Lesson 8: Human Persons and Death PDF

LESSON 8: HUMAN PERSONS AS ORIENTED TOWARDS THEIR IMPENDING DEATH (Phenomenology of Death)  CONTENT STANDARD  The learner understands human as beings oriented towards their impending death PERFORMANCE STANDARD  The learner writes philosophical a...

LESSON 8: HUMAN PERSONS AS ORIENTED TOWARDS THEIR IMPENDING DEATH (Phenomenology of Death)  CONTENT STANDARD  The learner understands human as beings oriented towards their impending death PERFORMANCE STANDARD  The learner writes philosophical a reflectio on the n meaning of his/her own life LEARNING COMPETENCIES  Recognize the meaning of his/her own life  REVIEW OF PREVIOUS LESSON:  What is the philosophical relation between the human person and society? LESSON 8 THE PERSONS ORIENTED HUMAN TOWARDS AS IMPENDING DEATH THEIR OBJECTIVES: 1.Explain the significance of death in the existence of the person; 2.Recognize the meaning of their own lives; 3.Enumerate the objectives they want to achieve and the projects they want to do in life; 4. Explain where their lives lead to; and 5.Reflect on the meaning of their own lives. INQUIRE AND DISCOVER  Have you ever wondered about how nothing seems to last forever?  Foods, drinks, clothes, money, etc…  What about the cycle of being born, growing up, getting sick, and DYING?  “nanghihinayang” (regret/frustrated/dissatisfied/disapp ointed) We are temporal beings or Beings oriented towards death. DISCUSS  Discuss in class your initial ideals and impressions about death.  Why do you think some people have such a negative view regarding death? IMPRESSIONS/IDEAS -”Fear” of death -”Accept/ready” to die -Death as the “end of life” - “postpone” death - “Freedom” in death - “Escape” from reality - “there is peace” in death - “fulfillment” /”meaning” DEATH  How does the reality of death define our lives?  Death is commonly understood as “the end of bodily functions which signals the end of a person’s life.”  Also refers to the separation of the body and spirit.  The body, being material, is bound by the laws of time and space and is subject to growth, death and decay.  We cannot deny the material nature of the person.  We are born into human life, we grow and age, and we eventually DIE.  The human person is a being moving towards his impending death.  This makes a person’s life limited in time.  This limit has led to several attitudes towards death.  These attitudes prevent us from reflecting on the reality of death.  Death is an integral part of human life.  The acceptance of our temporality can bring about a sense of freedom in us.  Since we cannot do everything in our lifetime, we must be able to reflect on what we need to do and identify the goals we need to achieve so we can say that we have lived a meaningful existence. “Phenomenology of death” Phenomenology-A philosophical view/understanding of reality based “that which appears meaningful on one’s consciousness by way of direct to awareness.”  Death-is the coming to end of the “there-being” (“Dasein”) of man  Man is thrown in the world doomed with possibilities.  Death-is the extreme possibility of man  Possibility- “not-yet” (may or may not happen)  What is the difference between death as a possibility from other possibilities?  Death=necessary possibility  Death=the transition from “Dasein” to “no longer Dasein”  Coming to end of Dasein  “possibilities”=potentialities E.g. YOU=artist, parent, engineer, lawyer, etc…  “Death is the possibility of the impossibility of all possibilities” What does this mean? Because of the possibility of death, all other possibilities (such as becoming the person you want to be, etc…) will become impossible.  How should I live my life before it finally ends?  Some philosophers view end as a terminus which means the full stop or end of a line.  For them, life ends and nothing follows.  Others, however, consider end as “telos” which means goal, purpose, or fulfillment.  Although, we are oriented towards our death, death is not the goal of life.  The human person is not born into this world just so he or she could die.  Man is put into this world to live a meaningful life, to be virtuous, and achieve excellence. With this in mind, we can look at two experiences which make us reflect on the meaning of life: …happiness and suffering What makes you happy? What brings you happiness? …food, clothes, gadgets, achievements, moments with your friends and family???etc… How do you define true happiness?  Noble good-is one which is pursued for its own sake; it is good in itself.  Useful good- is considered good so long as it serves as means to an end; its goodness is found only from what it can provide.  Pleasurable good- is good so long as it provides some form of pleasure, though it does not have to be physical.  Why do we suffer?  Suffering place when takes patiently endure we unpleasantness, discomfort, and pain.  Physical suffering-discomforts such as discomfort, hunger, distress, and pain.  Mental suffering-emotional and mental states such as depression, anxiety, fear, loneliness, and grief.  Negative experiences are part of our lives.  Without it, we are unable to grow and improve, and our positive experiences lose meaning and significance How do happiness, suffering, and death give meaning to your life? Summary:  Death is the end of bodily functions which signals the end of a person’s life. It also refers to the separation of the body and the soul.  The human person is an embodied spirit or the unity of a body and a spirit. The body grows and dies, while the soul continues to exists even after the body has passed. Summary:  While there is no freedom in the inevitability of death, we have the freedom to live our lives well or not. Temporality challenges us to make choices that will be good for us and the people around us.  Although we are oriented towards our death, death is not the goal of life. The challenge is to live a Summary:  Happiness is a state of being, not just an emotional experience or a chosen mental attitude. We do not choose happiness, we choose the means to achieve it.  A good is a source of happiness.  The kind of happiness that can be gained from a good is also closely tied to its nature. Real happiness can be found in more permanent Summary:  As we approach our death, we experience both happiness and suffering.  As intersubjective beings who have the tendency to form bonds with others, it is only natural that the meaning of life be found when we open ourselves to others.  This means that although we will eventually die, we have an Assignment: Draw a symbol of your idea of a meaningful life Make a “Bucket List” of what you wish to do or accomplish in life?