THE HUMAN PERSON AS AN
Embodied
Spirit
Quarter 1-Module 3
What is Human Person?
•
A human person is typically with a body
which is tangible and has three components
c o m p o s e d o f S O U L , M I N D , a n d S P I R I T.
•
Also,he or she is entitled and granted
rights and privileges by the state
which he or she legally being.
WHAT IS EMBODIED
SPIRIT?
~an intimating core living within each of us.
~ the driving force behind what we actually think,do and say.
~ the reflection of our total being by which our sensations
lead to our human feelings,emotions, and decision.
~ In the context and views of Christian philosophy.THE
“embodied spirit”means that the body is not separate from
the soul, just as the soul is not separate from the body.
What is a Human
Transcendence?
> Transcendence is your ability to surpass your limits.You are
able to transcend your limit through your physical and mental
abilities.
> St. Thomas Aquinas “of all creatures, human
beings have the unique power to change themselve
a n d t h i n g s f o r t h e b e t t e r.
Lesson 1: Limits and Possibilities for
Transcendence
The Human Person as an
Embodied Spirit
“the body is not essence of the soul, but the soul by the nature of its essence can
be united to the body,so that, properly speaking, not the soul alone, but the
“composite,” is the species.And the very fact that the soul in a certain way
requires the body,for its operation proves that soul is endowed with a grade of
intellectuality inferior to that of an angle, who is not united to a body.
The Union of Body and
Soul
T h e s o u l i s t h e s o u rc e o f t h e s e
phenomena and is characterized by
them,viz. by the power of self-
nutrition, sensation, thinking and
• m o v e m e n t ; f u r t h e r, s i n c e i t i s t h e
soul by which primarily we live,
p e rc e i v e a n d t h i n k - i t f o l l o w s t h a t
the soul must be an account and
essence, not matter or subject… it is
the soul which is the quality of a
c e r t a i n k i n d o f b o d y.
Physical Self Cognitive self
~ is something that can be seen in a ~ is something within and cannot be
persons physical appearance, it deals physically seen , it is what makes
with the essential of a human person ups the essential features of the
of the what of a person ,which includes human way of living that deals with
his/her appearance such as WHO of a humam person, which
gender ,color ,height ,body type. includes his/her beliefs,desire
dreams and intention
Human Nature as
Freedom
Sartre asserted:“ I am condemned to be free”.As
stated,freedom is not about wanting to do things
but the being-for-itself acting upon autonomous
c h o i c e s , W h a t d o e s t h i s i m p l y ? Yo u m a k e y o u r
choice,and you take responsibility for your
choice .Blaming others is not possibility for a
human whose actions for guided by his or her
f r e e d o m . To b e t o t a l l y f r e e o p e n y o u t o a
Multitude of possibilities,yet it may limit you
because the future project is not yet your being
Hinduism
~ Brahman Is Self-Hood
~ At the heart of Hinduism lies the idea of human beings’ quest for absolute truth,
so that one’s soul and the Brahman or Atman (Absolute Soul) might become one.
For the Indians, God first created sound and the universe arose from it. As the most
sacred sound, The Aum (Om) is the root of the universe and everything that exists,
and it continues to hold everything together.
~ Hindus believe that the soul is eternal but is bound by the law of Karma (action)
to the world of matter, which it can escape only after spiritual progress through an
endless series of births.
~ God allots rewards and punishments to all beings
according to their karma
(Puligandia 1997). Like a prisoner enclosed within the
wall of his person, a human
b e i n g ’s s o u l c a n b e s a i d t o b e t e m p o r a r i l y e n c a s e d i n h i s
b o d y. F o r t h i s r e a s o n ,
h u m a n i t y ’s b a s i c g o a l i n l i f e i s t h e l i b e r a t i o n ( m o k s h a )
of spirit (jiva).
~ Hinduism holds that humanity’s life is a continuous cycle
(samsara). While it is the spirit is neither born nor does it
die, the body, on the other hand, goes through a
transmigratory series of birth and death.
~ to the belief that a person’s soul passes into some other
creature, human, or animal. If the person has led a good
life, the soul goes upward the scale. The soul of an evil
person, on the other hand, may pass into the body of an
animal.
Buddhism: From tears to
enlightenment
Gautama’s life was devoted to sharing his “Dharma” or Law of Salvation- a
simple presentation of the gospel of inner cultivation of right spiritual attitudes,
coupled with self-imposed discipline whereby bodily desires would be channeled in
the right directions.
The teaching of Buddha has been set forth traditionally in the “Four Noble
Truths” leading to the “Eightfold Path” to perfect character or archatship, which in
turn gave assurance of entrance into Nirvana at death.
In Four Noble Truths,
Gautama taught:
(1) life is full of suffering.
(2) suffering is caused by passionate desires,
lusts, cravings.
(3) only as these are obliterated, will suffering
cease.
(4) such eradication of desire may be
accomplished only by following the Eightfold
Path of earnest endeavor.
These steps are:
(1) right belief in acceptance of the “Fourfold Truth”.
(2) right aspiration for oneself and for others.
(3) right speech that harms no one.
(4) right conduct, motivated by goodwill toward all human
beings.
(5) right means of livelihood or earning one’s living by
honorable means.
(6) right endeavor, or effort to direct one’s energies toward
wise ends.
(7) right mindfulness in choosing topics for thought; and
(8) right meditation, or concentration to the point of complete
absorption in mystic ecstasy.
Lesson 2: Own Limitations and the Possibilities for
Transcendence
St. Augustine of Hippo and St. Thomas of Aquinas
“Faith is to believe what you
do not see: the reward of this
faith is to see what you
believe.”
The Biblical God and Humanity
St. Augustine (354-430 CE)
> philosophy is amor sapiential, the love of wisdom; it aims to produce happiness.
For Augustine, wisdom is not just an abstract logical construction; but it is
substantially existent as the Divine Logos. Hence philosophy, is the love of God: it is
then, religious. Teachings of Christianity are based on the love of God, which
Augustine’s, Aquinas’, and Anselm’s arguments are basically rooted.
> Christianity, as presenting the full revelation of the true God, is the only full and
true philosophy. However, we can love only that which we know. When comes this
knowledge of God? It begins with faith and is made perfect by understanding. All
knowledge leads to God, so that faith supplements and enlightens reason that it may
proceed to ever richer and fuller understanding. Indeed, without this enlightenment of
faith, reason invariably sooner or later, goes astray.
As a French poetry laments: Philosophie: I have everything. I
have seen all. I knew all. I have heard all. I have it all. I
had lost… I am a bit lost.
It should be taken as a humble acceptance of the fact that
human beings alone, without God, are bound to fail. As stated
in John 5:5, I am the vine; you are the branches. If you
remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart
from me, you can do nothing. Further to quote Psalms 4: The
thoughts are very deep! The dull man cannot know. The
stupid cannot understand this.
St. Thomas of Aquinas,
a medieval philosopher, of all creatures, human beings have the unique power to
change themselves and things for the better. His philosophy is best grasped in his
treatises Summa Contra Gentiles and Summa Theologica. St. Thomas considers
the human being as moral agent. We are both spiritual and body elements, the
spiritual and material. The unity between both elements indeed helps us to
understand our complexity as human beings. Our spirituality separates us from
animals; it differentiates moral dimension of our fulfillment in action. Through
our spirituality we have a conscience. Thus, whether we choose to be “good” or
“evil” becomes our responsibility.
St. Augustine and St. Thomas of Aquinas:
Will and Love
For St. Augustine, physically we are free yet, yet morally bound to obey the law.
The Eternal Law is God Himself. According to this law, humanity must do well
and avoid evil, hence the existence of moral obligation in every human being.
Christian life is not easy. However, no human being should become an end
tohimself. We are responsible to our neighbor as we to your actions.
The truth of St. Augustine’s message still rings true to this day. Through
prayer, modesty, fasting, and other sound measures that the Church
recommends, or God provides, can purity of heart, mind, and body be
maintained and daily lived (Johnston 2006).
For St. Augustine, though we are physically free, one does not have a
right to do anything if it is not morally right or if one will hurt another.
Rightness means pleasing God. God has given us a choice to discern
between right and wrong though we are often ignorant in this manner
unless we are wholly sincere, honest, and pure (Johnston 2006).
Own Limitations and Possibilities for
their Transcendence
Many of us would experience any of the
• following: for emerging from deep within and
felt sense of being in tune with the mystery of our
own being, and with the mystery of life that
transcends us. Let us consider the following
examples (Edwards 1983).
A . F o rg i v e n e s s – When we forgive, we are freed from
our anger and bitterness because of the actions and/or
w o r d s o f a n o t h e r. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e h a r d n e s s o f o u r
heart is reinforced by whole series of rational
arguments.
B . T h e B e a u t y o f N a t u re – There is perfection in
every single flower; this is what the three philosophies
believed. For a hug, for every sunrise and sunset, to eat
t o g e t h e r a s a f a m i l y, a r e o u r m i r a c l e s . T h e s e k i n d s o f
experiences can be truly moments of grace. They touch us
deeply and the human hearts is spontaneously lifted.
During this experience, we need to offer praise.
C . Vu l n e r a b i l i t y - To b e v u l n e r a b l e i s t o b e h u m a n . To
b e i n v u l n e r a b l e i s s o m e h o w i n h u m a n . We n e e d t o
acknowledge the help of other people in our lives. Such
moments of poverty and dependence on others are not a
sign of weakness but being true with ourselves.
D. Failure – Our failures force us to confront our
weaknesses and limitations. Such acceptance of our
failures makes us hope and trust that all can be brought
into good. Even if we have sinned, as Augustine had,
there is hope and forgiveness.
E. Loneliness – Our loneliness can be rooted from
our sense of vulnerability and fear of death. With our
loneliness, we can realize that our dependence on other
people or gadgets is a possessiveness that we can be free
from.
F. Love – To l o v e i s t o e x p e r i e n c e r i c h n e s s , p o s i t i v i t y, a n d
transcendence. Whether in times of ecstatic moments, the
love for a friend, between family members or a significant
person, can open in us something in the other which takes us
b e y o n d o u r s e l v e s . I n B u d d h i s t s v i e w, t h e m o r e w e l o v e , t h e
more risks and fears there are in life (Aguilar 2010).
THANKS
A LOT
BY GROUP 2
DESIGN THINKING IS
PEOPLE CENTERED,
HIGHLY CREATIVE AND
HANDS ON
D I E G O M A RT I N
