An epistemic analysis of hiya

Date of Publication

2023

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts Major in Philosophy

Subject Categories

Philosophy

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Philosophy

Thesis Advisor

Mark Anthony L. Dacela

Defense Panel Member

Robert James M. Boyles
Napoleon M. Mabaquiao, Jr.
Elenita D. Garcia

Abstract/Summary

Recent studies of hiya have grounded it in deeper, pre-colonial roots of kapwa, which hopes to explain hiya not just as a value that keeps one within social norms but as a virtue that concerns itself with the welfare of others. Jeremiah Reyes defines hiya as a virtue that controls individual wants for the welfare of their kapwa. This paper analyzes how hiya as a virtue affects the ability to gain and share knowledge, in consideration of both the moral and epistemic consequences of acting with hiya. I claim that the virtue hiya functions as a guide that restrains a person from committing moral harm while in the pursuit of knowledge sharing and acquisition. Therefore this paper has a two-part aim: (1) to analyze hiya’s epistemic effects towards knowledge sharing and acquisition, (2) which will demonstrate hiya’s inclination to moral goods, affirming its status as a virtue. I position my discussion of hiya within Sikolohiyang Pilipino and the Filipino philosophical concepts of kapwa and loob, to keep the uniquely relational aspects of Filipino virtues. Moreover, I will be supporting the Teleological distinction between moral and intellectual virtues and the Obstructivist view from Vice Epistemology in order to determine hiya’s epistemic effects. The Teleological approach will show that since hiya aims for moral good, which is the welfare of kapwa; and since epistemic virtues aim for epistemic goods, such as the successful sharing and gaining of knowledge, it is then up to the agent to decide between moral or epistemic success in situations where both virtues are present. Whereas, the Obstructivist view states that harm to epistemic success is any character trait, attitude, or way of thinking that harms a knower's ability to successfully share and gain knowledge. By doing so, I will show that hiya can positively or negatively impact knowledge sharing and acquisition in terms of epistemic success or epistemic harm it can cause. It is relevant to epistemically analyze hiya as it is present in all interpersonal communication, compared to other popular Filipino values such as utang-na-loob which is not always present. Studying hiya’s epistemic effects on moral virtues deepens the discussion within the existing literature of both epistemology in the Philippine setting and to the debate on the status of hiya as a virtue.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Shame; Virtues; Cardinal virtues; Psychology--Philippines

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Embargo Period

4-27-2023

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