CHAPTER 2

The Nature of The

Human Person
 1. Describe the nature of the
human person

Learning Objectives 2. Identify the importance of a

person's ability and capacity
AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER,
THE LEARNERS ARE EXPECTED TO: 3. Describe the person's unique
qualities that make
her/him a productive social
being
 What is human person?
How can a human person attain
his/her highest potential and
contribute to the common good?
 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

Estañol (2007) defines the human person as having physical, spiritual,

emotional and intellectual attributes. St. Thomas Aquinas describes the
human person as having physical and spiritual substance because
he/she has a soul and is created by a Superior Being with a divine
purpose. Dictionaries define the human person as a “self-conscious
animal”.
Characteristics of a
Human Person
TH E HUMAN PERSON: NOT REAL, BUT
EXISTING
-BABOR (2007)
 A HUMA N PERSON IS A
CHARACTERISTICS
1
RATIONAL BEING.
OF A HUMAN He/She is free to think and has the capacity
to reason and distinguish between right and
PERSON wrong.

A HUMAN PERSON IS
A HUMAN PE RSON IS BORN UNIQUE.

2 3
FREE. He/She possesses an identity that makes him/her
unlike any other person.
Generally speaking, even if two persons have the
He/She has the freedom to do or not to same characteristics and physical features, they are
do things. However, every personis not the same because each one has his/her own
responsible for his/her own action. perception, and a different set of values and
priorities in life.

EVERY PERSON IS INTRINSICALLY A ALL LIVING THINGS ARE SEXUAL BY NATURE,

4 5
SOCIAL BEING AND CANNOT DETACH BUT THE UNIQUENESS OF EXPRESSION OF A
PERSON’S SEXUALITY MAKES HIM/HER
HIMSELF/HERSELF FROM OTHER DIFFERENT.
CREATURES IN THEUNIVERSE.
The expression of a person's expression of a
By nature, he/she is characterized by his/her person’s emotions, attitudes, feelings, actions
relationships with other creatures, objects, and thoughts in sexual activity best
orhis/her fellowmen. exemplifies his/her uniqueness from animals.
 Biblical Views
THE HUMAN PERSON HAS A
SUPERIORITY AND DIGNITY
INHERITED FROM THE SUPERIOR BEING

"God created man and woman in His own image

and likeness, and made them masters of the fish
of the sea, the birds, the heaven, the earth, all
the beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon
the earth..."
-Genesis 1:26-27

The Supreme Being entrusted to us the care of

creatures on the earth, aware of the possibilities,
challenges, and difficulties encountered in life.
 Biblical Views
"The Human Person is designated by
God to exercise dominion over other
creatures in their everyday use of
FREEDOM, search for HAPPINESS, and
OPENNESS to the world around them.
What makes them Human is their being
a TRUE PERSON, which includes the
special gift and talents of THINKING,
LOVING, LONGING FOR HAPPINESS, and
making DECISIONS. The human nature
was patterned on the image of GOD."
- Grace C. Agbuya (1997)
 Philosophical
Views
"A Human Person is the measure of
all things that exist and of all things
that do not exist..."
- Protagoras "The perfect Human Being does not
exist in the world because what is in
WORKING EFFICIENTLY
this world is just an imperfect copy
of humanity's original self in the
realm ideas..."
"...person has knowledge of - Plato
something that exists, for man who
does not exist is nothing."
A Human Being becomes evident
- Parmenides
when they start to SHARE THEIR
THOUGHTS AND IDEAS with others.
Different Philisophical
Views of Human
ROGELIO B MAGUIGAD (2006)
 LIBERALISM
CONSERVATISM more egalitarian view of human nature
not entirely positive all men are capable of reason and rational action
non-egalitarian (democratic, free, equal) and have the capacity to live satisfactory, productive
some contributes more to the society, ergo must lives if given the opportunity
be rewarded and honored by the society REASON is common to human beings and raises them
may not be of equal value to society (some rule, above all the animals and enables them to know the
others just obey) principles of suitable living

"The superior person must rule and commoner must "Every human being can become a swage king, i,e,.
bow before his authority." anyone can gain the wisdom to rule."
- Confucius - Mencius

SOCIALISM FASCISM
Human Being readily engages in cooperative social what matters most is the country itself
activities human beings can prosper only when the nation
however, this natural cooperative instinct is not prospers
allowed by the selfish human exploitation of others their fate is merely secondary when it comes to the
country
"Man is driven primarily by desire for economic gains." contend that some human beings are naturally and
racially better than others
"Humans are social animal if they fail to relate actively
with others and with nature, they loses themselves and
becomes alienated." (Das Kapital)
- Karl Marx
 CLASSICAL GREEK
VIEWS
"HUMANS = RATIONAL ANIMALS"
- EARLY CLASSICAL GREEKS

An animal's vegetative sensory and rational element is

integrated within their being, ergo, they are material (body)
and spiritual (soul) being.
As a vegetative creature, humans need to have food
to grow and reproduce
As an emotional, responsive or sentient beings,
humans needs sensory perceptions to gain knowledge

As a rational animal we need the power of thought,

reason, and cognition
 CLASSICAL GREEK
VIEWS
It is through us that the rest of creation enter into dialogue
and relationship with the Supreme Being due to our nobility
and special place in God's kingdom...

because we are given free will to choose, decide or

shape our lives, we are always responsible for our
actions

a human person is capable of

KNOWING, LOVING, and BELIEVING,
which leads us to fully aware of our
humanity...
 Sociological Views
PERSPECTIVE: a way of looking at or
seeing something.

"People look at this social world or at the

various ways that human beings behave in
social way.

Hence, when we talk about the society or the

social world, we are really referring to the
behavior of human beings."
Common Ideas About the Human Person
-Wilfredo R. San Juan (2007)

Man are SOCIAL ANIMALS. Focus our attention on the

need to cooperate to produce groups we belong to
social world we live in understand Man's behavior.
society is the largest group to which
we belong
Man's social behavior is Sociology looks at the totality
LEARNED, not instinctive. of relationships in one's life.
includes economics, politics, history,
we have to learn from the time we geography, psychology and by looking at
were born to a be recognizable how these affect each other we
member of the society understand the totality of man's social
behavior.
 Sociological Views

Man are rather multidimensional beings:

we work (economic dimension)

we vote (political dimension)
we live in different country
(geographic dimension)
HIERARCHY OF
NEEDS
ABRAHAM MASLOW'S
Hierarchy of Needs

reached the of peak

potential
include achievement, mastery
and confidence from recognition,
respect and attention
-the person feels confident and
include affection, sense valuable, not inferior, weak,
of belonging and helpless and worthless
friendship -to overcome
feelings of loneliness includes the biological
and alienation. and basic needs
important / mandatory
include security and for survival
protection from physical
and emotional harm
 Person needs to satisfy first the LOWER NEEDS before realizing self-worth
and potential
> if not met, human cannot devote their time to develop their full potential

SELF-ACTUALIZATION = driving force of human personality

> achieved only after all other needs are satisfied

HUNGRY OR UNSAFE -> NO INTELLECTUAL OR AESTHETIC LEARNING

STRUGGLE FOR FOOD, SHELTER AND SAFETY -> NO ARTISTIC AND SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVOR

"...every person has within them an

one possesses innate
inherent desire toward a positive
transformation and the development of goodness no matter how
their capacities" imprudent one's actions are
- Carl Roger
Person-centered Therapy Theory
Questions? Thank you!