Philosophy of the Human Person PDF

PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON 3RD QUARTER - 2ND SEMESTER ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ BY PAULA LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY natural light of reason alone Philosophy...

PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON 3RD QUARTER - 2ND SEMESTER ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ BY PAULA LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY natural light of reason alone Philosophy ELEMENTS OF THE DEFINITION -​ “There are as many definitions to philosophy as there are philosophers.” 1. Science -​ Latin “scire” - to know -​ first used by Pythagoras, a Greek philosopher -​ not just knowledge of facts but the reason and mathematician behind facts / the knowledge of their causes -​ not merely academic, speculative, and -​ aims for certitude; strives to know the whys abstract, but also practical and concrete; it is -​ involves critical thinking an act of doing 2. All Things or Beings -​ not just about finding the truth, but that the -​ two types of beings (St. Thomas Aquinas): truth is needed in order to live better Necessary -​ non-existence is an impossibility -​ exists eternally; no beginning or end (i.e. Etymological Definition God) -​ from the Greek words “philia” (love) and Contingent “sophia” (wisdom); means love of wisdom -​ existence is caused; may or may not exist (e.g. humans, material and spiritual worlds) Love -​ seeks unity with the object; desires to 3. In Their Ultimate Causes possess its object -​ looks into the reason—the ultimate whys and wheretofores of all things; examining in detail all realities Wisdom -​ good exercise or application of knowledge Aristotle’s Four Causes 1.​ Material - material out of which the thing exists -​ real wisdom does not merely cause us to know, 2.​ Efficient - the ‘mover’ that causes the thing it makes us be in a different way 3.​ Formal - the form in which the thing is arranged 4.​ Final - the purpose for which the thing exists Truth 4. Acquired by the Natural Light of Reason -​ the ultimate object of knowledge -​ human reason -​ shown and practiced by a man of wisdom To Philosophize Natural Reason Supernatural Reason -​ to be on a quest or to have the desire towards human reason faith living the truth has limitations no limitations Philosophy as a Way of Life realm of philosophy realm of theology -​ its goal is to transform the whole of the individual’s life Forms of Knowledge Real Definition of Philosophy Doxa (Opinion) -​ the science of all things or beings in their -​ common understanding; common sense ultimate causes or principles acquired by the  -​ lowest kind because it lacks proper -​ questions over whether beauty is subjective or justification or is attained without any valid objective, if there are universal beauty explanation (ex. rumors and gossip) standards, and how views of beauty are influenced by individual, cultural, and historical Episteme (Scientific Knowledge) variables -​ has grounded or justified assertions -​ factual statements that are proved by the Art scientific method -​ the nature of art, its intent, and the interaction -​ knowledge of principles that govern things between the creator, the piece, and the viewer -​ include different scientific domains ranging -​ several theories, such as the expressive theory from physics to geology, psychology to (art as personal expression) and the mimetic economics, etc. theory (art as imitation) Techne (Technical Knowledge) Aesthetic Experience -​ knowledge of the means-end of objects; how -​ mental, emotional, and sensory components of things are made and done valuing art and beauty; how perception, -​ knowledge inherent in skills to produce imagination, and intuition function in creative something interactions -​ the means to manipulate certain things in order to achieve the desired ends Taste -​ questions regarding the process of making Sophia (Wisdom) taste judgments, the existence of objective -​ highest of all because it is the “most finished standards for taste, and the ways in which of the forms of knowledge” and society and cultural contexts impact aesthetic -​ is knowledge of the first principles evaluations Aesthetic Judgment -​ how people judge and characterize an object's LESSON 2: AESTHETIC OF EXISTENCE AND aesthetic features, whether they are natural elements or works of art THE ACT OF PHILOSOPHIZING Self-determination / Process of Subjectivization Aesthetics -​ Michael Foucault -​ branch of philosophy that deals with the -​ a deliberate act of freeing ourselves from nature and appreciation of beauty, art, and ourselves for it is when one strips oneself from taste the chain of self-alienation that one achieves -​ explores questions related to the nature of anything at all aesthetic experiences, the criteria for defining -​ unless we overcome the roadblocks of old something as beautiful, and the role of art and habits, vices, or negative traits, we cannot beauty in human life prosper in life Aesthetic of Existence Friedrich Nietzsche -​ taught that unless we know the why of life, we Beauty cannot know the how of living -​ what constitutes beauty  -​ to enable a person to embark on his project of there can never be human experience affirming and creating himself, he has to without the subject overcome forces that may impede his growth -​ a corollary to it, unless I can relate myself to a and development certain experience, such experience will never gain any relevance to me at all; any object of The Act of Philosophizing human experience is known, understood, appreciated, or valued provided that I am Critical Inquiry involved -​ entails posing important queries and analyzing notions, theories, and beliefs closely; looking Vitaliano R. Gorospe, SJ for the underlying presumptions and -​ philosophy is “man’s search for meaning” consequences of different viewpoints Phenomenology Introspective Thought -​ by Edmund Husserl -​ necessitates in-depth, introspective thought -​ what one knows is based on how one on one's own views and the nature of the experiences a thing in its origin universe; promotes self-awareness and readiness to critically examine one's own presumptions LESSON 3: BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY Rational Analysis -​ emphasizes rational analysis and logical Axiology reasoning; involves constructing and -​ the theory of value; peruses upon the value of evaluating arguments, identifying fallacies, goodness and assessing the validity of different -​ explores the nature of value and its philosophical positions metaphysical aspects Skepticism and Inquiry Metaphysics -​ entails both a dedication to ongoing inquiry -​ mainly concerned with explaining the nature and a healthy dose of skepticism; of being and the world; free will acknowledges that knowledge is a continuous -​ two different study areas: cosmology and process and that there may not always be a ontology definite answer to a philosophical subject Cosmology Open-Mindedness -​ focused on understanding the origin, -​ necessitates having an open mind to many evolution, and eventual fate of the universe, points of view and being prepared to take into which include laws that keep it in perfect order account opposing arguments; entails a never-ending pursuit of truth and an Ontology acceptance that knowledge may change -​ investigates various types of things that exist throughout time and their relationship with each other Subject Epistemology -​ the role of the human person as a subject in -​ the study of knowledge every human experience is necessary because Ethics -​ “all actual life is encounter” - life is not just a -​ concerned with the definition of right and series of isolated events, it's a continuous wrong; how people conduct themselves stream of interactions with other living beings, according to some established ethical norms circumstances, and the environment Aesthetics Dialogue -​ defining the different aspects of beauty -​ a deep and genuine relationship between people; happens when two persons truly Political Philosophy acknowledge each other’s presence and treat -​ studies political government, laws, liberty, each other as equals justice, rights, authority, political states and systems, ethics, and more; explores the Ich-Es (I-It) Relationship concepts of why we need governments, the -​ the world of experience and sensation where role they play, and their constituents there are objects; in terms of the self, how an object can serve the individual’s interest -​ one doesn't fully engage with the unique qualities, emotions, or intrinsic value of the LESSON 4: INTERSUBJECTIVITY other; it's a more transactional or instrumental approach where the person or object is seen Object as an "it" rather than a full-fledged being -​ exists independently of an observer -​ can be physical entities such as chairs or Ich-Du (I-Thou) Relationship abstract entities like mathematical concepts -​ a dialogue; there is a genuine acknowledgment or moral values and recognition of the other person's full -​ often seen as the "what" in the question of humanity existence -​ it involves a connection at a deeper level where both individuals are seen as unique and Subject valuable in their own right rather than as mere -​ the observer or experiencer; the conscious objects or means to an end entity that perceives and interacts with objects -​ the “who” in the question of experience and consciousness Intersubjectivity -​ the way a person is influenced by the culture, family, and friends they are surrounded by -​ made possible by the awareness of the self and the other Seeming -​ a way of approaching the other governed by Martin Buber the image one desires to impress on the other; -​ “all real living is meeting” - the essence of true involves deliberately playing up or hiding or authentic life lies in the experiences and aspects of yourself to appear more desirable or connections we have with others impressive Being  -​ not from an image, but from what one really is LESSON 5: MAN IN THE CONTEXT OF HIS -​ acceptance of the other in the way that it is NATURE also an acceptance of the self as it is Philosophy of the Human Person Speechifying -​ a special branch of philosophy that deals with -​ one’s talking past another; hearing without the theoretical and reflective study of the listening human being aimed at the acquisition of knowledge regarding the meaning and value Personal Making Present of human existence -​ the process of fully opening oneself to the other; individuals bring their unique Human perspectives, values, and emotions to the -​ refers to anything exclusively pertinent to process of assigning meaning to various the species that is man aspects of their lives Nature -​ derived from the Latin word “natura” which came from “nasci” meaning to be born or to originate -​ the ultimate principle of operation of a given reality (fact, entity, being) -​ set of all things which are innate to a being -​ essential properties or causes of individual things Imposition -​ holding one’s own opinion, values, attitudes Human Nature and oneself without regard for those of -​ distinguishing characteristics including ways another; telling the other how they should act, of thinking, feeling, and acting behave, and respond to things “A thing acts according to its nature.” Unfolding -​ any thing or any being intrinsically acts and its -​ finding in the other the disposition toward action is always determined by its very nature what one recognizes as true, good, and or kind of thing that it is beautiful; seeing the other as a unique, -​ man is a rational being, therefore, he should singular individual capable of freely only think, feel, and act based on his nature; actualizing themself outside the domain of his nature, man can be readily charged of being inhuman Loneliness -​ one of the basic experiences of the human Perspectives of the Nature of Man being because of self-awareness Biological -​ considers man as part of the natural world and a product of evolution; can be traced back to Charles Darwin, Father of Evolution  -​ modern humans are considered to be the most Rationality successfully adapted species on the planet -​ the ability to understand experiences in order and closely related to the apes to solve problems or do tasks and engage in decision-making and judgment Distinct Physical Features -​ bipedalism Intelligence -​ highly developed hands -​ the ability to perceive information, store -​ smaller jaws and teeth knowledge, and apply it in various situations -​ larger and more developed brains -​ share primal instincts with other animals such Introspection as survival and reproduction -​ the ability to examine one’s own conscious thoughts, feelings, and mental state; the Traits and Capabilities capacity for self-reflection -​ planning and intentional actions -​ innovation and creativity Economic -​ communication (language and writing) -​ called man homo economicus (“economic -​ technology man”) and focuses on his ability to engage in -​ symbolic interaction such as religion and art productive abilities in an effort to meet his wants and needs Culture -​ taught by Karl Marx, Father of Communism -​ considered man’s most significant achievement which sets them apart from Economic Forces other species -​ considered a great influence on the actions of man Psychological -​ puts emphasis on human behavior and Theological thought processes in analyzing human -​ considers man as a special creation of God -​ man having mental faculties that enable him having been made into His image and likeness to possess awareness, a sense of self, and the and given an immortal soul capacity to perceive and experience -​ man’s existence was brought about by the -​ Sigmund Freud, Father of Pschoanalysis purposive creative act of God, and his ultimate destiny is part of the Divine Plan Man’s Mental Faculties and Capabilities -​ taught by medieval philosophers (St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas) Psyche -​ the human mind which is divided into two: the Characteristics of​Human Nature conscious and the unconscious 1.​ Universal / One Conscious -​ absolutely present to all human beings part of the mind that governs awareness 2.​ Static Unconscious -​ remains as it is in every man from birth consists of latent and repressed emotions, to death; constant, unchangeable, and thoughts, and desires immutable 3-Fold Level of Human Nature Somatic -​ refers to the body, substance, constitution, or stuff of man, and accidentally, to bodily structure, color, etc. which are conditioned by culture and environment Behavioral -​ refers to the mode of acting of every man -​ man has a universal way of acting or conducting himself properly -​ three component parts -​ cognitive (mental) -​ affective (emotional or feeling) -​ psychomotor (action) Attitudinal -​ refers to the mental reaction of every man to a given stimulus or the position of every individual concerning his opinion, feeling, or mood -​ manifests the purposive drive of every man to live in a kind of life according to his own discretion Summary of the 3-Fold Level 1.​ There is but one human nature. 2.​ There is no Filipino, American, German, etc. human nature, particularly at the somatic and behavioral level. 3.​ There is a Filipino or American human nature distinctively at the attitudinal level. 4.​ Human nature changes only in terms of accidental constituents, i.e., the growth of the body, etc.