Chapter 2: The Nature of the Human Person

Learning Objectives

At the end of this chapter, the learners are expected to:

1. describe the nature of the human person;

2. identify the importance of a person's ability and capacity; and
3. describe a person's unique qualities that make him/her a productive social being.

Overview

This chapter discusses the nature of the human person. It answers these questions: What is a
human person? How can a human person attain his/her highest potential and contribute to the common
good?

Even during the ancient times, these questions have been relentlessly asked and evaluated.
Psychologists, philosophers, theologians, and scientists have written in-depth analyses of the human
nature using a wide range of theories and observations.

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, emotion 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

Babor (2007) in his book, The Human Person: Not Real, But Existing, discusses the several
characteristics of a human person, namely:

1. A human person is a rational being. He/She is free to think and has the capacity to reason and
distinguish between right and wrong.

2. A human person is born free. He/She has the freedom to do or not to do things. However, every
person is responsible for his/her own action.

3. A human person is unique. He/She possesses an identity that makes him/her unlike any other
person. Generally speaking, even if two persons have the same characteristics and physical
features, they are not the same because each one has his/her own perception, and a different
set of values and priorities in life.

1
 4. Every person is intrinsically a social being and cannot detach himself/herself from other
creatures in the universe. By nature, he/she is characterized by his/her relationships with other
creatures, objects, or his/her fellowmen.
5. All living things are sexual by nature, but the uniqueness of expression of a person's sexuality
makes him/her different. The expression of a person's emotions, attitudes, feelings, actions, and
thoughts in sexual activity best exemplifies his/her uniqueness from animals.

Biblical Views

The human person has superiority and dignity inherited from the Supreme Being According to
the book of Genesis, chapter 1, verses 26 to 27, 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, the wild beasts,
and all the reptiles that crawl 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/she will encounter in his/her life.

Agbuya (1997) states that "He/She (human person) is designated by God to exercise dominion
over other creatures in his/her everyday use of freedom, search for happiness, and openness to the
world around him/her. And what makes him/her human is his/ her being a true person, which includes
the special gifts 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. Furthermore, Plato claimed that 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.
Parmenides posited that a person has knowledge of something that exists, for a person who does not
exist is nothing.

A human person like other animals has external and internal organs. A human being becomes
evident when he/she starts to share his/her thoughts and ideas with others.

Maguigad (2006) in his book, Philosophy of the Human Being, explains the different
philosophical views of the human person. These are the following:

1. Conservatism

The conservative view is not entirely positive and definitely non egalitarian. Some men
contribute more than others to society, and, therefore, must be rewarded and honored by
society. 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 bow before his authority.

2
 2. Liberalism

Liberalism has a more egalitarian view of human nature. It believes that all men are
capable of reason and rational action and have the 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 Mencius, "Every human being can become a sage king, that is, anyone can gain the wisdom to
rule."

3. Socialism

In 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.

Marx believes that man is driven primarily by desire for economic gains. In his Das
Kapital, he considers the human person as a social animal; if he/ she fails to relate actively with
others and with nature, he/she loses himself herself and becomes alienated. His/Her drives lose
human qualities and assume animal qualities.

4. Fascism

Fascism holds that what matters most is the country itself. The human being can
prosper only when the nation prospers; his/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.

Classical Greek Views

The early classical Greeks define the human person as "a rational animal." An animal's
vegetative sensory and rational element is integrated within his/her being; thus he/she is a material
(body) and spiritual (soul) being. As a vegetative creature, the human person needs to have food to
grow, develop, and reproduce. As a sentient being, he/she needs sensory perceptions to gain
knowledge. As a rational animal, he/she needs the power of thought, reason, and cognition.

Due to a person's nobility and his/her special place in God's kingdom, it is through him/her that
the rest of creation enters into a dialogue and relationship with the Supreme Being. Because the human
person is given free will to choose, decide, or shape his/her life, he/she is always responsible for his/her
action.

A human person is capable of knowing, loving, and believing, which leads him/her to be fully
aware of his/her humanity.

3
Sociological Views

A perspective is a particular way of looking at and seeing something. Salcedo (2004) states that
people look at this social world or at the various ways that human beings behave in a social way. Hence,
when we talk about society or the social world, we are really referring to the behavior of human beings.

This is not to say that all sociologists necessarily see the social world from exactly the same
perspective (or viewpoint): neither do they always agree about what they see, how behavior could or
should be understood, and so forth. As we will notice, the sociological perspective is made up of a
number of quite different sub-perspectives.

San Juan (2007) proposes some common ideas about the human person. These are the
following:

1. Human persons are social animals. We need to cooperate with others in some way to create the
social world in which to live.

2. The human person's social behavior is learned, not instinctive. In this respect the argument is
that we have to learn, from the moment we were born, how to be not just a human being but
also a recognizable member of the society into which we happen to have been born.

3. To understand the human person's social behavior, we have to focus our attention on the
groups to which people belong. These groups are many and varied, but the largest group to
which people belong is a society.

4. Sociology is a discipline that looks into the totality of relationships in an individual's life.
Sociologists do not restrict their studies to a single dimension of an individual's life (economics,
politics, history, geography, psychology, and so forth). Although each of these areas is significant
and interesting in varying degrees, it is only by looking at how these relationships affect each
other that we can arrive at a complete picture of human social behavior.

Sociologists do not reject the contributions of other social sciences. Sociology as an academic
discipline itself is based on the recognition that human beings are not one dimensional but rather multi-
dimensional.

For example, in our society, people work (economic dimension), have the opportunity to vote in
elections (political dimension), and live in different areas of the country (geographic dimension). What
interests sociologists in this regard might be the relationship between these three dimensions-how does
the area in which people live affect the type of work they do and how does the type of work they do
affect how they vote in elections?

If the sociological perspective differs from that provided by other social sciences, it is evident that it
also differs from a final perspective we have to consider, namely, that of naturalistic or commonsensical
explanation of the social world. Investigating some examples of commonsensical ideas about the social
world will allow us to demonstrate more effectively the idea of a sociological perspective and show how
sociology provides a greater understanding of human behavior.

4
Hierarchy of Needs

The guiding principle in realizing a person's competence and ability is the exploration of his/her
totality in the field of humanistic psychology, which theorizes that a person's behavior and his/her
relationship with others are shaped by his/her inner feelings and self-image.

Maslow presented the levels of hierarchy of needs in his theory of personality.

1. Physiological needs 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 include security and protection from physical and emotional harm.
3. Social needs include affection, sense of belonging, and friendship, which people seek to
overcome feelings of loneliness and alienation.
4. Self-esteem needs include achievement, mastery, and confidence derived from recognition,
respect, and attention. When these needs are satisfied, the person feels confident and valuable.
However, when they are not met, the person may feel inferior, weak, helpless, and worthless.
5. Self-actualization means a person has reached the peak of his/her potential.

SELF-
ACTUALIZATION
PURSUE INNER
TALENT
CREATIVITY
FULFILLMENT

SELF-ESTEEM
ACHIEVEMENT•MASTERY
RECOGNITION•RESPECT

LOVE/BELONGING
FRIENDS•FAMILY•SPOUSE•LOVER

SAFETY
SECURITY•STABILITY•FREEDOM FROM FEAR

PHYSIOLOGY
FOOD•WATER•SHELTER•WARMTH

Figure 1. Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Maslow's theory points out that a person needs to satisfy first the lower needs before realizing
his/her self-worth and potential. Accordingly, when the lower needs are not met, a person cannot
completely devote his/her time to developing his/her full potential. He also maintains that self-
actualization is the driving force of human personality. Thus, a person cannot appreciate intellectual and
aesthetic learning when he/she is hungry or if he/she feels 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 after all other needs are satisfied.

According to Rogers' person-centered therapy theory, every person has within him/ her an
inherent desire for a positive transformation and the development of his/her capacities. He/She
possesses an innate goodness no matter how imprudent his/her actions are.

5
 Based on this theory, the society should be a sounding board of reflections in life, so that an
individual can realize his/her problem and formulate solutions for it. However, it is the individual who
will eventually create his/her own path and not the people around him/her. He/She is the only one
qualified to choose the path that he/she should take. It may not always be smooth, but that does not
diminish his/her value as a person. A self-actualized person allows his/her innate goodness to transform
further. Only by understanding himself/herself first can he/she effectively relate to others. Furthermore,
every person must understand that he/she only exists in this world transitorily. As such he/she should
utilize his/her gifts and talents to reach his/her goals and to help others realize their own worth as a
person. He/She must take on the challenge that the Supreme Being has posed upon him/her.

Conclusion

It is basically difficult to understand the human person. He/she is described as having physical,
spiritual, emotional, and intellectual attributes, capable of knowing, loving, and believing. Various
Biblical, philosophical, classical, and sociological views and perspectives offer essential insights into the
human nature. Nevertheless, it boils down to the human person's relational character toward others
called "service to his/ her fellowmen."

A person is a social being with various needs that have to be satisfied. This will enable him/her
to reach the peak of his/her potential, so that he/she could effectively relate with others and be a
productive part of his community.

REFERENCE:
Villasoto, H.S & Villasoto, N. S. (2018). Human person gearing towards social development: NSTP-
CWTS 1 worktext for college students. 2nd Edition. C & E Publishing, Inc. pp. 11 – 17.