l S ci en ce 11

Socia

PH I LO S O P H Y
i t h S i r Ma r k
w
Galan
 The Human Person as
an Embodied Spirit

Part I:
What is the Human Person?

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 If you are tasked to
write a description of
the human species for
the Golden Record,
how will you describe
human beings to
aliens?

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 What is the Human Person?
• In Philosophy, 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.

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 What is the Human Person?
• MAN – the general term used to refer to the entire human race.
• HUMAN – refers to man as a species – Homo Sapiens.
• HUMAN BEING – used to distinguish man from the other animals.
• PERSON – refers to a human being granted recognition of certain
rights, protections, responsibilities, and dignity, above all.
Philosophers refer to the human person as the totality of an
individual possessing awareness, self-determination, and the
capacity to interact with others and with himself.
• PERSONHOOD – the state of being a person.
• HUMAN NATURE – refers to the characteristics or traits that
distinguish humans from all other creatures.
Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY
Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY
 Are you a dog?
Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY
 Are pets make sense of
personhood?
• Is your pet truly aware of what is happening around him?
• Can your pet truly feel emotions in the same way as you do?
• Is your pet capable of reflection? Can it question its nature as
a dog?
• Do you think it can feel guilt or satisfaction in the same
way as you do?

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Traits of a Human Person

1. SELF-AWARENESS – refers to person having a clear

perception of oneself, including his/her thoughts,
emotions, identity, and actions.
- The human person is defined by a deeper awareness
which is driven by rationality or human thought.
- Self – a person who is actively aware that he or she is
perceiving and experiencing reality.

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Traits of a Human Person
I am a person.
I am alive.
I exist.
I am here. I am present.
I am living at this very moment.

That awareness enables the person to experience an

“inner world”.

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Traits of a Human Person
I am a person.
I am alive.
I exist.
I am here. I am present.
I am living at this very moment.

Interiority – the quality of being focused on one’s inner life and

identity.

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Traits of a Human Person
Interiority – the quality of being focused on one’s inner life and
identity. This interiority enables a person to exercise
creativity.

Creativity – means that a person can create within himself or

herself what is not yet existing outside.

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Traits of a Human Person
2. SELF-DETERMINATION – 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.

• Free Will - enables us to do actions whenever we want

to and makes self-determination possible.

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Let’s examine:

Little Jose 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
Jose‘s answer will be?

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Let’s examine:

1. I broke the vase, Mama.

2. I bumped into the table and the vase fell, Mama.
3. No. I did no break the vase, Mama.

Consequence – is the result or effect of an action or

condition.

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Persons exercise self-determined actions
but often encounter unintended
consequences of their actions.

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Let’s examine:

1. I broke the vase, Mama.

2. I bumped into the table and the vase fell, Mama.
3. No. I did no break the vase, Mama.

Morality – the goodness or badness of an act.

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Human action is such an important aspect of the person that
philosophers consider human actions as a way to reveal a
person’s true nature.

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

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Traits of a Human Person
3. EXTERNALITY– the capability to reach out and interact
with others and the world.

• Philosophers consider man a social being, and that a

person never exists in isolation.

• Our interactions with others define our existence as

persons.

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Traits of a Human Person
4. DIGNITY– the innate right to be valued and respected.

• Human dignity is rooted in the nature of the human being.

• Human dignity also drives us to seek what is good!

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Traits of a Human Person

Self-Awareness

Self-Determination

Externality

Dignity

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY

 Thank you so
much!

Sir Mark Anthony T. Galan PHILOSOPHY