Week 5/LESSON III.

THE HUMAN PERSON AS AN EMBODIED SPIRIT

Content Standards: The learner understands the human person as an embodied spirit.
Performance Standards: The learner distinguishes his/her own limitations and the possibilities for his/her
transcendence.

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
3.1 Recognize how the human body imposes limits and possibilities for transcendence.
3.2 Evaluate own limitations and the possibilities for their transcendence.

Introduction
Our human nature is defined by the union of the body and spirit. This embodiment enables us to possess
the traits and attributes that distinguish us as persons. Our embodied nature allows us to possess reason, engage
our interiority, and have an awareness of the self and the other, transcend our limits. Each person is unique and
irreplaceable and should thus be treated with dignity and respect. Even if we have differences in traits, talents and
attributes.
The human person is an important subject in Philosophy and an understanding of the nature and condition
of the person is one of the foremost goals of the discipline. Philosophers have long pondered human nature, what it
means to be human, and what sets us apart from other beings and things in existence.
We often ask ourselves, “What makes us special?” Pondering our human nature allows us to determine the
special traits that make us humans unique as a species. Further reflection on our nature as humans will also help us
figure out what makes us special as individuals and how this uniqueness is shared with our fellow human beings.

Key Terms!

Man – the general term commonly used to refer to the entire human race

Human – refers to man as a species  Human being – used to distinguish man from other animals

Person – refers to human being granted recognition of certain rights, protection, responsibilities, and dignity above
all. It is the totality of an individual, possessing awareness, self-determination, and the capacity to interact with others
and with him/her.

Personhood – refers to the state of being a person

Human nature – refers to the characteristics (like thinking, feeling and acting) that distinguish humans from all other
creatures. These traits are considered to form the essence of humanity, and without them, an individual may not be
considered a human person.

What is the human person?

Self – awareness - refers to the person having a clear perception of oneself, including his thoughts, emotions,
identity and actions This awareness goes beyond perception and reaction to the environment. We have deeper
awareness that is driven by rationality or human thought. A person is aware of both his surroundings and himself.
He knows that he is living an experience and is an active participant in this experience.
 This awareness gives rise to the notion of the “self” which the philosophers describe as the person who is
actively aware that he/she is perceiving and experiencing reality. This awareness of the self also enables us to
experience an “inner world” that is defined by our personal thoughts and ideas. We experience interiority, that is, the
quality of being focused on one’s inner life and identity. This interiority enables us to practice creativity.

Creativity also means that a person can create within himself what does not yet exist outside. Having an inner world
allows a person to create goals, dreams and plans which may be realized through activity.

Try saying these!

I am a person.
I am alive.
I exist.
I am here. I am present.
I am living at this very moment.

Let’s Examine!
Little Carlo is playing in the living room while his mom is in the kitchen. He accidentally bumps into a table, causing a
vase to fall. Upon hearing, his mom went to the living room and saw him standing near the broken vase. She asked,
“Did you break the vase?” what do you think Carlo’s answer will be

Self – determination - this refers to the capability of persons to make choices and decisions based on their own
preferences, monitor and regulate their actions, and be goal-oriented and self-directed. We are persons because we
act and we are aware of our actions. Our free will enables us to do actions whenever we want to and make various
alternatives. The existence of free will enables a person to act wilfully, control his actions, and recognize himself as
the source of action.

Consequence is the result or effect of an action or condition. Philosophers believe that a person acts freely and with
due regard for the consequences of his actions. Morality is the goodness or ‘badness’ of an act.  Human action is
such an important aspect of the person that many philosophers consider human action as a way to reveal a person’s
true nature. Human acts complete the person, as it is through his actions that his inner self is revealed to others, and
it is through action that a person is able to explore and fulfill his potential.

Try saying these!

I am a person.
My actions are my very own and are made freely.
I know that I am the cause of my actions.
I know that my actions have consequences.

Externality - this refers to the capability of a person to reach out and interact with others and the world. The
realization that we are not alone and that there are indeed other people around us enables us to reach out and
establish meaningful relationships with others. Philosophers consider man as a social being and that a person never
exists in isolation. Man has the natural tendency to seek out fellow human beings, and the relationships established
by this interaction are a vital component for survival. Our interactions with others define our existence as persons.
We grow and develop not only through our thoughts and actions, but also through the influence of other people in our
lives, and the individuals we meet and interact with.

Try saying these!

I am a person.
I value others.
I interact with others in meaningful ways.
I value my relationships with others.
I have grown as a person because I’ve had meaningful interactions with people I’ve met in my life.
Dignity - this refers to the innate right to be values and respected. Philosophers consider all humans as having an
inherent worth or value. “You’re worthless!” is an insult since it attacks the very notion of a person having value or
worth. Each person is worth the same as another person in the sense that every person is priceless, unique,
unrepeatable and irreplaceable. No person is dispensable or interchangeable. This is the reason why separation from
the people we love and value is a difficult and painful experience.
Human dignity is rooted in the nature of the human being, meaning, a person has dignity simply because of the fact
that he is human. Dignity is not defined by outside factors like intelligence, beauty, skills, etc. A person retains his
dignity in spite of his actions or behavior.  Dignity also drives us to seek what is good. Doing good deeds upholds
and promotes dignity of the human person. This recognition of dignity is also the basis for the recognition of human
rights

Try saying these!

I am a person.
I am a person with dignity.
I recognize that others have dignity, as well.
I must uphold human dignity in my thoughts and actions.

What is in our human nature that enables us to become persons?

Aside from the physical characteristics, another aspect of the human that defines us as persons is the spirit. This
intangible element enables us to exercise thought, possess awareness, interiority, and the capacity to reach out to
the outside world and other persons.

How are the body and spirit related?

Philosophers consider the human person as defined by the union of the body and the spirit. THE HUMAN PERSON
IS AN EMBODIED SPIRIT. The body and the spirit are not only united, but they are integrated with each other.
Embodiment enables us to do and experience all the things that make us human persons.

Embodiment - the human body stands as the mediator between the material world and the spiritual world. Being an
embodied spirit, the person is able to encounter the world of objects (and other personal subjects) in a manner that
transcends the physical. This feature allows him to form intimate relationship with those outside him. Human
embodiment allows persons to attach certain feelings or ideas not only to people but also to objects. (pair of shoes as
a present from a loved one).
With human embodiment, physical acts are no longer purely physical acts, because the body conveys something
from a person’s inner world. A pat on the shoulder from your idol, a smile from your crush, a kiss from your partner
will create intense emotional reaction in you. These examples show that it is through embodiment that a person in
able to have a very unique relationship with the world. And it is this unique relationship that defines us as humans.

How does my human nature enable me to explore my limits?

Human nature still has limits despite being an embodied spirit. It can be said that the person is very
biologically deficient being. We do not have the natural ability to fly. We cannot breathe underwater without using
breathing apparatus. We cannot survive in certain environments like other animals. Despite this limitations, we have
used out intellect to devise means to achieve several feats.
The ability to surpass limits is called transcendence, and it is also one important trait that distinguishes the
human person from other beings in existence.
Our mind is an important tool that allows us to go beyond many of our physical limits. Although we have
these physical limitations, we can transcend them because of our spiritual dimension. As human persons, we have
natural tendencies or inclinations. Some of these are felt bodily functions like hunger, fatigue, etc. transcendence
means overcoming oneself or being in control even if the body reminds us of certain tendencies. Although these
tendencies are felt, the person can govern them and ensure that they are exercised within the bounds of reason.
Each individual carries within himself the possibility of transcending his limits by exerting enough effort and
perseverance. Philosophy gives us useful tools to explore our limits and possibilities.
The essence of transcendence is to acknowledge our limitations, identify possibilities for development and
change ourselves for the better. Opening yourself to new experiences and ideas is another aspect of transcendence.
Our capacity for transcendence gives us the opportunity to work toward becoming better versions of ourselves.