THE HUMAN PERSON

AS AN
EMBODIED SPIRIT.
 WHAT IS THE
HUMAN PERSON?

WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL?

MAN: human race
HUMAN: species
HUMAN BEING: use to distinguish man from
other animals.
PERSON: human as the totality of an
individual.
HUMAN NATURE: distinguish human form
other creature.
 ?
Am I a rock?
Am I a lamp?
Am I a dog?
 How do you
differ from the
dog?
You put clothes on your pet.
You give your pet toys to play with.
You make it live in your house.
You teach it to behave properly around
other people.
You give it birthday parties and invite
other people to attend and celebrate.
Is your pet truly aware of what is
happening around it?
Can your pet truly feel emotions in
the same way that you do?
Is your pet capable of reflection?
Can it question its nature or identity as
a dog?
 TRAITS THAT
DEFINES A PERSON
 1. SELF-AWARENESS
It refers to the person having a
clear perception of oneself,
including his thoughts,
emotions, identity, and
actions.
A human person knows
that he/she is living an
experience and is an
active participant in this
experience.
“SELF”
 I am a person.
I am alive.
I exist.
I am here. I am present.
I am living at this very moment.
The self enables us to reach
out and interact with things
outside of ourselves.
 2. SELF-DETERMINATION
It refers to the capability of persons
to make choices and decisions
based on their own preferences,
to monitor and regulate their
actions, and
be goal oriented and self-directed.
 2. SELF-DETERMINATION
It refers to the capability of persons
to make choices and decisions
based on their own preferences,
to monitor and regulate their
actions, and
be goal oriented and self-directed.
3. “FREEWILL”
I broke the No, I did not
vase, broke the
Mama vase, Mama

I bumped into
the table and
the case fell,
Mama
“Consequence”
CARLO PLAYS IN THE ROOM
CARLO BUMPS INTO THE TABLE
VASE FALLS TO THE FLOOR AND BREAKS
MOTHER GOES INTO LIVING ROOM TO
INVESTIGATE

MOTHER ASK HIM IF HE BROKE THE VASE

CARLO RESPONDS
??????
Morality
 Human action is an
important aspect of the
person that many
philosophers consider
human action as a way to
reveal a person’s true
nature.
 I am a person.
My actions are my own and are
made freely.
I know that I am the cause of
my actions.
I know that my actions have
consequences.
 EXTERNALITY
The capability to
reach out and
interact with others
and the world.
 I am a person.
My actions are my own and are
made freely.
I know that I am the cause of
my actions.
I know that my actions have
consequences.
 Our interactions
with others define
our existence as
persons.
 DIGNITY
Innate right to be
valued and
respected.
 DIGNITY
Each person is
worth the same as
another person.