Chapter 2: The Nature Of The Human Person PDF

THE NATURE OF THE HUMAN PERSON CHAPTER 2 Learning Objectives At the end of this chapter, the learners are expected to: 1. Describe the nature of human person 2. Identify the importance of a person's ability and capacity 3. Describe a person's unique qualities that make him/her a prod...

THE NATURE OF THE HUMAN PERSON CHAPTER 2 Learning Objectives At the end of this chapter, the learners are expected to: 1. Describe the nature of human person 2. Identify the importance of a person's ability and capacity 3. Describe a person's unique qualities that make him/her a productive social being OVERVIEW This chapter discusses the nature of the human person. It answers these questions: What is a human person? How can a human person attain his highest potential and contribute to the common good? Even during the ancient times, these questions have been relentlessly asked and evaluated. Psychologist, philosophers, theologians and scientists have written in-depth analyses of the human nature using a wide range of theories and observations. THE HUMAN PERSON It is essentially difficult to understand the human person, human nature, and the possibility of achieving a productive society through the highest potential of a person. Eric L. Estanol (2007) defines the human person as having physical, spiritual, emotional and intellectual substance. Dictionaries define the human person as a “self-cons'cious animal.”  CHARACTERISTICS OF A HUMAN PERSON Eddie Babor (2007) discusses in his book, The Human Person Not Real But Existing, the several characteristics of a human person, namely: 1. A human person can reason out and distinguish between right and wrong. He/She can rationalize and think freely. 2. A human person has the freedom to do or not to do things that he/she thinks is right or wrong. However, every person is responsible for his/her actions. 3. A human person possesses an identification, which makes him/her a unique individual. Persons who are born as twins have the same characteristics and physical features, but they are unique because each has his/her own perception, set of values, and priorities in life. 4. A human person is a social being and cannot detach from other creatures in this world characterized by relationships with creations. 5. A human person is sexual by nature, but his/her expression of his/her sexuality makes him/her a unique individual. A person's sexual expression is manifested through his/her emotions, attitudes, feelings, and actions, which exemplify his/her uniqueness from other animals. BIBLICAL VIEWS The human person has a superiority and dignity inherited from the Supreme Being. (Genesis 1: 26, 27) God entrusted to the human person the care of creatures on the earth, aware of challenges, possibilities and difficulties he will encounter in life. Grace C. Agbuya (1997) states that, man is designated by God to exercise dominion over other creatures in his everyday use of freedom, search for happiness, and openness to the world around him.  PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS According to Protagoras, human person is the measure of all things that exist and do not exist. Plato claimed that the perfect human being does not exist in this world because what is in this world is just an imperfect copy of humanity's original self in the realm of ideas. Parmenides presented that man has knowledge of something that exists, for man who does not exist is nothing. A human being becomes evident when he starts to share his thoughts and ideas with others. Rogelio B. Maguigad (2006) Discusses in his book, Philosophy of the Human Being, different philosophical views of the human person. 1. Conservatism 2. Liberalism 3. Socialism 4. Fascism  Conservatism The conservative view is not entirely positive and definitely non egalitarian. Some men contribute more than others to society and, therefore, must be rewarded and honored by society. All human persons may not be of equal value to society. Some men are intended to rule, the rest to obey. This is in line with one of the Confucian ethical ideas that states that the superior man must rule and the commoner must bow before his/her authority  Liberalism Liberalism has a more egalitarian view, which believes that a human person is capable of reasoning out, rationalizing, and having the capacity to live productively if only given the opportunity. Reason is common to all human beings, and this fact raises them above the level of beasts and enables them to know the principles of suitable living. According to Mencius, "Every human being can become a sage king, that is, anyone can gain the wisdom to rule."  Socialism In socialism, a human being readily engages in cooperative social activities when given the opportunity. Unfortunately, this natural cooperative instinct is not fostered when some people selfishly exploit other people. Marx believes that man is driven primarily by desire for economic gains. In his Das Kapital, he considers the human person as a social animal; if he/she fails to relate actively with others and with nature, he/she loses himself/herself and becomes alienated. His/Her drives lose human qualities and assume animal qualities.  Fascism Fascism believes that the country is what matters most. The human person can prosper only when the nation prospers. Like the conservatives, the fascists contend that some human beings are naturally and racially better than others. CLASSICAL GREEK VIEWS Greeks define the human person as “a rational animal.” An animal's vegetative sensory and rational element is integrated within his being. He is a material (body) and spiritual (soul) being. As vegetative creature, the human person needs to have food to develop and reproduce. As a sentient being, he needs sensory perceptions to gain knowledge. As a rational animal he needs the power of thought, reason, and cognition. SOCIOLOGICAL VIEWS Lucila L. Salcedo (2001) states that we are looking at this social world or the various ways that human beings behave in a social way. Hence, when we talk about society or the social world, what we are really referring to is the behavior of human beings.  Wilfredo R. San Juan (2007) - states that there is a number of common ideas about the human person: 1. A human person is a social animal that cooperates with others in some way to create the social world in which they live. 2. The social behavior of a human person is learned; it is not instinctive. In this respect, the argument is that one has to learn, from the moment he/she is born, how to be not just a human being but also a recognizable member of the society into which he/she happens to have been born.  Wilfredo R. San Juan (2007) 3. A human being is a recognizable member of society who focuses on the group to which he/she belongs. These groups are many and varied, but the largest group to which people belong is a society. 4. Sociology is a discipline that looks into the totality of relationships in an individual's life. Sociologists do not restrict their studies to a single dimension of an individual's life (e.g., economics, politics, history, geography, and psychology). Although each of these areas is significant and interesting in varying degrees, it is only by looking at how these relationships affect each other that one can arrive at a complete picture of human social behavior. HIERARCHY OF NEEDS Abraham Maslow, presented the levels of hierarchy of needs in his theory of personality: 1. Physiological needs 2. Safety needs 3. Social needs 4. Self-esteem needs 5. Self actualization HIERARCHY OF NEEDS 1.Physiological needs are biological and basic needs, such as water and clothing. These needs are immensely important because they are essential for survival. 2. Safety needs include security and protection from physical and emotional harm. 3. Social needs include affection, a sense of belonging, and friendship with which people overcome feelings of loneliness and alienation. 4. Self-esteem needs include achievement, mastery, and confidence derived from recognition, respect, and attention that, when satisfied, the human person feels confident and valuable. However, when they are not met, the human person feels inferior, weak, helpless, and worthless. 5. Self-actualization means a person has reached the peak of his/her potential.  Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Maslow's theory points out that a person needs to satisfy first the lower needs before realizing his self-worth and potential. Accordingly, when the lower needs are not met, a person cannot completely devote his time to developing his full potential. Maslow's states that self-actualization is the driving force of human personality. Thus a person cannot appreciate intellectual and aesthetic learning when he is hungry or if he feels unsafe. Artistic and scientific endeavors do not flourish in a society where people must struggle for food, shelter and safety.  McLeod (2020) presents the theory of Maslow and points out that a human person has to satisfy his/her needs. Without accomplishing the lower needs, a person's self-worth and potential cannot be achieved. A person must have enough time to develop his/her full potential, which maintains the self-actualization that drives human personality. A human person cannot appreciate intellectual and aesthetic learning if he/she is struggling for food, shelter, and safety. Self-actualization can be achieved after all the other needs are satisfied.  McLeod (2020) also presents Carl Rogers' human person-centered therapy theory that every human person has within an inherent desire for a positive transformation and development of capacities. People possess innate goodness no matter how imprudent their actions are. However, it is the individual who will eventually create his/her own path and not the people around him/her. The self-actualized human person allows the innate goodness to transform further. Only by understanding himself/herself first can he/she effectively relate to others. Utilizing the gifts and talents to reach one's goals and helping others realize their worth as people are challenges from the Supreme Being Carl Rogers states that a person-centered therapy theory, every person has within him an inherent desire toward a positive transformation and the development of his capacities. He possesses an innate goodness no matter how imprudent his actions are. Person-centered Therapy Theory Based on this theory, the society should be a sounding board of reflection in life, so that an individual can realize his problem and formulate solution for it. However it is the individual who will pave his own path and not the people around him. He is the only one qualified to choose the path that he should take. It may not always be smooth, but that does not diminish his value as a person  Person-centered Therapy Theory A self-actualized person allows his innate goodness to transform further. Only by understanding himself first can he effectively relate to others. Furthermore, every person must understand that he only exists in this world for a temporary assignment. As such he should untilize his gifts and talents to reach his goals and to help others realize their own worth as a person. He must take on the challenge that the Supreme Being has bestowed upon him. CONCLUSION It is basically difficult to understand the human person. He is described as having physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual attributes, capable of knowing, loving, and believing. Various biblical, philosophical, classical and sociological views and perspectives offer essential insights into the human nature. Man is a social being with various needs to satisfy to enable him to reach the peak of his potential, so that he cloud effectively relate to others and be a productive part of his community