EMBODIED SPIRIT
With this, the human person is defined by
Studying these questions will give us an
idea of what defines humans as a person,
and what philosophers look in their search
to define the human person.
Human Person has unique traits and
behavior possessing:
- SELF-AWARENESS (“Know Thyself”)
- SELF DETERMINATION (Capability of the
persons to make decisions based on their
own preferences)
- DIGNITY (Innate right to be valued and
respected)
- CAPABILITY TO REACH OUT AND
INTERACT WITH OTHERS AND THE
WORLD
Philosophers believe that the human being
is not just a mere animal.
To be human is as simple as having a body
and soul.
THE EMBODIED SPIRIT
the union of body and soul. This integration
defines the human person as an embodied
spirit.
We cannot separate the two and they go
hand-in-hand in making us who we are.
Whatever affects the body also affects the
soul.
Embodiment enables us to do and
experience all the things that make us
human person.
Philosophers’ Idea of Human Person as
an Embodied Spirit
PLATO
- Body is material; hence it is mutable and
destructible
- Soul is immaterial; hence it is immutable
and indestructible.
- The body’s existence is dependent on the
soul while the soul’s existence is
independent of the body.
- The human person is just a soul using a
body.
ARISTOTLE
- The body and soul are in a state of unity.
They are inseparable.
- It makes no sense to talk of a soul or mind
without a body, for the essence of a person
is embedded and intertwined with their
matter. You can’t take it out of the body.
- Soul is the realization of Life.
What does it mean to have a body and
soul?
Recognize the limitations of our body
- There are many things we cannot do
simultaneously because we are only limited
by one body existing at a definite time,
space, and nature.
(e.g., Hunger, Fatigue, etc.)
Man is more than just a body
(e.g., Hard work, Love, Determination,
Happiness, etc.)
What is the significant of having an
embodied spirit?
- Recognize the Uniqueness of the Human
Person: Self-Awareness, Self-
Determination, Dignity, and Capability to
Interact
- It enables us to realize our own limitations
and see our potentials.
- Man has limits but filled with potentials.
FREEDOM OF THE HUMAN
PERSON
We are free if we can do what we want with
ourselves. We have the freedom to choose
right from wrong.
Freedom
- An intrinsic and essential property of the
person.
This means that the human person by
nature is a free being and it is in his nature
to seek freedom.
- Ability to make choices and perform
actions.
Freedom is rooted in the human person’s
self-determination and the exercise of
intellect and freewill. Freewill is the capacity
to choose a course of action from various
alternatives.
Requires a degree of control from the
person who exercise it. A person becomes
more free when he or she exercises control
over himself or herself. Thus, freedom
entails responsibility.
Also understood as the power to be with
what you want to be and the ability to
decide and create yourself.
KINDS OF FREEDOM
Physical Freedom
- refers to the absence of any physical
restraint. The person has the freedom of
mobility to go where he or she wants to go.
Psychological Freedom
- also called “freedom of choice”. A person
is free to act or not to act.
Example: When an individual is able to
surpass his or her weaknesses in attaining
his or her goal in life.
Moral Freedom
- using freedom in a manner that upholds
human dignity and goodness.
Example: Choosing right from wrong
actions.
Can we do evil to achieve a good action?
There must be a proportionality grave
reason for permitting the evil effect.
Aristotle’s Notion of Freedom:
The Power of Volition
Jean Paul Sartre’s Existential
Freedom
(1905-1980)
“Existence precedes essence”
Bad Faith
- A form of self-deception and inauthenticity.
A denial of human freedom.
- It is a natural outcome of how our minds
work.
 Our simple achievement cannot be
achieved without our body. Taming your
body creates an opportunity, thus it focuses
on your life goal. We are directed to
transcend to our body’s limitation.

Being physically limited in our abilities does

not prevent us for aspiring for greater
things.
Despite these natural limitations, we have
Jean Paul Sartre used our intellect to devise means to
To be human, to be conscious, is to be achieve several accomplishments.
free to imagine, free to choose, and be
responsible for one’s life. Our mind is an important tool that allows us
to go beyond our physical limits. We are
able to exercise our imagination and
RECAP reflection to go beyond our own thoughts.
Human Person as Embodied Spirit – the
Union of Body and Soul Transcendence also means overcoming
Body oneself or being in control even if the body
- Visible and Tangible reminds us of certain tendencies.
5 senses
(taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing)

Soul
- Not Visible and Tangible
(Self-Awareness, Self-Determination,
Dignity, and Capability to Interact)

TRANSCENDENCE of the HUMAN

PERSON
Given that we are capable of formulating
our goals in life, what limits you from
achieving your goals in life?
- The availability of enough resources such
as finances.
- Our physical ability as a person. Some are
blessed with intelligence but some are not.
- Our self is our main enemy.

We can see that although we want to

achieve something, there are limitations that
might hinder our goals in life.

St. Thomas Aquinas

“Of all creatures, human beings have the
unique power to change themselves and
things for the better.”

Despite our limitations, the human person is

capable of transcending. Transcendence is
the ability to surpass limits. It is an important
trait that distinguishes the human person
from other beings in existence.