MAN AS A PERSON

Ronald B. Lapuz, Ph.D., CHRP, FPM, LPT

 A. BASIC ANTHROPOLOGY

MAN IS A PERSON
MAN IS A SUBSTANTIAL UNITY
MAN IS A SOCIAL BEING
MAN POSSESSES DIGNITY AND RIGHTS
 A. BASIC ANTHROPOLOGY
MAJOR THEMES
1. MAN IS A PERSON

A CONCRETE INDIVIDUAL SUBSTANCE

ENDOWED WITH REASON
 2. MAN IS A SUBSTANTIAL UNITY:
A UNION OF BODY AND SOUL
Man possesses a complete specific nature.

Man is not merely an individual substance with a

unique existence, a self-subsistent substance
 2. MAN IS A SUBSTANTIAL UNITY:
MAN IS AN AUTONOMOUS BEING
BECAUSE OF HIS RATIONAL NATURE MAN IS ENDOWED WITH:
INTELLIGENCE TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD
FREEDOM TO SELF-GOVERN IN THE WORLD
THE HUMAN PERSON IS THE MOST PERFECT
IN THE WHOLE NATURE
(SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS)

WITH REASON TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD

&
WILL TO DIRECT HIMSELF TO TRUE GOOD
 3. MAN IS A SOCIAL BEING

Man is a relational being. He is open to himself and to others.

Hence, man is inter-subjectivity, a community of LOVE
4. MAN POSSESSES DIGNITY AND RIGHTS

DIGNITY IS RELATED TO GOODNESS, EXCELLENCE, AND PERFECTION

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MAN THAT POINT TO HIS DIGNITY ARE

INTELLIGENCE, FREEDOM, & LOVE
 IN HIS ENCYCLICAL ENTITLED HUMANAEVITAE, POPE JOHN PAUL II
HIGHLIGHTED THE INCOMPARABLE WORTH OF THE HUMAN PERSON

THE HUMAN PERSON POSSESSES DIGNITY THAT HAS

NO PRICE BUT VALUE
(IMMANUEL KANT)
 TO BE A HUMAN BEING IS TO BE
A FELLOW HUMAN BEING
MARTIN BUBER

I EXIST IN THE MEASURE THAT I

EXIST FOR OTHERS FOR AFTER ALL,
TO BE IS TO LOVE
E. MOUNIER

THE FACE OF THE OTHER TELLS ME

THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE
TO KILL THE PERSON WITH THAT
FACE
E. LEVINAS
 KEY CONCEPTS OF MAN AS PERSON

1.) AUTONOMY
MAN MUST BE VIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF
THE UNIQUE VOCATION OF EACH PERSONS
2.) SELF-REALIZATION
THROUGH HIS FREE ACTIVITY,
MAN CANNOT BE JUDGED IN ABSTRACTION
FROM THE CONCRETE STATE OF THE ACTING PERSON
3.) RESPONSIBILITY
MAN DEVELOPS HIS PERSONALITY THROUGH
INTER-SUBJECTIVITY
B. CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY

MAN IS A CREATURE
MAN IS THE IMAGE OF GOD
MAN IS FALLEN BUT REDEEMED
NATURE AND GRACE
 1. MAN IS A CREATURE
GOD IS IMMANENT TO HIS CREATURES JUST AS HE IS TRANSCENDENT

TO BELIEVE IN GOD AS CREATOR IS TO LOOK UPON

COSMIC EVOLUTION AS GOD’S CONTINUING ACTION
THIS VISION SHOULD MAKE
MAN RESPONSIBLE, LOVING, AND CARING
 TO AFFIRM GOD AS CREATOR
IS TO HIGHLIGHT MAN’S RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD

ALL HUMAN ACTIVITIES ARE SEEN AS

EXPRESSIONS OF THE CREATIVE, IMMANENT
AND PERSONAL ACTION OF GOD
 2. MAN IS THE IMAGE OF GOD
MAN APPEARS AS THE FIRST CREATURE THAT IS
CONSCIOUS OF WHERE HE HAS COME FROM
AND OF THE POTENTIALITIES OPEN TO HIM

Man’s likeness to God is not only in his reason but also

in his responsible conduct. He has the capacity to
respond freely to the call of God.
BECAUSE OF THIS REALITY OF MAN CARE MUST BE TAKEN
THAT THERE BE NO MANIPULATION THAT MAKES MAN
LESS HUMAN THAT VIOLATES THE DIGNITY OF HIS
PERSONALITY MADE TO THE IMAGE OF GOD.
 3. MAN IS FALLEN AND REDEEMED

FROM THE DAWN OF HISTORY, MAN ABUSED HIS FREEDOM

SET HIMSELF AGAINST GOD AND
SOUGHT TO FIND FULFILLMENT APART FROM GOD.
 AS A CONSEQUENCE, MAN BECAME AWARE OF HIS
LIMITATIONS AND HIS ABILITY TO BECOME WHAT HE
OUGHT AND DESIRES TO BECOME.

MAN’S REASON HAS BEEN CLOUDED

AND HIS WILL WEAKENED BY SIN
AND THUS THE IMAGE OF GOD HAS BEEN DISTORTED.
 THROUGH THE INCARNATION
GOD HAS ENTERED HUMAN HISTORY
AND RESTORED THE IMAGE OF GOD IN MAN.

“ON ACCOUNT OF HIS GREAT LOVE, HE BACAME WHAT

WE ARE THAT HE MIGHT MAKE US WHAT HE IS.”
(ST. IRINAEUS)
 THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO GOD’S CALL MUST INVOLVE
ENTRUSTING ONESELF COMPLETELY TO THE LORD.

EACH MORAL CHOICE IS A STEP OF FAITH INTO THE FUTURE

WHICH PREPARES FOR THE NEXT STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN DESTINY
WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.
 NATURE AND GRACE
GRACE IS A GRATUITUOUS GIFT OF GOD TO ALL PERSONS
IT IS A SHARE IN THE VERY NATURE OF GOD

IT IMPLIES THE INDWELLING OF THE BLESSED TRINITY

IN THE SOUL OF MAN
 CHRISTIAN LIFE CONSISTS IN CONFORMING TO
THE WORKINGS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN
THE DEPTHS OF MAN’S HEART.

THIS IS A DESTINY GOING BEYOND THE CAPACITY OF MAN,

HENCE IT IS CALLED SUPERNATURAL.