Lesson 3 The Human Person as an Embodied Spirit

The human person is an important subject in Philosophy and an 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.

We often ask ourselves, "What makes us special?" Pondering our human nature allows
us to determine the special traits that make us humans unique as a species. Further
reflection on our nature as humans will also help us figure out what makes us special as
individuals and how this uniqueness is shared with our fellow human beings.

The following terms are related to the discussion of the human person:

Man is the general term commonly used to refer to the entire human race, Other related
terms include humanity, mankind, and humankind. Human refers to man as a species
—Homo sapiens or modern human beings. The term human being is also used to
distinguish man from other animals.

Person is a much more complex term which generally refers to a human being granted
recognition of certain rights, protection, 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
or herself. Personhood refers to the state of being a person.

Human nature refers to the characteristics that distinguish humans from all other
creatures. These traits are assumed to arise independent of the influence of culture and
society. Examples of these characteristics include thinking, feeling, and acting. These
traits are considered to form the essence of humanity, and without them, an individual
may not be considered a human person.

What is the human person?

The most basic definition of a human being relates to the nature of humans as animals.
Philosophers, however, believe that the human being is not just a mere animal. There is
something in the human individual that sets him or her apart from other beings. These
special traits make a human a distinct individual person.

So how do we know that we are human persons? Let us first compare ourselves to the
following:

Ask yourself the following questions:

Am I a rock?
Am I a lamp?

Am l a dog?

There are several obvious reasons why you replied NO to each of these questions.
However, let us explore the reasons why you cannot consider yourself as one of those
pictured. Based on a purely physical comparison, we can confidently state that we
share no physical similarities with a rock and a lamp as they are non-living things
composed of inorganic materials.

Looking at the dog, however, you may see a number of shared traits or features.
Humans and animals are living beings and thus share many attributes. We both have
eyes, ears, a nose, a mouth, a body — though these are shaped in different ways.
Being a living, breathing, functioning organism is a characteristic that we share with
other organisms that occupy this planet. Though living is an essential feature of being
human, it cannot be the defining feature that sets us apart and makes us human
persons.

We need to look deeper within ourselves and figure out what really sets us apart from
other living things. So, how do you differ from the dog? Look at the dog a little more
closely and try and exercise your imagination.

Let us say that we make this dog your pet. Think back on how you treat your pets•
Oftentimes we treat our pets as if they are similar to us. The following are ways pet
owners treat animals as people:

You put clothes on your pet.

You give your pet toys to play with.

You make it live in your house.

You teach it to behave properly around other people.

You give it birthday parties and invite other people to attend and celebrate.

By doing these things, do you make your pet a human person? The answer is, of
course, no.

Despite the actions and intentions of people who really love animals, animals are
fundamentally different from us humans. Though we share a number of similarities with
other members of the animal kingdom, there are certain things that we possess -- traits
and capabilities—that are not found in other organisms.
Now, look at your pet more deeply to really make sense of personhood.

Is your pet truly aware of what is happening around it?

Can your pet truly feel emotions in the same way that you do?

Is your pet capable of reflecti0?1? Can it question its nature or identity as a dog?

Can your pet reflect on its actions and behavior? Do you think it can feel guilt or
satisfaction in the same way you do?

Studying these questions will give you an idea of what defines humans as persons, and
what philosophers look for in their search to define the human person.

The first trait that defines a person is self-awareness. Self-awareness refers to the
person having a clear perception of oneself, including his or her thoughts, emotions,
identity, and actions. Human awareness goes beyond perception and reaction to the
environment. The human person is defined by a deeper awareness which is driven by
rationality or human thought. A person is aware of both his or her surroundings and
himself or herself. A human person knows that he or she is living an experience and is
an active participant in this experience. We do not experience life as an audience
watching a movie on a screen; we are stars in our own movies, acting and starring in a
story of our own making.

This awareness gives rise to the notion of the "self", which philosophers describe as the
person who is actively aware that he or she is perceiving and experiencing reality. Try
saying these words aloud:

I am a person.

I am alive.

I exist.

I am here, I am present.

I am living at this very moment.

Do you believe that these statements are true? If yes, then congratulations! You are a
person possessing awareness of yourself.

This awareness of the self also enables us persons to experience an "inner world" that
is defined by our personal thoughts and ideas. The fact that we can daydream, get lost
in our thoughts, imagine, fantasize, and reflect shows that we are able to reach within
ourselves and experience interiority, which is the quality of being focused on one's inner
life and identity. This interiority enables persons to exercise creativity. It allows us to
imagine the sky in different colors, draw fantastic animals and landscapes, create new
music, and think of lyrics to a song. Additionally, creativity also means that a person can
create within himself or herself 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. A person can also create himself or herself within and realize this self without.

The self also enables us to reach out and interact with things outside of ourselves. This
means that we are not only aware of our surroundings and everything around us but we
are also aware of other human beings. When we see a stranger smiling or nodding at
us, we are aware that another person has seen us and acknowledged us as a person.
We know that the people we encounter are also other persons who possess the same
awareness as we do, as well as the other traits that define a person.

Another trait that defines a person is self-determination. This 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. We are persons because
we act, and we are aware of our actions. Try and raise your right hand. Are you able to
do it? Who makes you raise your right hands? You may argue that you are instructed to
do so. However, the actual action of raising your hand is yours alone. Your teacher
does not have a remote control that can control your bodily actions. Neither do the
printed words in this book possess the power to directly control your body. You alone
decide to comply with the instruction given to raise your right hand and it is you alone
who make your arm move to raise your right hand.

Recall an instance in class when your teacher asked those who knew the answer to a
question to raise their hands. You only raised your hand if you knew the answer to the
question. Alternatively, you may have known the answer to the question but refused to
raise your hand. Our free will enables us to do actions whenever we want to and makes
self-determination possible. Free will is the capacity to choose a course of action from
various alternatives. The existence of free will enables a person to act willfully, control
his or her actions, and recognize himself or herself as the source of action.

Imagine a small boy, Carlo, playing in the living room of their house while his mother is
in the kitchen. Suddenly, the boy accidentally bumps into a table, causing a vase to fall.
Upon hearing the sound of something crashing to the floor, Carlo's mother immediately
goes into the living room and sees him standing near the broken vase. Carlo's mother
asks him, "Did you break the vase?" What do you think his answer will be?

I broke the vase, Mama.

I bumped into the table and the vase fell, Mama. No. I did not break the vase, Mama.

The first two statements show that Carlo is aware of himself as the cause for the vase
breaking. The second statement gives more details but note that Carlo admits to
bumping the table, which in turn caused the vase to fall and break. His answer shows
that Carlo is aware of himself as the source of action and has acted accordingly, owning
up to the fact that he indirectly broke the Vase. Carlo also exercises self-determination
in determining which response to give. Carlo can choose to admit breaking the vase, or
he can choose to deny that he broke the vase.

A discussion on self-determination and free will eventually leads to a discussion of

consequence. Consequence is the result or effect of an action or condition. As
persons, we are aware that each action we perform has a consequence. Imagine
holding an egg in your hands. What will happen if you squeeze the egg? What will
happen if you open your hand and let the egg fall? This simple scenario shows the
relationship between action and consequence. Philosophers assume that a person acts
freely and with due regard for the consequences of his or her actions.

Now, think back and reflect on your daily actions. What are the intended consequences
of your everyday "normal" actions? What are the consequences of waking up early?
Eating breakfast? Taking a bath? Going to school? Doing schoolwork? Talking to your
friends? Doing homework? Going home early? Sleeping on time? Oftentimes, reflection
is needed to uncover the intentions and consequences of our actions. There may also
be instances when our actions produce unintended consequences. For example, you
decide not to go home at six o'clock in the evening but instead spend time with your
friends. Back home, a delivery truck arrives at 6:30 PM carrying a package from your
relative. But since no one is home, the delivery man is unable to give the package to
your family.

Let us go back and analyze Carlo's situation Let's plot the various actions in a diagram
to understand the nature of the consequences he has experienced.

???
Carlo
reponds.
Mother
asks him if
Mother he brokes
goes into the vase
Vase falls the living to
to the floor investigate
Carlo and breaks.
bumps into
Carlo plays the table.
in the
Room.

Looking at the diagram, you will see that there is a chain of actions and events that
have a cause-and-effect relationship. One major consequence brought about by Carlo's
actions is the vase falling to the floor and breaking, which happened because he
bumped into the table when he was playing. Was it Carlo's intention to break the vase?
We can argue that he had no intention of doing so, and in fact, it might not have crossed
Carlo's mind that playing in the room would cause him to break something. Persons
exercise self-determined actions but often encounter unintended consequences of their
actions.
Now try and complete the sequence. What do you think will happen if Carlo admits to
breaking the vase? What will happen if he does not admit to breaking the vase?

Carlo may not have intended to break the vase, but he now has the free will to choose
how he will respond to his mother's question. This brings us to another element of
human action, which is morality or the goodness or badness of an act. As an observer
in this situation, how will you judge Carlo if he admits to breaking the vase? You may
consider him a good boy because he is honest. You may also describe him as a brave
boy because he faces the risk of being scolded by his mother for breaking the vase.

If Carlo denies breaking the vase, what will be your reaction? Surely you will say that he
is lying, and that he is being a bad boy. Put yourself in Carlo's shoes and imagine
yourself lying to your mother. This act will result in feelings of guilt or nervousness
because we are aware of the fact that we are lying and what we are doing is wrong.
Imagine that Carlo's mother figures out that he is •lying, what will be her reaction?

Human action is such an important aspect of the person that many philosophers
consider human action as a way to reveal a person's true nature. For example, we may
find a person attractive, but if he or she acts in a rude or offensive manner, our initial
favorable impression may change. Human acts complete the person, as it is through his
or her actions that his or her inner self is revealed to others, and it is through action that
a person is able to explore and fulfill his or her potential. Now, let us try and say these
statements.

I am a person.

My actions are my own and are made freely.

I know that lam the cause of my actions.

I know that my actions have consequences.

If you believe these statements apply to you, then you are now closer to a fuller
realization of yourself as a person.

Another important trait that defines a human person is externality or the capability to
reach out and interact with others and the world. Earlier, we discussed the concept
of the self and the capability of the person to relate to other persons that he or she
encounters. The realization that we are not alone and that there are other persons
around us enables us to reach out and establish meaningful relationships with others.

Philosophers consider man a social being, and that a person never exists in isolation.
We may be able to experience interiority — we imagine and think for ourselves — but
we also share these thoughts with other persons. Man has a natural tendency to seek
out fellow human beings, and the relationships established by this interaction is a vital
component for survival.
Imagine waking up one morning and finding that all the people in your community have
disappeared. Your family, friends, and all other persons are gone without a trace. Can
you imagine living in a place or a world where there are no people? Will you be able to
provide for your needs now that you are alone? How will you get your food and other
things needed for survival? Do you see yourself living normally now that you have no
one to talk to — no family and friends to interact with?

Our interactions with others define our existence as persons. We grow and develop not
only through our thoughts and actions, but also through the influence of other people in
our lives, and the individuals we meet and interact with.

Reflect on the relationships you have established ever since. Can you say that you have
grown as a person because you had meaningful interactions with the people you met
throughout your life? If you answer Yes, then you can say the following statements with
conviction.

i am a person. I value€ others.

interact with others in meaningful ways. I value my relationships with others.

The final trait that distinguishes the human person is dignity or the innate right to be
valued and respected. Philosophers consider all humans as having an inherent worth
or value. Philosophers, however, do not equate value or worth with any quantifiable
measure such as a price. Each person is worth the same as another person in the
sense that every person is priceless, unique, unrepeatable, and irreplaceable. We do
not value another person in the same way that we assign values to things such as cars
or houses. Putting a price on a person diminishes human dignity since we tend to value
some people more while we may diminish the worth of others. This is why we consider
the statement "You're worthless!" an insult, since it attacks the very notion of a person
having value or worth.

The value of a human person is also proven by the fact that no person is dispensable or
interchangeable. Each person is his or her own being and there is no one in world who
is exactly like him or her. The other people in our lives are also irreplaceable. Imagine
being told that you will have to leave your family and live with strangers. The
relationship between you and the "new" people in your life will not be as meaningful as
the one you had with your original family. If you were told that you will be moving to
another school, one of the first concerns you may have is that you will be leaving your
friends behind. This is the reason why any form of separation from the people we love
and value is a difficult and painful experience.

Human dignity is rooted in the nature of the human being. This means that a human
person has dignity simply because of the fact that he or she is human. Dignity is not
defined by outside forces or characteristics such as intelligence, ability, skills, or
attractiveness. Whether one is a genius or mentally challenged does not remove the
individual's dignity as a person. This also applies to people with handicaps or
disabilities. A person who loses an arm or a leg does not become less human or less of
a person. Also, a person retains his or her dignity in spite of his actions or behavior.
This means that criminals who may have committed very heinous offenses are still
persons even if others consider their acts cruel or inhuman.

Human dignity also drives us to seek what is good. Doing good actions, therefore,
upholds and promotes the dignity of the human person. Since we recognize ourselves
as persons with dignity who deserve to be treated well and respected, we should also
treat other persons in a respectful manner. The recognition of the dignity of the human
person is the basis for the recognition of human rights. Many of the rights we enjoy are
provided in recognition of the natural dignity of the human person.

If you believe that you and all other human beings are persons with dignity, then you will
agree with the following statements.

I am a person.

I am a person with dignity

I recognize that others have dignity, as well.

I must uphold human dignity in my thoughts and actions.

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

So far we have focused on traits and behavior that define human persons.

Philosophers have delved deeper into the question of personhood, They tried to identify
the substantial elements that give rise to the characteristics that enable us to become
persons. They asked what enables humans to have a sense of self and the traits that
define the person. To find the answer, philosophers began to ponder the essential
nature of the human being.

The first question philosophers pondered was whether or not the person is truly defined
by his or her body and what he or she experiences through the senses. The initial view
was that the person is a purely physical being defined by his or her body and what his
or her body experiences. This emphasis on physicality is seen when we describe
ourselves as "tall" or someone with "brown hair" and "brown eyes."

Our body is not the only thing that defines us. Philosophers believe that a person cannot
be simply reduced to his or her physical body. For instance, if a person has an accident
and loses an arm and a leg, does that person lose a part of his or her identity? Does he
or she become less of a person? If we were to base personhood on the ability to
perceive using our senses, does that mean that blind and deaf people cannot be
considered persons?

If you describe yourself as someone who is "hopeful", "happy" or "friendly," are these
traits evident in your physical body? These characteristics are very much part of us, but
are not seen in any physical trait we possess and are only made evident through our
actions.

Philosophers point to another unseen aspect of the human person which, along with the
body, defines us as persons. This 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.

How are the body and the spirit related?

Philosophers consider the human person as defined by the union of the body and the
spirit. The human person is an embodied spirit. Not only are the body and spirit united,
but they are also integrated with each other. This means that we cannot separate the
two and they go hand-in-hand in making us who we are. Whatever affects the body also
affects the spirit, and this unique trait of the person enables him or her to experience
both the physical world and the spiritual world. Embodiment enables us to do and all the
things that make us human persons.

To understand embodiment better, let us talk about love. What has love got to do with
embodiment, you ask. This would all depend on if you have ever been in love. If you
have not yet experienced falling in love, it is certain that you know people who have
been in love, or know what being in love is like from what you have read in books or
seen in movies and television.

People often associate this feeling with the symbol of the heart. Many believe that the
heart is the center of feelings of love and affection, as love seems to cause the heart to
flutter or beat faster. Scientists, however, consider love a result of various 'biological
reactions associated with an increase of hormones, which have certain effects on the
body. Some even identify a part of the brain, the hypothalamus, as responsible for the
feelings we associate with being in love.

Philosophers, on the other hand, argue that reducing a profound experience such as
love to biological functions or the activities of certain body parts is absurd. We love not
just with the heart nor with the brain, but we love another person with our entire being.

Embodiment, therefore, is the one thing that enables us to feel love and love others.

Our experience is also a product of embodiment. The human mind processes

information through the senses, which are experienced through the body. Aside from
perceiving our surroundings, we also react to the things we experience emotionally.
Most of our meaningful experiences are often closely tied to emotions such as
happiness, anger, or sadness. If you are to recall a happy moment in your life, you not
only remember the people you were with and the events that happened at that moment,
you also feel the happiness you felt at that moment.

The human body also stands as the mediator between the material world and the
spiritual world. Being an embodied spirit, the person is able to encounter the world of
objects (including other personal subjects) in a manner that transcends the physical.
This feature of the person allows him or her to form an intimate relationship with those
outside him or her. Human embodiment allows persons to attach certain feelings or
ideas not only to people, but also to objects. For example, a pair of rubber slippers may
not mean much to most people, but a particular pair of rubber slippers could be
someone's treasure. How is this possible? Because the pair of rubber slippers in
question is not just a material object to someone, but it could be something meaningful
as a present from a loved one.

With human embodiment, physical acts are no longer purely physical acts, because the
body conveys something from a person's inner world. These emotions and ideas are
given to another person who, because of interiority, recognizes the thoughts that the
Other wishes to convey. This explains why people who are in love with each other seem
to communicate effortlessly without words. The mere act of "holding hands" conveys a
powerful message between lovers, as it is through this act that they can express their
affection toward each other. A smile from a stranger will not elicit a reaction from you,
but a smile from your crush will immediately cause an intense emotional reaction in you.
A pat on the shoulder may mean a lot to a person if it comes from someone he or she
looks up to. These examples show that it is through embodiment that a person is 4ble to
have a very unique relationship with the world. And it is this unique relationship that
defines us as humans.

How does my human nature enable me to explore my limits?

Though the nature of the person as an embodied spirit provides numerous opportunities
to explore everything around us and even within us, our human nature still imposes
limitations. It is true that the human person enjoys a number of advantages compared to
other beings, but there are still a number of things that humans naturally cannot do.

It can be said that the person is a very biologically deficient being. This means that we
are not equipped with the best physical attributes among all the beings in the world. For
instance, we do not have the natural ability to fly. We also cannot breathe underwater
without the aid of a breathing apparatus. We cannot survive in certain environments like
other animals. Compared to other animals, we have limited capabilities with regard to
strength, speed, and the use of our senses. Despite these natural limitations, we have
used our intellect to devise means to achieve several feats. We now use airplanes to fly,
employ scuba gear to swim underwater for extended periods, and invented tools and
machines to lift great weights and perform other feats well beyond our physical
capabilities.

The ability to surpass limits is called transcendence, and it is also one important trait
that distinguishes the human person from Other beings in existence. Analyze the
following questions and check if you have ever found yourself asking or wondering the
same things.

Have you ever wondered about what is beyond our world or universe?

Have you ever wanted to become better at something or to learn something new?

Do you see yourself becoming a better person over time?

Have you ever imagined a life that is better than what you are living now?

Our mind is an important tool that allows us to go beyond many of our physical limits. As
persons, we are able to exercise our imagination and reflection to go beyond our own
thoughts and experiences. For example, we can imagine ourselves in other places
without traveling there. Even if we are seated inside the classroom, we often find
ourselves daydreaming that we in other places or doing other things. We cannot travel
through time, but we use our minds to recall the past and even imagine the future. We
can even think of things that do not exist in reality, like fire-breathing dragons, winged
horses, and flying elephants. Although we have physical limitations, we can transcend
them because of our spiritual dimension. Being physically limited in our abilities does
not prevent us from hoping for or aspiring to greater things.

It must also be understood that as human persons, we have natural tendencies or

inclinations. Some of these are felt bodily functions and they are experienced as a
person goes through life. The feeling of hunger reminds us that the body needs food
and nourishment. The feeling of fatigue is a reminder that the body has limits and needs
to rest and recover. Transcendence also means overcoming oneself or being in control
even if the body reminds us of certain tendencies. Although these tendencies are felt,
the person can govern them and ensure that they are exercised within the bounds of
reason. A person who has no control over his or her eating habit eventually becomes
unhealthy and develops an eating disorder; a person who allows the pleasures of
dangerous drugs to rule over him becomes a drug addict.

Each individual carry within himself or herself the possibility of transcending his or her
limits. Most of our personal limits often involve facing a challenge or obstacle or
overcoming a weakness. These limits, however, can be overcome with enough effort
and perseverance. For us to experience transcendence, we must identify and face our
own personal limits. Read the situations below:
Joey: [sighs] I keep getting a bad score in our math tests!

Alan: Hey, 30 out of40 isn't that bad! It's a higher result than what you got last week,
right? Joey: I know! But I really want to score higher next time!

Maria: So, Jenny, how's basketball practice?

Jenny: It's going great, thanks for asking!

Maria: You know, the provincial athletic meet is just a few weeks away...

Jenny: Yes! And we're pretty excited about it! The team is really trying their best to be
better than last year. Last year's runner-up win was nice, but we want the championship
cup this year.

David: I'm really interested in taking this job. But this means that Ill be moving to Manila!
Mario: Didn't you tell me that it has been your ambition to work at the most prestigious
architectural firm in the country? Of course you have to go for it!

David: I know, but I can't imagine leaving my family and friends behind! This will be a
new experience for me.

Based on the dialogues, the following are the personal 'limits experienced by these
individuals.

Joey — gets low scores in his Math tests

Jenny — her basketball team was runner-up in last year's provincial athletic meet

Mario — cannot imagine leaving his province and moving to Manila

Let's figure out the nature of the limits or challenges each person is experiencing. Joey's
limit is related to the capabilities of the mind in performing well in Math tests. Jenny's
limit is related to her ability to play basketball and lead her team to win. Mario's
challenge is committing to a decision to leave behind his life in the province for new
opportunities in Manila.
IMPORTANT NOTES!

 The human being is recognized not only as a distinct species — Homo sapiens, but
as a unique being, an individual person possessing awareness of the self.

 The human person possesses self-awareness which refers to the awareness of

oneself as an active participant in reality. A person is aware not only of his or her
surroundings or reality but also of himself or herself as a participant in this reality.

 The sense of self enables a person to look within himself or herself and experience
interiority. Self-awareness also enables a person to reach out to other persons and
establish meaningful relationships with them.

 Another trait that defines a human person is self-determination. This refers to the
awareness of one's actions and the notion that oneself is the source of an action.
Self-determination is brought about by the person's free will or the capability to act
willfully and control one's actions. Self-determination also brings about the
awareness of consequence — that every action will have results or effects.

 A human person is able to reach out and interact with others. Man is a social being
and a person has a natural tendency to establish relationships with other people.
These interactions define our existence and enable us to develop. A human person
has dignity, which is the recognition that each person has a worth and value that go
beyond quantifiable terms. Each person is indispensable and irreplaceable. Our
human nature is the basis for the recognition of dignity. Being human naturally gives
us dignity as persons. Human dignity is the basis for the recognition of our human
rights. Doing good actions and upholding the good enable the person to uphold his
or her dignity.

 The human person is an embodied spirit. This means that both the human body and
the spirit define human nature and experience. The body and spirit come together to
form a whole, and this integration defines the embodiment of the person. The human
person's nature as an embodied spirit gives rise to the characteristics that define the
person and enables us to engage in profound, meaningful experiences.

 Our human nature makes transcendence possible. It refers to our ability to explore
and surpass our limits. We are able to transcend our limits through our physical and
mental abilities. Our ability to transcend drives us to become better persons and to
improve ourselves in every way. We can also transcend our own selves, when we
govern ourselves towards what is proper to our nature as a person.