Philosophy, Sophistry, and the Treachery of an Ethics-less Society

This essay examines the implications of the proposed removal of Ethics from the Philippine tertiary curriculum, situating the issue within the broader decline of moral and philosophical education in contemporary universities.Drawing from classical sources-particularly the educational philosophies of Plato and Aristotle-it recovers the notion of paideia (), the formation of the soul, as the essential aim of higher learning.The argument proceeds by analyzing key elements of the classical tradition, including Plato's concept of periagg (), or the soul's turning toward the good, and Aristotle's account of phronsis (), or practical wisdom formed through habituation.Using a method of close philosophical retrieval, the essay critically evaluates the ontological consequences of reducing truth to information and formation to technical function.It assesses policy initiatives, such as those advanced by the Philippine Department of Education, through the lens of the classical notion of education and ethics as well as Christian metaphysics.The findings indicate that such educational reforms signal administrative shifts and the loss of a shared vision of the good.In conclusion, the paper argues that true education must be reoriented toward the intrinsic worth of the human person, capable of recognizing and loving what is true.Rather than a nostalgic appeal, this is presented as an invitation to recover philosophy as the governing principle of education.