INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

HAND-OUTS

Lesson 1: The Human Person in the Environment

1. English poet John Donne quoted that “No man is an Islands, entire of itself; every man is a piece
of continent, a part of the main”.
2. Environmental philosophy or environmental ethics is the discipline in philosophy that studies the
moral relationship of human beings with the environment and its non-human contents.
3. Three major views regarding the relationship between human and the environment:
anthropocentrism, biocentrism, and ecocentrism.
4. Anthropocentrism focuses on the significant role of humankind in the world and considers
nature as the means by which humans are able to meet their needs and survive.
5. Biocentrism believes that humans are not the only significant species on the planet, and all
organisms have inherent, value and should be protected.
6. Ecocentrism believes that humankind is part of a greater biological system or community and
that we have a significant role as stewards or guardians of nature.
7. Environmental aesthetics believes maintaining order in the environment will bring out the
natural beauty of the surroundings and contribute to the well-being of the people and other
organisms living in it.
8. On of the important development that arose during the late twentieth century was
environmentalism.
9. One of the important philosophical views from environmentalism is environmental ethics.
10. Environmental Ethics serves as a basis for reflecting on how our actions show our regard for
nature.
11. One of the major concepts that drive environmentalism is sustainability or sustainable
development. This concept focuses on reconciling human activities and economic development
with the protection of the environment.
12. Sustainability relies on three important principles: environmental integrity, economic efficiency
and equity.
13. Environmental integrity refers to maintaining the state of the environment. This means that
human activities should not unduly disrupt the ecosystems and human communities located in
the area.
14. Economic efficiency refers to prudence in decision-making regarding the use of resources to
ensure that there is minimum to zero waste.
15. Equity demands that we use our natural resources in such a manner that these are conserved so
that the next generation will be to use them.
16. Prudence is the ability to regulate one’s action and behavior;
17. Frugality is being thrifty with the use of ones resources.

Lesson 2. FREEDOM OF THE HUMAN PERSON

1. Freedom is an intrinsic and essential property of the person.

2. Freedom is rooted in the human person’s self-determination and the exercise of intellect and
free will.
3. Kinds of freedom:physical freedom, psychological freedom, and moral freedom.
4. Physical freedom refers to the absence of any physical restraint.
5. Psychological freedom is also called freedom of choice.
6. Moral freedom refers to using freedom in a manner that upholds human dignity and goodness.
7. Two elements of freedom: voluntariness and responsibility
8. Voluntariness refers to the ability of a person to act out of his or her own free will and self-
determination.
9. Responsibility refers to the person being accountable for his or her actions and their
consequences.
10. Freedom is experienced through the act of making choices.

Lesson 3: INTERSUBJECTIVITY

1. A person’s ability to engage in meaningful interactions with other people, his or her
surroundings and the things around him or her, is rooted in the human capacity for self-
awareness and transcendence.
2. Intersubjectivity refers to the shared awareness and understanding among persons. It is made
possible by the awareness of the self and the other.
3. The relationship between self and the other enables the person to relate to others and establish
and maintain meaningful relationship.
4. Seeming action refers to the way a person presents himself or herself when dealing with others.
5. A deep and genuine relationship between persons is called a dialogue.
6. Dialogue happens when two persons truly acknowledge each other’s presence and treat each
other as equals.
7. Empathy is an important aspect of intersubjectivity and is driven by a person’s awareness of the
emotions and thoughts of other people .
8. Availability refers to the willingness of a person to be present for another and to render
assistance to another.
9. The theory on the ethics of care emphasizes the moral dimension of human interactions.
10. Alienation refers to a state when a person ceases to view the other as a distinct and authentic
person.