THE NATURE OF THE HUMAN PERSON

The Human Person

• Estanol (2007) defines the human person as having physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual
attributes.
• St. Thomas Aquinas describes the human person as having physical and spiritual substance
because he/she has a soul and is created by a Superior Being with a divine purpose.
• Dictionaries define the human person as a “self-conscious animal.”

Characteristics of Human Person

Babor (2007) in his book, The Human Person, Not Real, But Existing, discusses the several characteristics
of a human person, namely:

1. A human person is a rational being. He/She is free to think and has the capacity to reason and
distinguish between right and wrong.
2. A human person is born free. He/She has the freedom to do or not to do things. However, every
person is responsible for his/her own action.
3. A human person is unique. He/She possesses an identity that makes him/her unlike any other
person. Generally speaking, even if two persons have the same characteristics and physical features,
they are not the same because each one has his/her own perception, and a different set of values and
priorities in life.
4. Every person is intrinsically a social being and cannot detach himself/herself from other
creatures in the universe. By nature, he/she is characterized by his/her relationships with other
creatures, objects, or his/her fellowmen.
5. All living things are sexual by nature, but the uniqueness of expression of a person’s
sexuality makes him/her different. The expression of a person’s emotions, attitudes, feelings,
actions and thoughts in sexual activity best exemplifies his/her uniqueness from animals.

BIBLICAL VIEWS

Genesis 1:26-27

God created man and woman in His own image and likeness and made them masters of the fish of the
sea, the birds, the heaven, the earth, the wild beasts, and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth.

The Supreme Being entrusted to the human person the care of creatures on the earth, aware of the
possibilities, challenges, and difficulties he/she will encounter in his/her life.

Agbuya (1997) states that “He/She (human person) is designated by God to exercise dominion over other
creatures in his/her everyday use of freedom, search for happiness, and openness to the world around
him/her. And what makes him/her human is his/her being a true person, which includes the special gifts
and talents of thinking, loving, longing for happiness, and making decision. The human nature was
patterned after the image of God.”

PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS

According to Protagoras, a human person is the measure of all things that exist and of all things that do
not exist. Furthermore, Plato claimed that the perfect human being does not exist in this world because
what is in this world is just an imperfect copy of humanity’s original self in the realm of ideas.
Parmenides posited that a person has knowledge of something that exists, for a person who does not
exist is nothing.

A human person like other animals has external and internal organs. A human being becomes evident
when he/she starts to share his/her thoughts and ideas with others.

Maguigad (2006) in his book, Philosophy of the Human Being, explains the different philosophical views
of the human person. These are the following:
1. Conservatism
The conservative view is not entirely positive and definitely non egalitarian. Some men contribute
more than others to society, and, therefore, must be rewarded and honored by the society. All human
persons may not be of equal value to society: some men are intended to rule, the rest to obey. This is
in line with one of Confucian ethical ideas which states that the superior man must rule and the
commoner must bow before his authority.
2. Liberalism
Liberalism has a more egalitarian view of human nature. It believes that all men are capable of reason
and rational action and have the capacity to live satisfactory and productive lives if given the
opportunity. Reason is common to human beings and this fact raises them above the level of beasts
 and enables them to know the principles of suitable living. According to Mencius, “Every human
being can become a sage king, that is, anyone can gain the wisdom to rule.”
3. Socialism
In socialism, the human being readily engages in cooperative social activities when given the
opportunity. Unfortunately, this natural cooperative instinct is not fostered when some people selfishly
exploit other people.

Marx believes that man is driven primarily by desire for economic gains. In his Das Kapital, he
considers the human person as a social animal; if he/she fails to relate actively with others and with
nature, he/she loses himself/herself and becomes alienated. His/Her drives lose human qualities and
assume human qualities.
4. Fascism
Fascism holds that what matters most is the country itself. The human being can prosper only when
the nation prospers; his/her fate is merely secondary when it comes to the country. Like the
conservatives, the fascists contend that some human beings are naturally and racially better than
others.

CLASSICAL GREEK VIEWS

The early classical Greeks define the human person as “a rational animal”. (1) An animal’s vegetative
sensory and rational element is integrated within his/her being; thus he/she is a material (body) and
spiritual (soul) being. (2) As a vegetative creature, the human person needs to have food to grow,
develop, and reproduce. (3) As a sentient being, he/she needs sensory perceptions to gain knowledge. (4)
As a rational animal, he/she needs the power of thought, reason, and cognition.

Due to person’s nobility and his/her special place in God’s kingdom, it is through him/her that the rest of
creation enter into a dialogue and relationship with the Supreme Being. Because the human person id
given free will to choose, decide, or shape his/her life, he/she is always responsible for his/her action.

A human person is capable of knowing, loving, and believing, which leads him/her to be fully aware of
his/her humanity.

SOCIOLOGICAL VIEWS

Salcedo (2004) states that people look at this social world or at the various ways that human beings
behave in a social way. Hence, when we talk about society or the social world, we are really referring to
the behavior of human beings.

San Juan (2007) proposes some common ideas about human person. These are the following:

1. Human persons are social animals. We need to cooperate with others in some way to create the
social world in which to live.
2. The human person’s social behavior is learned, not instinctive. In this respect the argument is
that we have to learn, from the moment we were born, how to be not just a human being but also a
recognizable member of the society into which we happen to have been born.
3. To understand the human person’s social behavior, we have to focus our attention on the
groups to which people belong. These groups are many and varied, but the largest group to which
people belong is a society.
4. Sociology is a discipline that looks into the totality of relationships in an individual’s life.
Sociologists do not restrict their studies to a single dimension of an individual’s life (economics, politics,
history, geography, psychology and so forth).

Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow presented the levels of hierarchy of needs in his theory of personality:

 1. Physiological needs include the biological and basic need such as water and clothing. These
needs are immensely important because they are essential for survival.
2. Safety needs include security and protection from physical and emotional harm.
3. Social needs include affection, sense of belonging, and friendship, which people seek to overcome
feelings of loneliness and alienation.
4. Self-esteem needs include achievement, mastery, and confidence derived from recognition,
respect and attention. When these needs are satisfied, the person feels confident and valuable.
However, when they are not met, the person may feel inferior, weak, helpless and worthless. 5.
Self-actualization means a person has reached the peak of his/her potential

REFERENCES:

1. Bustria, M. (2017), Civic Welfare Training Service. Manila, Philippines: Wiseman`s Books Trading,
Inc.
2. Lee, S. (2013) National Service Training Program CWTS I. Manila, Philippines: C&E Publishing, Inc.
3. Padilla, R. (2006) Civic Welfare Training Service Volume II. Manila, Philippines: Rex Bookstore,
2006.
4. Villasoto, H.(2018) Human Person Gearing towards Social Development: NSTP-CWTS 1, Worktext
for College Students, Second Edition. Quezon City, Philippines. C&E Publishing, Inc.
5. Agas, J. et al. (2019). Civic Welfare Training Service (MAPUA-CWTS). Retrieved from
https://www.mapua.edu.ph/Campus%20Life/SOCIP/Assets/CWTS/NSTP%202019%20Module.pdf