PSYCHOLOGICAL

ASPECTS OF
HUMAN
NATURE
Human nature is so
complex that it is
necessary to have an
order in the conduct
of man.
Only with proper
order and conduct can
man be truly an
integral man and so
can reach the level of
social life demanded
by his rational nature.
An integral man is
well-balanced
human being, in
whom all the
elements of
nature are given
their proper play
in due relation to
one another.
 In all the
different
levels of
human
nature, there
are urges and
pulls.
 ON THE
UNCONSCIOUS
LEVEL OF PLANT
LIFE, there are
fundamental vital
urges of food and
sex for the
preservation of
the individual and
the species.
 ON THE HUMAN
LEVEL, these urges
manifest
themselves as
conscious impulse
to know the truth,
to acquire new
knowledge, and to
appreciate beauty
and produce
beautiful things to
admire and
achieve moral
goodness.
 ON THE HUMAN
LEVEL, the urge is
of course,
spiritual rather
merely biological
or physiological as
it is on the animal
level.
 Since man is a
RATIONAL AND
SPIRITUAL BEING,
the proper
relation between
all the elements
of his nature must
be determined
from the
standpoint of his
being such a
rational creature.
 If this order is
perverted and the
dominant role is
given to the
impulses of man
on his animal
level, the
inevitable result
will be that man
degrades himself
to a mere brute.
 Perverted =
(of a thing) having been
corrupted or distorted
from its original course,
meaning, or state.
= (of a person or their
actions) characterized by
sexually abnormal and
unacceptable practices or
tendencies.
 Man has an
inborn appetite
for food in order
to preserve the
individual, man
also has an inborn
appetite for sex in
order to preserve
the species.
 If both appetites
are allowed to
run wild, they will
lead to all sorts of
bodily and social
evils – disease,
death and race
suicide.
Giving in to any of
these urges
means forming a
habit which will
gradually enslave
the higher and
nobler nature of
man– his soul.
 The proper
ordering of
human conduct
means that the
impulses of each
lower level must
be controlled by
and subordinated
to the higher
level.
 Far from
suppressing all
impulse and
instincts, the
proper rule for
man is to
suppress them
only when they
try to prevent the
nature of God’s
established order.
 Man must foster
as well as control
and restrict his
impulses so as to
fulfill his right
order.
The RIGHT ORDER
of Human Life in
regard to all
instincts and
impulses may be
grouped and be
known as
MORAL VIRTUES
 MORAL VIRTUES
1. self-control
which regulates
our appetites for
sex and food
2. fortitude
which regulates
our emotions,
principally of fear
and anger;
MORAL VIRTUES
3. justice to all
men which
inclines men to
render to each
one his due.
4. prudence
which judiciously
guides and
controls human
actions
Thanks.

-Ma’am
Leah