1

What is a HUMAN
PERSON?

3
DISCOVER

General term Refers to human being refers to the state of

granted recognition of certain
used to refer to rights, protection, being a person
the entire human responsibilities, and dignity,
race above all.
The totality of an individual,
possessing awareness, self-
determination and the
capacity to interact 4
DISCOVER

refers to man as a used to distinguish The characteristics that

species man from other distinguish humans from all
other creatures.
animals Traits that arise independent of
the influence of culture and
society
Traits considered to form the
essence of humanity 5
 WHAT IS THE
HUMAN PERSON?

!
The most basic
definition of a human Philosophers believe
being relates to the that there is something
nature of humans as in the human individual
animals. that sets him apart from
other beings.
“
How do we know that we are human persons?
 TRAITS
SELF SELF
AWARENESS DETERMINATION

EXTERNALITY DIGNITY
“

10
 1

Who am I?
11 1
 “
SELF - AWARENESS
A person is aware of both
We have deeper his surroundings and
awareness that himself.
is driven by He knows that he is living an
rationality or experience and is an active
human participant in this
thought.” experience. 12
 “
SELF - AWARENESS
This awareness gives rise to This enables us to
the notion of the “self” which experience an “inner
the philosophers describe as
world” that is defined
the person who is actively
aware that he is perceiving
by our personal
and experiencing reality. thoughts
and ideas.
13
 “
SELF - AWARENESS
Creativity also means that a
person can create within himself
what is not yet existing outside.

Having an inner world allows a

person to create goals, dreams
and plans which may be realized
through activity. 14
SELF - AWARENESS
“
We experience interiority,
that is, the quality of
being focused on one’s
inner life and identity.

This interiority enables us

to practice creativity.
15
 The “self” “
enables us to
reach out and
interact with
things outside
ourselves.
16
 2

What are my dreams?

18
19
The result or effect
of an action or
condition.

20
 MORALITY “
An element of human
action which pertains to the
goodness and badness of an
act.

21
 “
Human action is an important aspect of the
human person that philosophers consider as a
way to reveal a person’s true color.

22
3

23
The realization that we are not alone and that there are other
persons around us enable us to reach out and establish
meaningful relationship with others.

24
Man has the tendency to seek out fellow human beings
and the relationships established by this interaction is
important component for survival.

25
 We grow
and develop
through the
influences of
other
people in
our lives
and the
individuals
we net and
interact
with. 26
 4

What is my worth?
2
 “
Each person is worth the same as another person in the
sense that every person is priceless, unique,
unrepeatable, and irreplaceable.

28
 “
We do not value
another person in the We do not
same way we value put price
things such as house on a
and cars.. person.

29
 “ A person has
DIGNITY because
of the FACT that he
is HUMAN.

It drives us to seek what is good since doing

good actions upholds and promotes
dignity.
30
The Human Person as an Embodied Spirit

Hinduism, Buddhism , St. Augustine of Hippo and St. Thomas Aquinas

44
 What is in our human nature that
enables us to become persons?

PHYSICALITY
…whether or not the person is truly defined by his or
her body and what he or she experiences through the
senses.

UNSEEN
… the intangible element is the “spirit” which enables
us to exercise thought, possess awareness, interiority,
and the capacity to reach out to the outside world and
other persons. 49
 How are the
body and spirit
related?
 How does my human
nature enable me to
explore my limits?

… we are not equipped with the best physical

attributes among all the other beings in the world
53
55