Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person PDF

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person The Human Person as an Embodied Subject Presented by: Campos, Angelo. N  CONTENTS OF THIS TEMPLATE Lesson 1: Understanding Human Person Lesson 2: Relationship of the Body and the Spirit Lesson 3: Limitations and Transcendence ...

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person The Human Person as an Embodied Subject Presented by: Campos, Angelo. N  CONTENTS OF THIS TEMPLATE Lesson 1: Understanding Human Person Lesson 2: Relationship of the Body and the Spirit Lesson 3: Limitations and Transcendence  OBJECTIVE At the end of this module, the learners will be able to: 1. Define the meaning of the human person 2. Identify and describe the character traits of the human person 3. Recognize own limitations and possibilities; and 4. Evaluate own limitations and the possibilities for their transcendence. What is a Human Person? A human person is a concept that blends biological, psychological, and philosophical dimensions to describe an individual of the species Homo sapiens. A human person is defined not just by biological characteristics but also by their psychological depth, philosophical identity, and social context. This multifaceted view  What is a Human? Philosophers look for in their search to describe the human person by defining it using the following character traits: 1. Self-awareness Refers to the person’s clear perception of oneself, which includes her thoughts, emotions, identity, and actions. It is also driven by rationality or human thought. It is an awareness not just of his or her surroundings but also of his or her existence, which leads to the notion of “self” – a person who perceives and experiences interiority, which is the quality of being focused on one’s inner life and identity. Having an inner world allows a person to create goals, dreams, and plans. Self-determination  Is the capability of persons to make choices and decisions based on their preferences, monitor, and regulate their actions, and be goal-oriented and self- directed. As human persons, we act, and we are aware of our actions. Is associated with freewill, consequence, and morality. Freewill enables us to act willfully, control our actions, and recognize ourselves as the source of action. The consequence is the result or effect of an action or condition. And orality refers to the goodness or badness of an act. Externalit y Is the capability to reach out and interact with others and the world. Our interaction with others and the world is externality. We believe that no man is an island and that we need to reach out to others to give meaning to our existence as persons. We grow and develop not only through our thoughts and action, but also through the influence of other people whom we meet and interact with in our lives. Dignity Is the innate right to be valued and to be respected. As human persons, we have an innate worth or value. Each person is worth the same as another person in the sense that every person is priceless, unique, unrepeatable, and irreplaceable. We do not equate our value to any material thing that we have. Outside forces or characteristics such as beauty, intelligence, or skills do not define our dignity. A person’s incapability and criminal act will not make him or her less of a person he/she is expected to be. Since a person has dignity, he/she deserves to be treated fairly. The recognition of the dignity of the human person is the basis for the recognition of human rights. Lesson 2: Relationship between the body and the spirit Activity 1.2 : My Limitations! Directions: Form a group of 4, share to the group your limitations or weaknesses that you have as a human person. Philosophers believe that what makes a human person is not just all about its traits and characteristics. It is also not all about its physicality, such as being tall, dark, or having black hair. But philosophers also point out another unseen aspect of being a human person, which is the spirit. The union of the body and spirit is what a human person is, according to philosophers. Spirit refers to an intangible element of a human person enables one to exercise thoughts, possess awareness, interiority, and the capacity to reach out to the outside world and other persons. The Human Person is an Embodied Spirit. The idea of the human person as an “embodied spirit” does not necessarily refer to the incarnation or materialization of spirit as an immaterial entity. The embodiment of the spirit in the context of Christian philosophy specifically refers to the inseparable union of body and soul. Thus, when we say “embodied spirit” we mean that the body is not separate from the soul, just as the soul is not separate from the body. So, when we speak that the human person is an embodied spirit, we specifically mean that the human person is the point of convergence between the material and spiritual entities, that is, between the body and soul. We cannot say, therefore, of the human person without the union of body and soul. The human body also stands as the mediator between the material and the spiritual world. Being an embodied spirit, the person can encounter the world of objects in a manner that transcends the physical. An example of this is a prayer where the human body becomes an object of the world to reach the spiritual world (God) since in saying a prayer, the body is required. Lesson 3: Limitations and Transcendence Activity 1.3 : This Is Me! Directions: Think of a profound emotional experience you had and reflect on how your nature as an embodied spirit gave meaning to this experience. Write your response in our activity notebook. As defined in the Merriam dictionary, a is “something limitation that controls how much of something is possible or allowed”. This means that though the nature of the person as an embodied spirit provides numerous opportunities to explore everything around us and even within us, our human nature imposes limitations. It can be said that the person is very biologically deficient being. We do not have the natural ability to fly. We cannot breathe underwater without using breathing apparatus. We cannot survive in certain environments like other animals. As defined in the Merriam dictionary, is “something limitation that controls how much of something is possible or allowed”. This means that though the nature of the person as an embodied spirit provides numerous opportunities to explore everything around us and even within us, our human nature imposes limitations. It can be said that the person is very biologically deficient being. We do not have the natural ability to fly. We cannot breathe underwater without using breathing apparatus. We cannot survive in certain environments like other animals. Three Categories of Limitations 1. Facticity refers to the things in our lives that are already given and did not choose them. It also refers to all the details that surround us in the present, including our environment, language, past decisions, past and present relationships, and even our future death. 2. Spatial-Temporal is about being limited due to our being temporal. This means that we will not live forever because we have a limited period of stay in this world (we call this finitude). We are just passers of this place. Our limitations here are based on time, ability, etc. (the not yet and the no longer). Just like a five years old child cannot put on lipstick because she is still a child (the not yet), and a senior citizen cannot bear a child because she is no longer capable of reproduction. On the level of being spatial individuals, we are limited by our bodies to be present in two or more places at the same time. We are set to be in one place at a time. For example, one cannot be in Manila and Cebu at the same time because his body does not allow him to. 3. Body as Intermediary is about having a body that links us to the world appears to be a source of limitation because we can never really directly and fully experience the world. We have established that we are our bodies, but also more than our bodies. Our body then serves as an intermediary between the physical world and us. It is because of my body that I experience the world as my world and not the world of others. Activity 3.3: My Commitment!” Directions: Make a personal commitment to overcome your limitations. Track your progress in overcoming them in your reflection journal. Submit an update on your progress after a month. I- IDENTIFICATION Directions: Identify what is being described in each statement. Choose a trait that defines a human person in the box. Write your answer in your activity notebook. 1. It is referred to the person having a clear perception of oneself, including his or her thoughts, emotions, identity, and actions. 2. Through this trait, the person needs to act freely and with due regard for the consequences of his or her actions. 3. It refers to the capability of the person to make choices and decisions based on his preferences, monitor and regulate his actions, and be goal-oriented and selfdirected. 4. It distinguishes the human person from an animal because he or she has the innate right to be valued and respected. 5. In this trait, the human person can reach and interact with others and the world. II- Identification 1. Self-determination 2. Dignity 3. Externality 4. Self-awareness 5. Self-determination Assignment: Creative Expression Draw, paint, collage, or use digital art to create a visual depiction that embodies the concept of the human being as an embodied spirit, emphasizing the connection between the body and soul, the limitations of humanity, and the possibility of transcending beyond this world. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV): "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore THANK YOU FOR LISTENING