NATURE OF HUMAN PERSON

Wikipedia

• Is a concept that do notes the fundamental dispositions and characteristics

including ways of thinking, feeling, and acting that humans are said to have
naturally.

Estañol (2007)

• Is having physical, spiritual, emotional and intellectual attributes.

St. Thomas Aquinas (Biblical views)

• Having physical and spiritual substance because he or she has a soul and is
created by a superior being with a divine purpose.

Dictionaries

• Define as “self-conscious animal”

CHARACTERISTICS ACCORDING TO BABOR

2007

Book: The Human Person: Not Real but Existing

• Discusses several characteristics namely:

CHARACTERISTICS REASON
Free to think and have the capacity to reason.
Human person as rational being He can distinguish what is right and what is
wrong because he has intellect.
Free to do everything however he must be
Human person is born free responsible enough therefore, he shall not
extend of doing harm in his co-creature
 Have different identity such that no two persons
Human person is unique are the same. Generally speaking, human
beings have the same characteristics and
physical features bot not generally the same
because every person have different perception
Every person is intrinsically a social being and cannot “No man is an island” – poet John Donne of
detach himself or herself from other creatures 17th century
in the universe
Every person is intrinsically a social being and cannot Human nature is characterized as togetherness
detach himself or herself from other creatures and relationship towards other creatures be it a
in the universe (repeated) thing, object or his fellow men
All living things are sexual by nature, but the The expression of human’s emotion, feeling,
uniqueness of expression of a person’s sexuality attitudes, action and thoughts and sexual activity
makes them different best exemplifies his uniqueness from animals

BIBLICAL VIEWS
• Human Person has superiority and dignity from Supreme Being (St Aquinas)
• Genisis 1:26;27 “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them
have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the
cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeping thing
upon the earth”.
• The supreme being entrusted to the human person the care of creatures on the
earth, aware of the possibilities, challenges, and difficulties he or he encounter in
his or her life.
• According to Agbuya (1997), “He or she (human person) is designated by God to
exercise dominion over other creatures in his/her everyday use of freedom, search
for happiness, and opens to the world around him or her. And what makes him or
her human in his or her being a true person which includes the special gift and
talents of thinking, loving, longing for happiness and making decision. The human
nature was patterned after the image of God
 PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS

According to Protagoras, a human person is the measure

of all things that exist and of all things that do not exist which
means that the human person is the highest form of animal.

According to Plato, the perfect human being does not exist

in this world because what is in this world is just an imperfect
copy of humanity’s original self in the realm of ideas

According to Parmenedis, posited a that a person has

knowledge of something that that exists, for a person does
not exist is nothing.

• A human person like other animals has external and internal organs. A human being
becomes evident when he or she starts to share his or her thoughts and ideas with others.
• Maguidad 2006 in his book Philosophy of the Human Being, explains the different
philosophical views of the human person. These are the following.

1. Conservatism – is not entirely positive and definitely non-egalitarian. Some men

contribute more than others to society, and therefore, must be rewarded and honored by
societ. All human persons may not be of equal value to society: some men are intended
to rule, the rest to obey. This is in line with one of the Confucian Ethical ideas which states
that the superior man must rule and the commoner must how before his authority.
2. Liberalism – Has a more egalitarian of human nature. It believes that all men are capable
of reason and rational action and have capacity to live satisfactory and productive lives. If
given the opportunity. Reason is common to all human beings and this fact raises them
above the level of beasts and enables them to know the principles of suitable living.
According to Mancius, “Every human being can become a sage king, that is, anyone
can gain the wisdom to rule”
3. Socialism – the human being readily engages in cooperative social activities when given
the opportunity. Unfortunately, this natural cooperative instinct is not fostered when some
people selfishly exploit other people. Many people use the word socialism to describe
behavior in which a government takes on a larger rule in the economy.
4. Fascism – holds that what matters most is the country itself. The human being can
prosper only when the nation prospers; his or her fate is merely secondary when it comes
to the country. Like the conservatives, the fascists contend that some human beings are
naturally and racially better than others. The Nazi government that ruled under Adolf Hitler
between 1933 and 1945 was an example of a fascist government

CLASSICAL GREEK VIEWS

➢ Define human as a “rational animal”. An animal’s vegetative sensory and rational
element is integrated within her or her being: thus, he or she is a material(body)
and spiritual (soul) being.
➢ A vegetative creature, the human needs to have food to grow, develop, and
reproduce.
➢ As a sentient being, he or she needs sensory perceptions to gain knowledge.
➢ As a rational animal, he or she needs the power of thought, reason and cognition.
➢ Due to a person’s nobility on his or her special place in God’s Kingdom, it is through
him or her that the rest of creation center into a dialogue and relationship with the
Supreme Being. Because of the human person is given free wi9ll to choose,
decide, or shape his pr her life, he or she is always responsible for his action.
➢ A human person is capable of knowing, loving, and believing, which leads, him or
her to be fully aware of his or her humanity.
 SOCIOLOGICAL VIEWS
➢ A perspective is a particular way of looking at and seeing something, Saledo 2004, states
that the people look at this social world or at a various way that human beings behave in
social way. Hence, when we talk about society or the social world, we are really referring
to the behavior of human beings.
➢ The sociological perspective is made up of number of quite different sub-perspectives
➢ San Juan (2007) proposes some of common ideas about the human person. These are
the following:
• Human persons are social animal. We need to cooperate with others in some way to
create the social world in which to live
• The human person’s social behavior is learned and not instinctive.
• To understand the human’s person social behavior, we have to focus our attention on the
groups to which people belong.
• Sociology is a discipline that looks into the totality of relationships in an individual’s life
• Sociologists did not reject the contributions of social of other social sentences.
• If the sociological perspectives offers from that provided by other social sciences, it is
evident that is also differs from a final perspective we have consider.

HEIRARCHY OF NEEDS
➢ The guiding principle in realizing a person’s competence and ability is the exploration of
his or her totally in the field of humanistic psychology, which theorizes that a person’s
behavior and his or her relationships with others are shaped by his or her inner feelings
and self-image.
➢ Maslow presented the levels of hierarchy of needs in this theory:
1. Physiological needs must include the biological and basic needs such as water and
clothing. These needs are immensely important because they are essential for
survival.
2. Safety needs includes security and protection from physical and emotional harm
3. Social needs include affection, some of belonging, and friendship, which people seek
to overcome feelings and loneliness and attention.
4. Self-esteem needs includes achievement, mastery and confidence derive from
recognition, respect, and attention.
5. Self-actualization means a person reached the peak of his or her potential.

PYRAMID

Self-Actualization

Pursue inner talent, creativity,

fullfilment

Self-Esteem

Achievement, mastery, recognition, respect

Love Belonging

Friend, Family, Spouse, Lover

Safety

Security, stability, Freedom from Fear

Physiology
Food + water + shelter + warmth
➢ Maslow’s theory points out that a person need needs to satisfy first the lower need before
realizing his or her self-worth and potential. Accordingly, when the lower needs are not
met, a person cannot completely devote his or her time to developing his or her potential.

➢ He also maintains self-actualization is the driving force of human personality. Thus, a

person cannot appreciate intellectual and aesthetic learning when he or she is hungry or
unsafe.

➢ Artistic and scientific endeavors do not flourish in a society where people must struggle
for food, shelter, and safety.

➢ Self-actualization can only be achieved before all other needs are satisfied

➢ According to Roger’s person-centered therapy theory, every person has within her or him.
An inherent desire for a positive transformation and the development of his or her
capacities.