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com

HUMAN PERSON as
EMBODIED SPIRIT

GIAN CARLO C. VILLAGRACIA

Gener al Mar i ano Al var ez T echni cal HS 12
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TO THE LEARNERS

Here are some reminders as you use this module:

 Use the module with care especially in turning each page.
 Be reminded to answer the Pre-Test before moving on to the
Learning Module.
 Read and comprehend the directions in every exercises.
 Observe honesty in answering the tests and exercises.
 Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of this
material.
 Try to finish a given activity before proceeding to the next.
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12
Introduction to
the Philosophy
of the
Human Person
René Descartes’ the Thinking Thing

GIAN CARLO C. VILLAGRACIA

Copyright 2019

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WHAT IS THIS MODULE ALL ABOUT?

This module serves as a learning resource material in understanding the

target competency expected in the curriculum.

TOPIC
René Descartes’ the Thinking Thing

CONTENT STANDARD
The learner understands the human person as an embodied spirit

PERFORMANCE STANDARD
The learner distinguishes his/her own limitations and the possibilities
for his/her transcendence

LEARNING COMPETENCY
PPT11/12-If-3.1: Recognize own limitations and possibilities

The presented activities or exercises and texts are developed

in order to meet the following objectives:

1. Explain the Cartesian Dualism principle

2. Sketch the concept of Descartes’ Thinking Thing

3. Realize the power of the mind as a gateway for endless possibilities

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PRE-TEST

Read the following items carefully. Write the

letter of your answer in a separate sheet of
paper.

1. The father of modern philosophy

A. St. Thomas Aquinas

B. Aristotle
C. Socrates
D. Descartes

2. Cogito ergo sum means –

A. I am therefore you are

B. I think therefore I am
C. I know therefore I think
D. I study therefore I know

3. It is a view in the philosophy of mind that mental phenomena are non-

physical.

A. Monism
B. Existentialism
C. Solipsism
D. Mind–body dualism

4. In the light of Descartes’ philosophy. We may say now that man is not
man if he does not -

A. Think
B. Eat
C. Work
D. Pray

5. It pertains to our consciousness, self-awareness and the seat of

intelligence

A. Thinking Chair
B. Thinking Thing
C. Thinking Man
D. Thinking Dog

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6. Our mind is far superior to our body, therefore

A. Let not the desire of the flesh prevails

B. Follow thy heart not the mind
C. Use our head every quiz time only
D. Ignore your thoughts

7. How do you feed your mind?

A. Watch youtube
B. Read books
C. Play basketball
D. Sleep and dream

8. Possibilities are endless when we -

A. Use our resources to control the people around us

B. Use our mind and make our existence worthwhile
C. Use your body as something to gain happiness
D. Use your voice to shut down other people

9. What does dualism tells something about the body and mind?

A. There is a particular interaction between the mind and body

B. Body is apart from the mind up to the end of existence
C. The mind controls the body, the body surrenders to the soul
D. Both body and mind will cease to exist when man dies

10. What does Descartes mean about the powers of the mind?

A. The mind is limited if you do not study

B. The mind is full of thoughts and principles
C. The mind is limitless, it can never be contained
D. The mind is just a slave to the desires of the body

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REWINDING THE PAST

Let’s go back to Aristotle’s notion of the human body!

There are many given words at the bottom part of this page. Encircle the
words that do not fit with Aristotle’s ideal man while write down the words
on your desired shapes present in this figure.
You now have the power to define Aristotle’s Ideal Man!

Aristotle’s Ideal Man

Angry Calm Gentle Wise Friendly

Brave A
Gentle Jealous Honest Arrogant Good
Evil
Happy Generous Boastful Loving Coward
Lax

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PLAYING THE CONCEPT

Aristotle and Plato’s

discourse about the human
person tackled the two basic
principles of the body and soul –
the matter and the form. They
both argued that there is a certain
relationship between these two
important points.

Their concepts helped the succeeding philosophers of all time to give

more insights about the human person as an embodied spirit. From ancient
times up until today, there are a large number of philosophers who spent
time largely with this concept. And from all philosophies rendered
throughout time, here is a philosopher whose work affects the way human
thinks especially during the modern times. The father of modern philosophy
- René Descartes

According to Vinzons, this famous philosopher “widens the gap

between body and the soul even more” as he separates the body from the
soul which has the faculty to think and therefore cannot be doubted unlike
the body. For Descartes, our knowledge that is based from our senses could
definitely be deceiving. Knowledge claimed by mere senses are not reliable,
thus it is inferior from the brain. Actually, the brain itself, according to
Descartes, could also be doubted! So, what is it that cannot be doubted?

The way you doubt cannot be doubted. Descartes wants us to

realize that the process of doubting is indubitable. This process of doubting
is a way of thinking. Therefore, what makes man a human person is his
faculty of thinking – the only real and certain in this world is the Thinking
Thing, the way man thinks! This constitutes man’s existence!

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PAUSE AND TRY AN ACTIVITY

Sketch your own brain!

Use your imagination. If you are going to draw your brain, what does it look?
Draw your “own” brain and write down some words around the space that
your brain can do that other things cannot do.

On the process of sketching your own brain, what do you realize about
the power of your mind?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

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PAUSE AND ANALYZE THE ACTIVITY

Without a doubt, you have written a lot of things your mind can
do. Your brain becomes the centre of processes – the thing that thinks
whatever it is that the body wants to do.

Your mind, indeed, commands every single part of your body. It

may be controllable or uncontrollable. The important thing to
remember is the interaction of the mind and the body. It may sound
distinctive with each other, but for Descartes, he proposes that our
mind is far superior to our body.

Looking back at our activity, what are the things your mind and
body can do? What are the things your mind cannot do because your
body cannot produce the expected process of your mind? Are there
things your body can do without the help of your mind?

List them down below as we discuss Descartes’ Dualism:

Things your mind Things your mind Things your body can
and body can do cannot do as well as do without the help
your body of your brain

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PLAYING THE CONCEPT ONCE AGAIN!

- COGITO ERGO SUM -

This is Descartes’ famous line literally translated as I think,
therefore I am. This line sums up his idea of Dualism – or the Mind-
Body Dualism principle.

Mind–body dualism is a view in the philosophy of mind that

mental phenomena are non-physical. The mind is apart from the body,
since the mind can process on itself without the body. It unveils that
the mind and body are distinct and separable. Therefore, it
encompasses a set of views about the relationship between mind and
matter, and between subject and object.

René Descartes believed that all things around us can be

reducible. As per reductionism, before we look into a larger picture of
beings, we must take a look on its parts and negate each one until we
are set to finalize the thought of the being – reducing them until we get
the very essence. Same is done by Descartes: realizing that even his
own body can be taken apart from his very being. But one thing only
prevails, and that is his process of thinking – the being that thinks.

As a result, in dualism, the mind or the thinking thing is non-

physical and non-spatial-substance. This indubitable reality is our
consciousness, self-awareness, and the seat of intelligence within
the human person. This claimed truth makes man superior to all
other beings. We claimed that we are the only living being that thinks.
Still, it is always acknowledged as dualism because without the body,
the thinking thing will never process. Here comes a sweet interaction
that is firm between the mind and the body. Hence, man may be
limited by the body, but never forget the power of the mind to make
your existence worthwhile.

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LET’S STOP AND APPLY WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED

When Descartes says your brain is powerful, therefore we can say

that there are endless possibilities for us as we exist!
COGITO ERGO SUM!

1. COGITO
a. A strong statement created by Descartes tells us that our
existence depends on how we think.
b. We can also say that man is not man if he does not think!
c. Use your brain everyday so that you are worthy of your
existence
d. If man doesn’t think, he ceases to exists – we may compare
him to a cadaver (Aristotle reference)
e. The brain must control the actions of man – and with great
mind comes endless possibilities

2. ERGO
a. Therefore, let us not waste our time, do well at school!
b. Therefore, let us feed our minds through reading books
c. Therefore, converse with other people, share knowledge
and opinions, create a healthy debate, join discussion
d. Therefore, do not stop thinking about yourself and your
existence and how to develop such happy life

3. SUM
a. I am a human person, I exist, and I can change the world.
b. I am a master of my soul, the captain of my ship
c. I am the owner of my own mind and whatever it is that I
think entails my very essence and existence in this world.
d. I am limitless; I am a channel of endless possibilities!

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POST-TEST

Read the following items carefully. Write the

letter of your answer in a separate sheet of
paper.

1. The father of modern philosophy

A. St. Thomas Aquinas

B. Aristotle
C. Socrates
D. Descartes

2. Cogito ergo sum means –

A. I am therefore you are

B. I think therefore I am
C. I know therefore I think
D. I study therefore I know

3. It is a view in the philosophy of mind that mental phenomena are non-

physical.

A. Monism
B. Existentialism
C. Solipsism
D. Mind–body dualism

4. In the light of Descartes’ philosophy. We may say now that man is not
man if he does not -

A. Think
B. Eat
C. Work
D. Pray

5. It pertains to our consciousness, self-awareness and the seat of

intelligence

A. Thinking Chair
B. Thinking Thing
C. Thinking Man
D. Thinking Dog

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6. Our mind is far superior to our body, therefore

A. Let not the desire of the flesh prevails

B. Follow thy heart not the mind
C. Use our head every quiz time only
D. Ignore your thoughts

7. How do you feed your mind?

A. Watch youtube
B. Read books
C. Play basketball
D. Sleep and dream

8. Possibilities are endless when we -

A. Use our resources to control the people around us

B. Use our mind and make our existence worthwhile
C. Use your body as something to gain happiness
D. Use your voice to shut down other people

9. What does dualism tells something about the body and mind?

A. There is a particular interaction between the mind and body

B. Body is apart from the mind up to the end of existence
C. The mind controls the body, the body surrenders to the soul
D. Both body and mind will cease to exist when man dies

10. What does Descartes mean about the powers of the mind?

A. The mind is limited if you do not study

B. The mind is full of thoughts and principles
C. The mind is limitless, it can never be contained
D. The mind is just a slave to the desires of the body

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LET’S REPLAY!

 Dualism pertains to the interaction of mind and body, but

separating the mind apart from the body because of the mind’s
non-physical and non-spatial-substance activity.

 René Descartes is the father of Modern Philosophy

 Cogito ergo sum means I think therefore I am

 The way you doubt cannot be doubted

 The thinking thing is our consciousness, self-awareness and the

seat of intelligence within us

 Man is not man if he does not think

 The process of thinking develops our very existence

 Thinking is indubitable

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Answer Key

Pre-Test

1. D
2. B
3. D
4. A
5. B
6. A
7. B
8. B
9. A
10. C

Post-Test

1. D
2. B
3. D
4. A
5. B
6. A
7. B
8. B
9. A
10. C

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REFERENCES

Vinzons, M. P. (2016). Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person. Quezon City: Vibal Group,
Inc.

Hart, W.D. (1996) "Dualism", in A Companion to the Philosophy of Mind, ed. Samuel Guttenplan,
Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 265-7.

Crane, Tim; Patterson, Sarah (2001). "Introduction". History of the Mind-Body Problem. pp. 1–2. the
assumption that mind and body are distinct (essentially, dualism)

Media Sources

https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/male-human-body-silhouette-with-shadow-
vector-20886020

https://www.redriverradio.org/post/treasures-noel-platos-republic

https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/ocr-philosophy-of-religion-unit-1-philosophical-language-
and-thought-plato-11976904

https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-talking-history/the-life-and-legacy-of-rene-
descartes

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This module maybe adopted, modified and

reproduced for educational purposes with appropriate
credit to the author.
For inquiries, feedback and suggestions, please
contact the author through the Division Learning
resource Supervisor at Tel. No. _________________ and/or
email address ________________ @deped.gov.ph

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