Understanding Human Terminologies

Important Terminologies

• Man: Refers to the entire human race.
• Human: Refers to humans as a species - Homo sapiens sapiens or modern human beings.
• Human Being: Used to distinguish humans from other animals.
• Person: Refers to a human being granted recognition of certain rights, protection, responsibilities, and dignity. Represents the totality of an individual with awareness, self-determination, and the capacity to interact.
• Personhood: The state of being a person.
• Human Nature: The deepest and natural behavior of a person, distinguishing humans from animals. Refers to the collective traits that form the essence of humanity.

What is a Human Person?

• Human persons have a defined origin, with biblical accounts pointing to Adam and Eve, and scientific explanations tracing back to apes within the Mammalia class.
• A human person typically has a tangible body with three components: soul, mind, and spirit.
• Human persons are granted rights and privileges by the state they legally belong to.

Cognitive and the Physical Self

• The Physical Self: Deals with the essential features of the human way of life, including body type, strength, and appearance. Represents the "WHO" of a person.
• The Cognitive Self: Deals with the internal components of a human person including beliefs, desires, dreams, and intentions. Represents the "WHAT" of a person.

Embodied

• Refers to being materialized, personified, or epitomized.

Embodied Spirit

• The animating core living within each person.
• Embodiment allows us to experience the things that make us human persons.
• Spirit: The intangible element that enables thought, awareness, interiority, and the capacity to interact with the world and other persons. It's the driving force behind our thoughts, actions, and words.

Embodied Spirit

• Refers to the inseparable union of body and soul, suggesting that they work together at all times.

Human Person as an Embodied Spirit

• Self-Awareness: The clear perception of oneself, including thoughts, emotions, identity, and actions. It's the ability of consciousness to look inward and discover the self.

Human Person as an Embodied Spirit

• Externality: The capability to reach out and interact with others and the world. It recognizes that we are not alone and enables us to establish meaningful relationships.

Human Person as an Embodied Spirit

• Self-Determination: Refers to the ability to make choices and decisions based on personal preferences, monitor and regulate actions, and be goal-oriented. It highlights our capacity to act and be aware of our actions.

Human Person as an Embodied Spirit

• Dignity: The innate right to be valued and respected. Human dignity is rooted in our human nature and is not determined by factors like intelligence, beauty, or skills.

Limitations of the Human Person

• Transcendence: The ability to surpass limits. It's a key trait that distinguishes humans from other beings.

Transcendence

• Human persons have natural tendencies like hunger, fatigue, etc. Transcendence involves overcoming these tendencies and exercising them within the bounds of reason.
• Our capacity for transcendence allows us to work towards becoming better versions of ourselves.
• Opening ourselves to new experiences and ideas is another aspect of transcendence.

Transcendence

• "It is through our limitations that possibilities become real."
• Our bodies limit us, yet with creative minds, we overcome these limitations.

Key Points

• The embodied spirit is the driving force of our thoughts, actions, and words.
• Body and soul are inseparable in an embodied spirit.
• Humans have the unique power to change themselves and things for the better.
• As embodied spirits, humans demonstrate self-awareness, externality, self-determination, and dignity.