INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE

HUMAN PERSON
ST. IGNATIUS INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS AND ARTS

INTRODUCTION
TO THE
PHILOSOPHY
OF THE
HUMAN PERSON
Second Quarter

Prepared by:

MS. JESSA MAY BURAC, LPT

LESSON 3

PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

Objectives:
 Recognize one’s limitations and possibilities

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 INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE
HUMAN PERSON
ST. IGNATIUS INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS AND ARTS
 Prove that care for the environment contributes to health, well being and sustainable development of
individuals
 Understand that all actions and choices have consequences
 Define and explain the meaning and the process of intersubjectivity
 Appreciate social interaction for the betterment of society
 Reflect on the meaning and purpose of his or her life

A. ONE’S LIMITATIONS AND POSSIBILITIES FOR TRANSCENDENCE

Many people admire Jason for being the youngest director of the biggest conglomerate in the
Philippines. He is also one of the richest bachelors under 30 years old. Little do people know that he was
once a poor boy who dreamed big and worked hard to attain his current status. When asked about his
successes, Jason said that he considers seeing his family happy; imparting his knowledge to others, and
being able to serve others as the successes he is most proud of.
The example talks about the transcendence or a state of “existence above and beyond the limits of
material experience”. Transcendence originated from the words trans, meaning “go beyond” and scandare,
meaning “climb”.
Fulfilling a goal entails transcendence because it opens a state of thinking and feeling that there is
something more in life than just physical and material things.

 A man is a physical body, a living soul (the inner self; mortal) and a spirit (the life-force;
immortal).
 For Aristotle, a human person is a personal being that possesses its intellectual nature in a
natural unity with a material body. This unity is called: “The man as a rational animal.”
 For St. Thomas Aquinas, the total vision of man would be the “embodied spirit.”

Limitations of Transcendence:
o may not occur to everyone
o does not come at a specified period
o varies across all people
o may coincide with physical limitations of the body

Possibilities for Transcendence

o developing a positive outlook in life
o working towards reaching a goal
o learning from experience

The Human Body in Imposing Limits and Possibilities

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From a biological and physical standpoint, it can be recognized that the human body, although it can
perform many functions, also has limitations. Limits in the environment, demographics, and society may
also hinder a person from reaching transcendence.
Bodily Limitations:
 mental and emotional disorders (e.g. anxiety, intellectual ability)
 disabilities (e.g. amputated leg, deafness)
 diseases and illness (e.g. hypertension, cough)
 failures and experiences (e.g. failing a subject)

Social and Environmental Limitations

 socioeconomic status
 location of neighborhood (e.g. armed, disorganized, or violent neighborhood)
 abusive relationship (e.g. emotional abuse)
 negative influences (e.g. drug use)

Overcoming Limitations
Bodily limits can be tested by trying on new experiences and working on challenges with increasing
levels of difficulty. The human body, if given enough exposure to any situation, can attain a goal with
efficiency.

Social and environmental limitations are more difficult to overcome than bodily limitations because
they involve the influence of other people and the external world. However, with a proper mindset, clearly
defined goals, and motivation to rise above challenges, one may successfully overcome his or her
limitations.
Recognize and Evaluate Own Limitations and Possibilities for Transcendence
Even though you are still young, you are not prevented from further understanding yourself.
Transcendence is even more possible when you begin to understand that you can go beyond your limitations
if you set your mind on your goals. Some points to remember when going beyond your limits are:
 You are connected to the external or eternal world.
 Challenges are learning opportunities.
 Your goal is more important than your fears.
 Think outside the box.
 Recognize that everyone has fears.

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ST. IGNATIUS INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS AND ARTS

Activity 1
Read and analyze the questions. Answer the following by sharing the period you faced failures.

a. How do you view suffering (as a blessing or a curse)?

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b. How do you acknowledge the help of others?

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c. How can forgiveness free us from anger?

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d. Have you ever experienced pushing yourself to your limit? If yes, in what situation?

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Activity 2
Try the sun salutation (www.adultwelness.com.ph) for beginners; never force the poses. Take a
picture of yourself while doing the yoga session and post it online. Also, share any peaceful or healing
moment and insights or reflection that you have experienced while having the yoga session.

B. PRUDENCE AND FRUGALITY TOWARDS ONE’S ENVIRONMENT

A self-supporting college student works part-time as a service crew to be able to fund his education. He
earns 2,000 pesos more than what he needs to pay for monthly expenses. With his extra money, he could
have bought the expensive watch he always wanted. Thinking practically, he decided, to save his money in
the bank instead.
In the example, the college student was shown to have direction and control over what he needs versus
what he wants by being prudent and frugal with his money.
Prudence is defined as the ability to have good judgment that allows avoidance of dangers and risks. It
covers good judgment, considering the consequences of an action, using common sense and discretion,
exercising caution and conforming to reason and decency.
Frugality is the act of using money or other resources wisely and practically. It is the quality of being thrifty,
sparing or economical in the consumption or resources and avoiding waste, lavishness or extravagance.

Disorders in the Environment and Aesthetic Organization

Lack of Resources: The environment is both a producer and consumer for all species. The
unavailability of a particular local by product may imply excessive disturbance that is not a par with its
reproduction.
Things are not in place: The environment exhibits a sense of chaos or confusion. It does not create a
place of comfort and warmth.

The Importance of Caring for the Environment

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The environment contributes to health and well being.
 Some plants have medicinal properties that may aid in the removal of pathogens in the body.
 Fruits and vegetables are good sources of numerous vitamins and minerals.
 The aesthetic properties of the environment make an excellent venue for various exercises and
activities.
The environment contributes to sustainable development.
 The environment is the primary source of raw resources used to make all types of food and materials.
 With appropriate techniques, the environment can reproduce and regenerate resources that have been
harvested or lost.
 The environment produces oxygen and carbon dioxide which are necessary factors in the
continuation of life systems.
Demonstrating Prudence and Frugality towards the Environment
With new forms of technological advances that make life easier, the seemingly simple task of
demonstrating prudence and frugality towards the environment becomes a challenge. One must realize that
the processes involved in the environment are not occurring as fast as modern technologies do. Looking
deeper, exercising prudence and frugality towards the environment is both a personal and collective
responsibility. Below are some examples:
o Cooking and consuming food with little to no leftovers
o Planting trees in replacement of cut-down ones
o Employing waste segregation strategies in the community and recycling reusable materials

Activity 3
Write your thoughts regarding these passages.
a. The controlling attitude of humankind is extended to nature, when in fact, humanity is part of nature.
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b. Destroying nature is a reflection wherein few people overpower others while exploiting the environment
for profit or self-interest.
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c. Not deceiving others, but also not being deceived by others; one may be called innocent, but not naïve.
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Activity 4
Create a slogan on how we can protect, conserve and restore our environment.
You can put some drawings or designs on it. Write it on a short bond paper and at the back of it explain your
slogan. Attach it here on your module.

C. FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Imagine you won a big contest, and you were asked to choose just one of the following prizes:
A. a luxury car with a non-transferable contract
B. a 4-year college educational scholarship at any school in the Philippines
C. a 1 month all-expense paid trip to three European countries
In the previous example, you were asked to choose just one prize. Seemingly, all of them are great
prizes. However, if you will weigh the pros and cons of each, you will easily realize that one may be better
than other. In choosing which prize to get, you have already exercised your freedom to make decisions.
However, it is important to realize that, as shown in the example, the choices you make have corresponding
consequences.
The power or right to act, speak, or think as you want without hindrance or restraint is called freedom.

Defining Freedom of Choice and its Limits

The ability to exercise one’s freedom in any manner is called freedom of choice. By law, all human
beings are entitled to make decisions for them in whatever way they choose to.
 The only exception to this rule is when an absolute choice harms or delimits the self and others.
 It can be compared to a cause and effect relationship where a decision concludes with a
corresponding effect on the person or the environment.

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 Freedom of choice also includes the way one acts towards another. All forms of action, therefore,
are brought about by a person’s decision to accomplish them.
 All decisions, big or small, have corresponding consequences which may be good or bad.

Demonstrating Prudence in All Choices

Prudence is an act of making good judgment that allows a person to avoid risks. It is important to be
prudent at all times to prevent any harm that a decision may cause.
In making decision, it is critical to determine the adverse effects beforehand to avoid greater risks.
Exercising prudence in choice implies that one has already criticized all available options, and a well-
thought-of choice has been made.

The Consequences of Making Choices

Because making choices involves various options, it should be realized from the beginning that some
things will eventually be given up in exchange for another. Before coming up with a final decision, it is
important to first weigh the contributions and consequences that may arise upon choosing a certain option.
Nevertheless, all choices result in a particular effect that you, as a decision maker, should be ready to face.
While exercising the freedom to choose is attainable by all people, it should always be realized that
decision-making is a linear and complex task that requires accountability and commitment.

Activity 5

Share your insights or ideas on the following statements hereunder.

a. “The moment you say no to tyranny, you are beginning the struggle, the long lonely road to freedom.” -
Aristotle
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b. To grow intellectually is a responsibility of an individual.
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c. The individual should be disciplined from within rather than fear from authority figure.
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d. Great love and great achievements involve great risks.
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e. The future is fixed; how one’s life unfolds is matter of destiny.
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Activity 6
Poster Making: Freedom and its Consequences (short bond paper)
Attach it here on your module

D. INTERSUBJECTIVITY

Whenever an unfortunate event occurs, you feel sad or anxious, but how do you assure yourself that
those feelings are real?
In looking at the example, it is easy to say that interacting with others can confirm the validity of
emotions a person may have towards the environment. In this interaction, intersubjectivity takes place.

The Meaning and Process of Intersubjectivity

Each person has a subjective experience of the world. However, because of this subjective
experience, one cannot know which events occur in reality or which products of self-perception are.

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Social interactions among individuals through comparison, agreement, and confirmation of each
others’ perceptions make it easier to determine real events occurring in society. This concept is called
intersubjectivity – the shared perception of reality between or among two or more individuals.
A main principle of intersubjectivity is communarization, a social process wherein community of
other people are seen as embedded within the self. This process initially occurs with the idea that other
individuals are extensions of the self and serve as the “alter-ego” of a person’s being. The self and others are
therefore seen as a pair that shares each other’s lived experiences. This is much like the concept of empathy
or “being in the shoes” of others.

The Application of intersubjectivity to Society

Because intersubjectivity looks at others as embedded within the self, it is safe to say that this
concept also promotes a view that all people are equal. This would imply that people from other sectors of
society, such as those who have physical disabilities or socioeconomic challenges, are seen as individuals
with the same potential and talents as anybody else.
Because intersubjectivity is unbiased, everyone has the power to understand relationship and
interactions occurring within society with little regard to social or physical deficiencies. In effect, people
who are marginalized may still be seen as significant contributors to society through their talents, skills and
capabilities. Below are some authentic examples of disadvantaged individuals who have significantly
contributed to society:
 Stephen Hawking is a physicist and cosmologist who, despite his rare medical condition called
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), made significant contributions to contemporary studies or
relativity and quantum physics.
 As a child, Oprah Winfrey experienced living in a poor household and was sexually abused. Despite
this, she motivated herself to succeed and did so by being one of the richest women alive today.

The Use of Authentic Dialogue

Authentic dialogue is a form of interpersonal communication herein individuals acknowledge that
they are part of a greater whole and that they resonate with others within the whole. This occurs when
individuals learn to set aside their personal biases and begin seeing themselves in others through
communarization. In this sense, other people, including the marginalized sector, are seen as functional parts

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of a whole. No biases or preferences are exemplified during the dialogue because an individual has learned
to perceive and communicate with others with a sense of community and oneness.
Examples:
 Accepting your classmates’ opinion on government services because his experiences with transacting
with government employees is different from yours.
 Overlooking the fact that your boss yelled at you since you understand that he only did so out of
concern over an urgent matter

The Importance of Intersubjectivity

Intersubjectivity has significant contributions to society and relationships, including the following:
 It validates real and authentic subjective experiences
 It facilitates interaction among individuals
 It enables individuals to look at others equally, regardless of any physical or socio-demographic
factor.
 It promotes a sense of community and unity among individuals.
 It emphasizes that anyone can contribute to society.

Activity 7
Explain the following quotations:
a. “Walang sinoman ang namamatay para sa sarili lamang. Walang sinoman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili
lamang.”
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b. We are responsible for more than what becomes of us; we are also responsible for what becomes of
others.”
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E. HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AND THEIR SOCIAL CONTEXT

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You have spent your whole life living in the Philippines. However, your parents told you that you will be
migrating to the United Kingdom next year and that you will be staying there for good. Do you think that
you will change as a person once you live somewhere else?
People and society have a reciprocal and complementary relationship. People’s personalities and culture
depend upon the processes and events occurring in society. Similarly, society takes its changes from how
people, act, perceive and shape.

Social Influence and Transformation

Individuals are the building blocks of society. They take on various social roles to ensure the smooth
flow of social processes that regularly occur within the community. However, it is the collective action of
individuals that mainly influence how society is formed and structured.
Example: If many people of one community perceive catcalling as offensive and derogatory, then society
will have an unwritten norm that such an act is unacceptable. With the repetition of this process, a
community can form and develop its culture and character.

Social Influence and Transformation

Reciprocally, society also transforms individuals into social and cultural beings. As a part of society,
individuals experience enculturation or the process by which people acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes,
and culture embedded in society. These social and cultural qualities vary across cultures since they are also
created and influenced by human action. As such, you may notice that different communities have unique
cultures, traditions and norms.
Example:
o The openness of Thai people to gender differences has made their country diverse in terms of social
partnership and preferences.
o In the Philippines, making slurping sounds while eating noodles is a sign of disrespect. However, in
Japan, doing the same act is a positive way of expressing satisfaction with the food.

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Social Systems and their Influence on Human Relations

A social system is the structure of society consisting of individuals who interact and relate in a shared
cultural and symbolic environment. As such, individuals serve as the backbone of the larger social system
and are moderated and formed by social institutions such as the family, education, religion, economy and
government.
In this sense, each person belonging to a society plays a social role that is at par with social norms
and institutions. An individual’s role may encompass any single organization at once that he is altogether a
student, son, layperson, and playmate. It is with these roles that appropriate human behavior and
relationships are defined and acted out in society. The social system, therefore, dictates through norms and
institutions how an individual can relate and interact with others.

The Importance of Human Relations in Society

Human relations make up patterned interactive relationships which are the most powerful unit of the
social system. Participation in these interactions establishes an individual’s social role and status in forming
the collective, intricate characteristics of society. Without human relations, institutions and the system itself
would cease to exist.

Activity 8
Create an essay by answering the following questions:
a. As a citizen, do you already have contributions in the society? If yes, what are those?
b. As part of the community, what are the things that you wanted to contribute to the society in the future?
c. Does social interaction is important to society? Why?
d. Do you participate in the activities of your community?
If yes, what are the activities and how do you participate?
If no, why hinders you to participate?

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F. DIFFERENT FORMS OF SOCIETIES AND INDIVIDUALS

In the Philippines, life in the province is certainly different from life in the city. While structures,
technology and transportations, continue to boom in the cities, provinces remain to be less industrialized,
but rich in local produce and resources. As such, individuals who grew up in cities develop as persons
differently from those born in the provinces.
Socioeconomic, technological and environmental differences in societies may dictate cultural
differences among individuals. Because different types of societies exist, it is also expected that there are
various societal differences among individuals as well.

Individuals and Societal Transformations

Individuals are social animals who need society for food, protection, education and other forms of
support. Meanwhile, a society is a collection of individuals shaped by social relations and interactions. As
such, individuals and society need each other to function properly. They have a complementary relationship
that is improved and influenced by culture and social institutions. In effect, societies and individuals all
around the world develop varying cultures and practices.
Example:
 Many Filipino children still live with their parents even during adulthood.
 Paris is known as the center of fashion due to numerous designers that focused their works in the
city.

Types of Societies and Individuals

In learning about types of societies, it is important to know that classifications were made by
socioeconomic conditions and availability of resources. Nevertheless, these classifications describe all
currently existing models of societies.

Types of Societies

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Agrarian (Agricultural)
 It focuses on the production of crops and raising of farm animals.
 Women share the same type and mode of labor.
 It utilizes technological advances to cultivate crops.
Industrial (Modern Industrial)
 It introduced fuel-driven machinery in goods production.
 Factories are seen as the center of work.
 Transportation is more developed and advanced than agricultural societies.
Virtual (Post-Industrial)
 Professional services are offered in exchange for money.
 Technology is used in every aspect of life and work.
 It focuses on the production and selling of information.

Types of Individuals in Society

The types of individuals in a society are dictated by socioeconomic conditions and capability. Each
individual belongs to a certain social class or group of people with similar levels of wealth and status.
Lower Class
 Experiences poverty, homelessness and unemployment
 Relatively higher in number in developing countries
Working Class
 Constitutes blue-collared workers (e.g. waiter, driver, salesperson)
 Experiences low career opportunities and minimal wage
Middle Class
 Consists of white-collared workers (e.g. doctor, lawyer, engineer)
 Able to survive life with relatively minimal material difficulties
 Typically provides professional services as sources of income
Upper Class
 Consists of individuals born into aristocratic families
 Usually involves families with large business and ventures

Different Individuals and Societies in the Social System

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The social system denotes the whole society that is comprised of individuals and institutions
interacting within the same structure. Despite differences in classifications, all types of individuals and
social models co-exist and interact within the social system. As such, culture is developed through
simultaneous societal interactions.
Example:
 Individuals from the upper class may primarily live in agricultural settings due to the nature of their
family business
 Provinces near the Metro have an industrialized society and are primarily composed of middle class
workers.

Activity 9
Answer the following:
a. Does social interaction important in the society? Why?
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b. Define modernization and globalization. How does these two affect us?
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c. How does technology assist or hinder learning?
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G. THE MEANING OF LIFE

Life is short and unpredictable. For many people, there is a purpose in living, and gradually going
through life allows one discover his real purpose. Still, many people are unable to understand their lives and
to make meaning out of it.

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The Origin of Life
Evolutionists believe that everything in the cosmos, including life, can be explained by the

interaction of matter. They initially believed in spontaneous generation – that living things can arise from

non-living materials; for example, worms, flies or even mice could develop from the grain, meat or other

materials. At present, scientists were already able to develop more complex, valid and organized theories on

the origin of life.

Creationists, on the other hand, believe that life came from a supreme being or a God. They use

scriptures rather than scientific evidences, as proof of their belief. An example of this would be the story of

creation in the Bible.

The Significance and Meaning of Life

Some people nowadays often believe that life has no meaning or significance because it is either (1)
brought about by a God or (2) developed by modern science. In both scenarios, life would be certainly
meaningless if the person does not believe in a God or modern science.

However, many theorists go against this belief by saying that life has meaning. Based on the
theoretical concept of meaning, theorists and philosophers specified that life must be embedded in
communication, understanding, and service. As such, the meaning of life becomes centralized in doing acts
of integration, selflessness and love.
The meaning of life is incredibly significant because it is believed to balance the good-evil
relationship within the self. It is established as a collective defense against psychological problems like
aggression and divisiveness. People who have found meaning in their lives therefore seem happier, more
approachable and more understanding than those who have not.

The Accomplishment of Personal Goals

Discovering the meaning of life constitutes people to live life to the fullest. As such, they engage in
various activities as much as possible, and they immerse themselves with what life has to offer. Research

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reveals that one out of five people are convinced that they are living their lives to the fullest and that
majority of all individuals who want to live life to its fullest are longing for excitement. These activities may
be reflected in a bucket list, a list of goals, dreams, and achievements that one wants to attain before death.
Below are some examples of adventurous ideas that may be found in a bucket list:
 Travel all around the world
 Build a charitable institution
 Strengthen spiritual life
 Obtain an undergraduate diploma

The Endpoint of Life

Physical life is given an origin, meaning and purpose because it has an end. Physical death is a state
that all humans will encounter at the end. Many people are afraid of dying because it is the final, irreversible
state of reality that leads to another path or journey. Since people desire consciousness, memory,
personhood, and love to be experienced consciously, the unconscious state of death becomes a fearful fate.
What concerns people more about life is that death may come unexpectedly. Some people die young.
Because of this, people tend to choose to achieve their goals as soon as possible to ensure that they do not
miss out on life before death.

Activity 10
Write your short reflection regarding the meaning of life by sharing your ideas or insights on the
following:
a. “You only live once – but if you work it right, once is enough.” – Joe E. Lewis
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b. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you
did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
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c. “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” – Ronald
E. Osborn
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d. “We are not in a position in which we have nothing to work with. We already have capacities, talents,
direction, missions and callings.” – Abraham H. Maslow
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Assessment
Identify what is being asked in each item. Write your answer on the space provided.
1. It denotes the whole society that is comprised of individuals and institutions interacting within the same
structure. _______________
2. It is the shared perception of reality between or among two or more individuals. _______________
3. It constitutes blue-collared workers. _______________
4. A state of “existence above and beyond the limits of material experience”. _______________
5. The act of using money or other resources wisely and practically. _______________
6. They believe that everything in the cosmos, including life, can be explained by the interaction of matter.
_______________
7. The inner self or mortal. ______________

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8. It introduced fuel-driven machinery in goods production. ______________
9. A collection of individuals shaped by social relations and interactions. _______________
10. The ability to exercise one’s freedom in any manner. _______________
11. It focuses on the production and selling of information. ______________
12. Serve as the backbone of the larger social system and are moderated and formed by social institutions
such as the family, education, religion, economy and government. ______________
13. It is a form of interpersonal communication herein individuals acknowledge that they are part of a
greater whole and that they resonate with others within the whole. _______________
14. The life-force or immortal. _______________
15. It is defined as the ability to have good judgment that allows avoidance of dangers and risks.
_______________
16. Experiences poverty, homelessness and unemployment. _______________
17. They believe that life came from a supreme being or a God. ______________
18. It focuses on the production of crops and raising of farm animals. ______________
19. Consists of individuals born into aristocratic families. ______________
20. Consists of white-collared workers. _______________

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