ere 5asiall& #es!ern>ori #es!ern>orien!ed en!ed !hin/ers. !hin/ers. Tha! is !rue 5u! !he& did no! philosophi%e ou! o" !he 5lue. Their philosophi%ins 7ere !he o=shoo! o=shoo! o" !heir his!orial olonial olonial e2periene e2periene under Spain. Spain. The& appropria!ed Enlih!en$en! !houh! as sini8an!l& rele;an! !o !heir soio> ul!ural e2periene.
The Filipino people o" di=eren! ul!ural o$$uni!ies o" !ha! !i$e had si$ilar e2perienes o" hu$an derada!ion* !&rann&* edua!ional depri;a!ion* irra!ionali!&* e!. Filipino Enlih!en$en! !hin/ers ar!iula!ed !he holis!i e2periene o" !he Filipino people '!he $asses and !he eli!e- sine* as !he e2pression oes* (philosoph& does no! e2is! in a ;auu$.) Tradi!ional (Filipino philosoph&*) in !he sa$e sense as (Gree/ philosoph&*) ons!i!u!es* in o!her 7ords* !he philosoph& o" !he Filipino people. The seond rea!ion has a dual "un!ion0 8rs!l&* i! a!!e$p!s !o 8ll !he ap in !he alleed non>e2is!ene o" Filipino philosoph& in !he !radi!ional sense* and seondl&* i" a! all !here is suh a philosoph&* as in Gree/ philosoph&* i! res!s on a $is!a/e. Aordin !o !his seond rea!ion* !he $is!a/e lies in !he "a! !ha! Filipino philosoph& in !he !radi!ional sense 'or Gree/ philosoph& "or !ha! $a!!er- does no! represen! !he spiri! o" !he people* !he holis!i philosophial poin! o" ;ie7 !ha! an onl& 5e diserned "ro$ !he peoples lanuaes* "ol/ !ales* "ol/ sa&ins* riddles* and !he li/e. I all !his !&pe o" !hin/in as Filipino philosoph& in !he ul!ural sense. In her ar!ile* ol/eis! in ;ernaular li!era!ure* E$eri!a ui!o '1BB<- arues !ha! philosoph& 5& de8ni!ion is (uni;ersal and hene* s!ri!l& spea/in* !here is no Ger$an or Frenh or @ri!ish philosoph& 5u! onl& Ger$an* Frenh* or @ri!ish !hin/ers. The 7ord ol/eis! or spiri! o" !he people or di7a in !he Filipino lanuae is J!heK $os! appropria!e J$eanin o" philosoph&K 5eause 7e ;eril& see/ !he spiri! o" !he Filipino people.) Philosophers o" !he anal&!i !radi!ion o59e! !o !his rea!ion in !hree 7a&s0 '1Filipino philosoph& in !he ul!ural sense is no! in /eepin 7i!h s!andard usae in !ha! !radi!ional philosophi%in is an a!i;i!& o" indi;idual persons 7i!hin a i;en o$$uni!&* ar!iula!in !he philosophial pro5le$s o" !he !i$es. I! is no! an a!i;i!& o" roups o" people* espeiall& a! !he na!ional le;el3 '4- i! is no! enerall& !rue !ha! Filipino philosoph& or Ger$anFrenh@ri!ish philosoph& does no! represen! !he spiri! o" !he people 7i!hin a !e$poral do$ain unless* o" ourse* i! is assu$ed !ha! philosoph& e2is!s in a ;auu$. Filipino Enlih!en$en! !hin/ers* "or e2a$ple* represen!ed and ar!iula!ed !he !ra;ails and !he spiri! '!he ;ie7s* hopes* and desires- o" !he people o" !he period 5eause !hose 7ere !he philosophial pro5le$s a! !he !i$e3 and '6- a dis!in!ion $us! 5e $ade 5e!7een philosophi%in 5& readinin!erpre!in !he spiri! o" !he people or o" !he !i$es 'and o=erin solu!ions !o i!s philosophial pro5le$s"ro$ philosophi%in 5& e2!ra!in !he philosophial presupposi!ions o" lanuaes* "ol/!ales* "ol/sa&ins* e!. In '6-* philosophi%in is !he a!i;i!& o" indi;idual persons* 5u! 7hile philosophi%in 5& readinin!erpre!in !he spiri! o" !he !i$es ons!i!u!es !he !radi!ional approah* philosophi%in 5& e2!ra!in philosophial presupposi!ions ons!i!u!es !he ul!ural approah. In !he la!!er 7e an ar$ Filipino philosoph& in !he ul!ural sense and $en!ion Filipino !hin/ers 7or/in on !his approah suh as Leonardo Merado '1B- and Floren!ino Ti$5re%a '1B4-.
The !hird rea!ion is pro5le$a!i. No! onl& !ha! i! !ries !o 8ll !he ap in !he alleed none2is!ene o" Filipino philosoph&* 5u! i! also appears !o 5e o5li;ious o" !he "a! !ha! 7ha! !he $e$5ers o" !his roup are !in/erin a5ou! are dire! i$por!s "ro$ Orien!al and #es!ern philosoph&. The !hird rea!ion is o" !hree /inds. The 8rs! /ind is !o 5eo$e a !hrouh>and>!hrouh sholar o" an& Orien!al or #es!ern philosoph& suh !ha! she 5eo$es an e2per! in i!. SHe 7ri!es e2posi!or& 7or/s 7hose ai$ is !o $a/e popular !he ideas o" hisher "a;ori!e philosopher or o" !he hosen philosophial area. The seond /ind is !o depar! "ro$ 9us! 5ein an e2per! or a sholar in !he 8rs! /ind sense* 5u! !o $odi"& !hose ideas in a uniuel& oriinal 7a& suh !ha! one eases !o 5e* e..* si$pl& a an!ian* 5u! 5eo$es a neo>an!ian. The seond /ind assu$es !here are a!eories o" !he hu$an $ind and !he hu$an si!ua!ion 7hih are uni;ersal and !heir philosophial pro5le$s 7ill need uni;ersal solu!ions. O59e!ions !o !his ;ie7 a5ound 5eause ul!ure is si!ua!ionall& 5ased and is !here"ore rela!i;e !o a i;en o$$uni!&* no $a!!er ho7 slih!. There $a& 5e uni;ersal philosophial pro5le$s 5u! !he solu!ions 7ill 5e ul!ure>5ased and 7ill ha;e onl& "a$il& rese$5lanes 7i!h o!her solu!ions* as Lud7i #i!!ens!ein '1BB- 7ould sa&* ra!her !han uni;ersali!&. The !hird /ind is !o loo/ "or a 9us!i8a!ion o" !he pre;alene o" !hese philosophial i$por!s in Philippine shools and appropria!e suh "orein !houh!s !o !he Filipino philosophial si!ua!ion. The 9us!i8a!ion is 5asiall& !ha! Filipinos are a #es!ern>orien!ed people 7ho reside in Asia 7i!h Orien!al> #es!ern 7a&s and are 9e!!isoned !o !he Glo5al Ae. Hene* Orien!al and #es!ern philosophial ideas an 5e appropria!ed and $odi8ed aordinl& !o sui! !he !errain* so !o spea/* o" !he loal si!ua!ion. A par! o" i!s $ani"es!a!ion is reDe!ed in Filipino Eas!>#es! o$para!i;e philosophial 7ri!ins ai$ed a! o=erin a solu!ion !o a loalna!ional Filipino philosophial dile$$a or pro5le$. #ha!e;er !he $eri!s o" !he seond and !hird /inds* !he& an 5e onsidered a par! o" Filipino philosoph& in !he !radi!ional sense in !ha! !hese are philosophi%ins o" indi;idual Filipinos !he$sel;es as solu!ions !o par!iular pro5le$s. I! is !he 8rs! /ind !ha! is pro5le$a!i. #e an inore i! e2ep! "or !he "a! !ha! in !he his!or& o" !he de;elop$en! o" philosoph& in !he Philippines i! is !he $os! nu$erous o" Filipino philosophial 7ri!ins. No! all 7ri!ers o" !he 8rs! /ind ha;e as &e! radua!ed !o !he seond or !hird /ind. @u! e;en i" one has $o;ed on !o !he o!her /inds* !he pro5le$ persis!s0 7ha! is !he philosophial s!a!us o" !he 7ri!ins o" !he 8rs! /ind? Should !he& 5e inluded in !he a!eor& Filipino philosoph&? Deconstruction
The usual ans7er is nea!i;e in !ha! !he !radi!ional ri!erion "or lassi8a!ion is !he su59e! $a!!er. I" a 7or/ is an in!erpre!a!i;e e2posi!ion o" @er!rand Russell on !he hu$an soul* e..* !hen i! is lassi8ed as a 7or/ in @ri!ish
philosoph& reardless o" !he na!ionali!& o" !he au!hor. And !his lassi8a!ion leads !o !he aliena!ion o" so$e Filipinos* 7ho 5elie;e !ha! suh a 7or/ is irrele;an! unless i! an 5e rela!ed so$eho7 !o !he Filipino hu$an and ul!ural si!ua!ion. @u! !he aliena!ion $ih! 5e un9us!i8ed in !ha! !he "aul! is in !he ri!erion o" lassi8a!ion. There see$s !o 5e a need !o deons!ru! !hin/in in !his reard. I" a na!i;e Filipino is rounded in his si!ua!ion 5& ;ir!ue o" his 5ir!h or na!ionali!&* !hen he is essen!iall& 5ound !o his ul!ure and lanuae. E;en Andre7 Gon%ale% '4<<1- in a reen! ar!ile* (The role and on!ri5u!ion o" !he Tho$asi!es !o lanuae edua!ion*) on!ends !ha! !he lanuae 7hih !he Tho$asi!es in!rodued !o !he Philippines has 5een loali%ed or Filipini%ed !o sui! !he Filipino hu$an si!ua!ion. Te2!5oo/s 7ri!!en in Enlish "or Filipino hildren eased !o use sno7s and apples as e2a$ples 5u! used ins!ead e2a$ples "ro$ loal senes. This is a $anner in 7hih Filipinos appropria!e a "orein lanuae 5& adap!in i! !o !he loal si!ua!ion. I! has 5eo$e Filipino Enlish. A na!i;e Filipino rounded in his o7n ul!ure and lanuae 'Filipino* or Filipino Enlish "or !ha! $a!!er- arries 7i!h hi$her a $iroos$i ul!ure !ha! enerall& reDe!s !he ul!ure>a!>lare. As suh* hisher in!erpre!a!ion o" a !e2! 7ill neessaril& 5e olored 5& hisher o7n ul!ural hori%on as i! $eres 7i!h !he inheren! ul!ural hori%on o" !he !e2!. The resul!in "used hori%on is !here"ore a Filipino poin! o" ;ie7* a! leas! !heore!iall& i" no! al7a&s e;iden! in "a!* as in 7or/s in s&$5oli loi or philosoph& o" $a!he$a!is. I! $us! !heore!iall& 5e di=eren! "ro$ !he Frenh or Ger$an "used hori%ons 'in!erpre!a!ions- o" !he sa$e !e2!* espeiall& 7hen 7ri!!en in !he na!i;e lanuae. #e are here shi"!in !he ri!erion o" lassi8a!ion "ro$ !he oriinal en!er '!he su59e! $a!!er- !o !he $arin 'na!ionali!& o" !he au!hor-. In !his 7a&* a philosophial e2posi!or& 7or/ 7ri!!en 5& a Filipino is Filipino philosoph& reardless o" !he su59e! $a!!er. I all !his in!erpre!a!ion as Filipino philosoph& in !he na!ional 'or ons!i!u!ional- sense in !ha! !he "ous is on !he na!ionali!& o" !he 7ri!er as de!er$ined 5& !he Philippine ons!i!u!ion and no! on !he su59e! $a!!er. 'I do no! 7ish !o disuss in !his shor! paper so$e 5orderline ases. The aep!ane o" !he !hree senses o"* or approahes !o* Filipino philosoph& :!radi!ional* ul!ural* and na!ional:7ill er!ainl& enrih !he ul!ural heri!ae o" !he Filipino na!ion. In !his pos!$odern ae* 7here !he $arinali%ed are o$in "or7ard* !he reoni!ion o" !he e2is!ene o" Filipino philosoph& in !hree senses 7ill sinal !heir deen!erin. Filipino philosoph& an shi"! "ro$ one approah !o ano!her 7i!hou! an& one approah lai$in as do$inan!. There 7ill er!ainl& 5e ru$5lins here and !here as 7e anno! sa!is"& e;er& Filipino sholar or s!uden! o" philosoph&. And 7hile 7e hope !he ru$5lins 7ill di$inish* 7e li/e7ise hope !ha! !he Filipino philosophial heri!ae 7ill ro5us!l& ro7.
N O T E S
1. Paper delivered during the XXIst World Congress of Philosophy on 10-17 August 2003 in Istanul! "ur#ey under the suthe$e! %Philosophy in Asia and the Pa&i'&( Conte$porary Issues.) "he the$e of the Congress is %Philosophy *a&ing World Prole$s.) 2. "here is no+ a se&ond edition of this oo# +hi&h appeared in 200,a. "here is also a seuel to this in 200,. 3. "he Age of eason in the 17th &entury led to the Age of /nlighten$ent in the 1th &entury. ohn o&#e lived during the 17th &entury and had inuen&ed tre$endously the 1 th &entury. ean-a&ues ousseau! +ho lived during the 1th &entury! +as a ro$anti& and not e4a&tly an /nlighten$ent thin#er! ut he inuen&ed so$e *ilipino /nlighten$ent thin#ers li#e ose i5al.
REFEREN+ES Gon%ale%* Andre7 4<<1. The role and on!ri5u!ion o" !he Tho$asi!es in lanuae edua!ion. Manila @ulle!in* 4 O!o5er. Gripaldo* Rolando M. 4<<ROM.K . 4<<5. Filipino philosoph&0 Tradi!ional approah. Par! I* Se!ion 4. #i!h a Fore7ord 5& Geore F. MLean. Manila0 Ce La Salle Qni;ersi!& Press. ui!o* E$eri!a. 1BB<. ol/eis! in ;ernaular li!era!ure. A li"e o" philosoph&0 Feshri"! in honor o" E$eri!a ui!o. Manila0 Ce La Salle Qni;ersi!& Press. Merado* Leonardo. 1B. Ele$en!s o" Filipino philosoph&. Talo5an +i!&0 Ci;ine #ord Qni;ersi!& Pu5lia!ions. Ti$5re%a* Floren!ino. 1B4. Pilosopi&an Pilipino. Manila0 Re2 @oo/ S!ore. #i!!ens!ein* Lud7i. 1B4. Philosophial in;es!ia!ions. Transla!ed 5& G. E. M. Anso$5e. O2"ord0 @asil @la/7ell.
