SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Introduction to the
Philosophy of the
Human Person
Quarter 1 – Module 3
Doing Philosophy

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 OVERVIEW
Hello dear learners! Welcome to this module on Introduction to the Philosophy of the
Human Person. This module will help you understand the meaning and process of doing
philosophy of the human person as an embodied being in the world and the environment as a
means towards a holistic understanding of life. It contains activities that will help you reflects on a
concrete experience in a philosophical way and demonstrates various ways of doing philosophy
and evaluate opinion. The module is self – instructional and allows you to learn in your own space,
at your own pace. So, relax and enjoy learning.
To the teacher:
This lesson assume that the teacher has already introduced to his/ her learners knowledge
about philosophy and its importance as discipline and a means of understanding life.
The primary goal of this module is to help learners engaged in some simple activities in
order to have necessary skills and understanding and reflects on a concrete experience in a
philosophical way.
To the Learners:
At the end of this module, you will be able to reflect on your daily experiences from a
holistic point of view and acquires critical and analytical thinking skills so that you can apply this
critical and analytical thinking skills to the affairs of your daily life and should be able to
demonstrate a capacity for a critical and analytical reflection from the perspective of a holistic and
profound vision of life.
In order to achieve the objectives of this module, it is necessary to have completed all the
module for you to fully understand the activities and discussions.

Specifically, this module consists of the following lessons:

 Lesson 3.1- Recognize how the human body imposes limits and possibilities for transcendence.
 Lesson 3.2 – Evaluate own limitations and the possibilities for their transcendence.

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 GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

For the learners:

To be guided in achieving the objectives of this module, do the
following:
1. Read and follow instructions carefully.
2. Write all your ANSWERS in your PHILOSOPHY ACTIVITY
NOTEBOOK.
3. Answer the pretest before going through the lessons.
4. Take note and record points for clarification.
5. Compare your answers against the key to answers found at
the end of the module.
6. Do the activities and fully understand each lesson.
7. Answer the self-check to monitor what you learned in each
lesson.
8. Answer the posttest after you have gone over all the lessons.

For the teacher:

To facilitate and ensure the students’ learning from this module,
you are encouraged to do the following (you may edit this part):
1. Clearly communicate learning competencies and objectives
2. Motivate through applications and connections to real life.
3. Give applications of the theory
4. Discuss worked-out examples
5. Give time for hands-on unguided classroom work and
discovery
6. Use formative assessment to give feedback
7. Introduce extensions or generalizations of concepts
8. Engage in reflection questions
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9. Encourage analysis through higher order thinking
 Lesson
The Human Person as an
3 Embodied Spirit
One of the leading subjects in the course Introduction to the Philosophy of the
Human Person is the idea that the human person is an embodied spirit. So, what do
we exactly mean by “embodied spirit”?

What I Need to Know

Let’s Do This!
1. Describe the taste of water?
2. Describe the color blue to a blind person?
3. How will you describe how wonderful the world is to a blind person?
4.Now, try this, from the tip of your elbow try to reach your chin. So what
now? What does the exercise tell us?

It is difficult. Why? What if you don’t have a body?

THE HUMAN PERSON HAS LIMITS.

What Are My Goals?

By the end of this lesson, you are expected to:

1. Recognize one’s limitations and possibilities

2. Evaluate one’s limitations and the possibilities for their transcendence

3. Recognize how the human body imposes limits and possibilities for
transcendence.

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 4. Distinguish the limitations and possibilities for transcendence.

What I Know

Before we start with the module, let us check what you already know about this course by
answering this!

Complete the graph by listing traits that define you as Human and a Person. Write
them in the appropriate column. Write your answers in your Philosopy notebook.
I AM A HUMAN I AM A PERSON

1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.

What’s In it?

Lesson 3.1.
Lesson Recognize how the human body imposes
3.1 limits and possibilities for transcendence

Human Composition of Man:

What are the difference of the following terms?

Man
Person
Human Nature
Limitations of Human Person as an Embodied Spirit
Facticity
Spatial-Temporal Being
The Body as Intermediary

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 What’s New

HUMAN COMPOSITION OF MAN

MAN (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) The English term “man” is
derived from a Proto-Indo European root *man - (see Sanskrit/Avestan Manu-,
Slavic mǫž "man, male"). It is the general term commonly used to refer to the entire
human race. Other related terms, humanity, mankind, and humankind.

HUMAN refers to man as species – HOMO SAPIENS or MODERN HUMAN

BEINGS. The term human being is also used to differentiate man from other animals.

PERSON is the personality of a human being so called “SELF”. Refers to a

human being granted recognition of certain rights, protection, responsibilities and
dignity above all. Philosopher refers to the human person as the totality of an
individual, possessing awareness, self-determination and capacity to interact with
others and with himself/herself. Personhood refers to the state of being a person.

HUMAN NATURE defines as the nature of humans especially the

fundamental characters and traits of humans. It refers to the characteristics that
distinguish humans from all other creatures. These traits are expected to arise
independent of the influence of culture and society. EXAMPLES: THINKING,
FEELING AND ACTING.

What is the human person?

Human Person

Has self Has self- Is able Is

toable to reach
reach
-awareness determination out andout and interact
interact
with others.
with others.

Self-awareness refers to the person having a clear perception of oneself, including

his thoughts, emotions, identity and actions.

Try saying these!

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  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 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 brokenvase. She asked, “Did you
break the vase?” What do you think Jose‘s answer will be?

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-oriental and self-directed.

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.
Externality refers to the capability of a person to reach out and interact with others
and the world.

Dignity refers to the innate right to be valued 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.

Limitations of the Human Person

BODILY LIMITATIONS

 Mental and Emotional Disorders (e.g. anxiety, intellectual disability)

 Disabilities (e.g. amputated leg, deafness, blind)
 Diseases and Illness (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, cough)
 Failures and experiences (e.g. failing a subject)

https://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/patient-ventilator.html http://clipart-library.com/disabled-student-cliparts.html

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Social and Environmental Limitations

 Socioeconomic Status
 Location of neighbourhood(e.g. armed, disorganized, or violent neighborhood)
 Abusive Relationship (e.g. emotional abuse)
 Negative Influences (e.g. drug use)

LIMITATIONS CAN LEAD TO POSSIBILITIES

Bodily limits can be tested by trying on new experiences and working on
challenge with increasing levels of difficulty. The human body, if given enough exposure to
any situation, can attain goal with efficiency.
Social and environmental limitations are more difficult to overcome than bodily
limitations they involve the influence of other people and the external world. However, with
a proper mindset, clearly defined goals, and motivation to rise above challenges, one may
successfully overcome his or her limitations.

RECOGNIZE AND EVALUATE OWN LIMITATIONS AND POSSIBILITIES

FOR TRANSCENDENCE

Transcendence is the ability to change, be

dynamic,and continually redefining one’s self
which works with our facticity to create
change.
How do limitations lead to transcendence?

Facticity refers to the things in our life that are

already given. EXAMPLE: LIFE
We are free to define who we are and who we
are to be.

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Even though you are still young, you are not prevented from further understanding of
yourself. Transcendence is even more possible when you begin to understand that you
can go beyond your limitations if you set your mind on your goals.

SOME POINTS TO REMEMBER WHEN GOING BEYOND YOUR LIMITS

 You are connected to the external world.

 Challenges are learning opportunities.
 Your goal is more important than your fears.
 Recognize that everyone has fears.
 Explore

The world continues to change rapidly. Nowadays, the generation gap can easily be
seen in everyday life because of new technological advances being introduced at a fast
pace.

What I Can Do?

ACTIVITY 3.1: One’s Limitations and Possibilities

DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions in your notebook.

1. What are your limitations as a person? What are the things that you consider
as difficult or hard for you to accomplish or believe in?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

2. What are your strengths? What are the possible things or status that you can
reach or achieve in the future?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

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 Lesson Evaluate own limitations and the
3.2 possibilities for their transcendence

What’s New?
Transcendence

Many people admire Mark Zuckerberg

being a co-founder and CEO of the social-networking website
Facebook,which he started
his college dorm room at Harvard University.
He’s one of the world’s youngest billionaires in
this generation.

Like Mark, all people have dreams that they want

to fulfill. If you were finally able to meet your
dreams, How would you feel?
● Do you think your perspective in life will change?

Let us find out the answers in this lesson!

The previous example talks about transcendence or a state of “existence above and
beyond the limits of material experience.”

Transcendence originated from the words Trans, meaning “go beyond”, and scandare,
meaning “climb”.

In the example, fulfilling a dream requires transcendence because it opens a state of

thinking and feeling that there is something more in life than just physical and material
things. Much like Abraham Maslow’s self-actualization concepts, transcendence is a state
of being intrinsically satisfied with life regardless of physical and tangible factors.

LIMITATIONS AND POSSIBILITIES FOR TRANSCENDENCE

Here are some limitations and possibilities for transcendence:
- may not occur to everyone
- does not come at a specified period

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- varies across all people
- may coincide with physical limitations of the body
- developing a positive outlook in life
- working towards reaching a goal
- learning from experience

POSSIBILITIES FOR TRANSCENDENCE

It is also important to know that transcendence may be applied to present worries by living
in the present. This means that life is lived from moment to momentin a carefree and
cheerful manner where concerns for stress are reserved for the future, and regrets or guilt
feelings are kept in the past.

What Can I Do?

ACTIVITY 3.2: Limitations and Possibilities for Transcendence

DIRECTIONS: Complete the chart by rewriting your present limitations with

reference to your answers in the previous activities. Make an action plan towards
transcendence. Copy the chart in your notebook

MY LIMITATIONS PLAN TOWARDS TRANSCENDENCE

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 What I Have Learned?

Discover and try it on the following questions and answer them briefly on your
activity notebook.

1. The world continues to change quickly.Nowadays, the generation gap can easily be
seen in everyday life because of new technological advances being introduced at a fast
pace.In your personal experience, does technological advancement limit or improve the
possibility for transcendence? Why? Why not?

2. Look around you. Observe the environment and identify possible factors that may limit
transcendence. You may also put yourself in the position of those who experience such limitations.
Identify ways on how you may overcome those challenges. What do you think? Is reaching
transcendence always a good thing? Why? Why not?

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 Assessment

Direction: Read each item carefully and choose the letter ofthe correct answer. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What do you call the state of being or existence above and beyond the limits
of material experience?
a. Transition
b. Transcendence
c. Transformation
d. Transgression
2. What does the term scandare mean?
a. “to exist”
b. “to impart”
c. “to climb”
d. “to deduce”
3. According to this philosopher, the human person is an embodied spirit. Who is he?
a. Socrates
b. Aristotle
c. Immanuel Kant
d. St. Thomas
4. Which of the following is a biological limitation for transcendence for a student
whose goal is to be a valedictorian?
a. Joining a dance troupe
b. Being absent for a week due to fever

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 c. Watching videos over the internet
d. Criticism from his teacher on his science project
5. Which of the following is not a possibility for transcendence?
a. Looking for help
b. Having a positive outlook
c. Working to reach a goal
d. Learning from experience
6. Magie is a poor 17-year old girl whose ultimate dream is to finish her studies.
What can she do to make her dream possible?
a. Join the school choir to lessen her stress in her studies
b. Start on organization that fights for human rights
c. Work during her free time to gain extra money for school
d. Read books on her own
7. Why do some people fail to experience transcendence?
a. They have a feeling that it will not occur.
b. They are not meant to experience it.
c. They are not hardworking.
d. They have a goal that is too challenging for them to achieve.

8. Which of the following statement is true?

1. Transcendence is for younger ages.
2. Transcendence is similar to self-actualization.
a. Statement 2
b. Both statements 1 and 2
c. Neither statement 1 nor 2
d. Statement 1
9. How does the human body play a role in transcendence?
1. The body has its limitations.
2. The body functions against transcendence.
a. Statement 2
b. Statement 1
c. Both statement 1 and 2
d. Neither statement 1 nor 2
10.Which statement about transcendence is true?
1. It only starts during old age
2. All personal limitations are clearly defined.
a. Both statement 1 and 2
b. Neither statements 1 nor 2
c. Statement 1
d. Statement 2

Congratulations!
You have completed your
journey in
this module.
You did a great job!
It’s now time to go
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on to the
next
adventure…
Good luck!
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REFERENCES
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1. Abella, D. R. (2016). Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person. C&E Publishing Inc.
2. Gallinero, W. B. (2017). Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person. Mutya Publishing
House, Inc.
Kazekage15. The-human-person-as-an-embodiedspirit-limitations-and-transcendence
2. Researchgate.net/publication/41547202.What Does it Mean to Live a Fully Embodied
Spiritual Life
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&v=&b=&from_search=1
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embodiedspirit?next_slideshow=1
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15Retrieved from.https://padlet.com/pasamontem/philoperftask
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