The Human Person as an Embodied Spirit PDF

The Human Person as an Embodied Spirit Presented by: John Kerth Fernando, LPT Philosophical Anthropology Philosophical Anthropology  Monism This theory holds that man is composed of one basic substance or principle as the ground of reality. In other words, the reality of man...

The Human Person as an Embodied Spirit Presented by: John Kerth Fernando, LPT Philosophical Anthropology Philosophical Anthropology  Monism This theory holds that man is composed of one basic substance or principle as the ground of reality. In other words, the reality of man consists of a single element, whether matter or spirit.  Dualism This theory holds that man is made up of two irreducible elements—matter and spirit. [  Views in Theories of Human Compositions 1. First point of 2. Second point of View View 3. Third point of View [Biblical View]  First point of View According to Karl Rahner, Man is a unity of body and soul. Body and soul are equally real, true, radical, substantial, and original. They are neither uniform nor deducible from each other.  First point of View There is no existential cleavage between them. Yet they can be distinguished from each other. Soul is the form of the body. We can never encounter mere bodies and never encounter pure soul.  First point of View There is no existential cleavage between them. Yet they can be distinguished from each other. Soul is the form of the body. We can never encounter mere bodies and never encounter pure soul.  First point of View Man’s matter and spirit are two independent entities, and they interact with each other. As two independent elements, it is possible for the spirit and the body to either temporarily or permanently separate at a particular period of time. First point of View The temporary condition may be when the person becomes unconscious or in a clinical state of comatose; or permanent, when the person dies and the physical body decomposes. This view was supported/advocated by St. Thomas Aquinas, Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud.  second point of View Man is matter-spirit. Just as ice for a certain time, and when this ice is melted it will again turn into water. Thus, matter is a passing state of spirit, although it does not melt immediately as ice melts into a water.  second point of View Therefore, man doubts if matter, which takes a thousand forms ever really turn into spirit. In reality, matter comes from spirit, matter in its true nature is spirit.  second point of View Matter is an action of spirit which has materialized and has become intelligible to our sense of perception and has thus become a reality to our senses, hiding the spirit on it. It has covered the existence of spirit from those who look at life from the outside.  third point of View Man is made up of body, soul, and spirit. The body is the external, physical part of man which he uses for seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling. Through the body, he is able to have physical contact with his environment.  third point of View The soul, which is regarded as a distinct entity from the body and the spiritual part of man, is something that cannot be seen and constitutes the inner part of man. (The mind and the will) Furthermore, according to Aristotle, there are living things and nonliving things that exist in this world.  Human Metaphysical Paradox 1. Man as Finite and 2. Man’s universal Infinite. entity 3. Changing and Permanence of man  Man as Finite and Infinite. The first is a tangible and material substance while the second is just the opposite. The flesh signifies material bodily, tangible substance. The spirit or the soul signifies the immaterial, non-bodily, invisible, reality in man. Man as Finite and Infinite. Yet the two seemingly contradictory concepts are realized and united intimately in man. Hence, they are one yet divided, conjoined yet disjoined. Hence, man paradoxically speaking, is the “divided union”—the disjunction-conjunction of opposites.  Man’s universal entity As a living existential reality, man is invested with individuality, differentiating and accidental characteristics, such as height, weight, complexion, sex, size, and all those qualities by which he is physically and personally identified. As a human being he shares the same human nature with all other men, and is therefore a universal human entity  Changing and Permanence of man The most undeniable fact about man is that he is constantly changing. Yet equally undeniable and indisputable is that he remains unchanged by change. He remains the same before, during, and after the change.  Changing and Permanence of man For example, in the Law of Obligation and Contracts, the same person who borrowed money, say 10 years ago, is the same person to pay despite the many changes that took place in him in the interval— physical, physiological, psychological, etc.  Man as a Biological Man and His Body Being There’s no greater dynamism in life than life itself. The odds of life’s existing are rare, but once it starts it’s very difficult to stop. And we are part of that dynamic process of life: cells dividing and finding new ways to beat the odds.  Man as a Biological Being Being a part of the physical order of nature, man develops size, weight, shape and color and other biological attributes followed naturally by other living things. He is able to reproduce. “He occupies space and moves through time” and is “subject to the laws of gravitation”. Man as a Biological Being Our bodies are constantly changing. They exhibit defect, vulnerability, change, and decay. They bear the intimations of our mortality. The way we perceive and feel about our own bodies contribute significantly to the way we perceive and feel about the world. Man as an Embodied Subject Man as More than his Body The statement “man is an embodied subject” implies that our bodies are not accessories. Our bodies are essential to our being integrated persons. Our bodies are symbols of interiority and subject to the laws of the material world. Man as an Embodied Subject Bodily existence also means that we must accept our genetic endowment, which sets the baseline for certain possibilities and limitations to our physical, intellectual, and psychological capacities. Man as Greater than other Animals The traits and characteristics which differentiate man from other forms of animals are his social, cultural, and intellectual attributes.  Language Man has the ability to communicate, compose sentences, and carry on intelligent conversation. Communication is an essential means by which people are linked together to achieve a common purpose for the common good.  Creativity Man’s highly developed brain enables him to invent or create. Because of his power of imagination, he can make tools, machines, devices to make his life is easier and enjoyable.  Social and Legal Perspective Man as a social being passes laws, establishes rules of conduct and develop policies that reflect his needs and that of others.  Historical Consciousness Man is conscious of history, the branch of knowledge dealing with significant past events that affect his life and that of others.  Aesthetic Taste Man has aesthetic taste and appreciation.  Ethics Man values right and wrong to promote order in his life and in his society.  Faith or Creed Man is a religious being. He engages and worships a super being to whom he owes allegiance, loyalty and respect. He gets involved in ritual and ceremonial practices that provide him spirit nourishment.