Philosophical Approaches

to the Study of Man

1. Cosmocentric Man was seen as to be conceived as part of nature, wherein the
(pre-Socratics, Ancient search for the truth of man was at the same time, a search for the
Greek) truth about the universe. The theme in the philosophy of man in
this approach is “Man as Being-int-the-world”, the human body is
known to be the link with the world, it speaks on the totality of the
worlds for man, not just his environment, but as where the things
lying around man are not merely seen as objects but as some things
that form meaning. This theme incorporates the study of man
brings light into the study of the world.
2. Theocentric Reason became the companion of faith when Christianity made its
(Medieval Approach) strike in medieval Europe. Man was still part of nature but nature
was now viewed as part of God’s creation, where man was the
noblest creatures of God next to the angels. Here, philosophy
became the search for the ultimate causes of things, which
eventually leads to the truth about God. The theme in this approach
is “Man as Persons and his crowning activity is love which
presuppose justice”, where it constitutes that man gains himself by
giving himself to others, phenomenologists see the meaning to this
Christian paradox, what the contemporary thinkers call, “the
fundamental option of love”. Love and Justice became subjects to
the Theocentric philosophical approach of man.
3. Anthropocentric The question of man was now on the foreground of other
(began with Descartes’ questionings on nature or on God. Reason is now liberated from
cogito, Modern nature and faith, capable and sufficient enough to inquire on its
Approach) own truth.
The theme in this approach is “Man as Embodied Subjectivity” as
phenomenologists started to reject the definition of man “rational
animal” or as a composite body and soul”, in other words, man’s
 meaning is separate from its natural characteristics and from his
faith. The human body is a subject-body, and alone, is already a
meaning which is giving existence.
4. Existentialism - Soren Kierkegaard reacted against Descartes’ cogito and
(Contemporary stressed on the infinite passion of man. Philosophy became the
Philosophical search for the meaning of life’ the search for truth was now the
Approach) search for meaning.
- The search for man’s meaning became more important than
finding out the answer, for no one could agree on a single
answer. Existentialists go against systems or process; similar
questions are asked but the way of finding the answer differ
from every philosopher. Thus, they are divided into two
camps, the theistic and atheistic.
The theme in this approach is “Man as Being-with; the inter-
human and the Social”. Here, the world of man is not only seen as
a world of things but also a world of fellowman, it speaks about
taking part into the world, finding meaning through man’s
personal experiences with other beings. Man’s past (experiences)
help him in his quest in finding the essence of man, man puts
himself out to the world, to explore, experience and reflect,as
according to the five common features of existentialists, they (1)
philosophize from the standpoint of an actor rather than a
spectator, (2) stress on the subjectivity of man, man has depth,
transcends, giver of meaning, (3) stress on man’s existence, man
as situated, (4) emphasizes the freedom of man; (5) propagate
authentic existence vs inauthentic existence. This is associated
with Man as Being-with.