HISTORICAL

CONCEPT OF
HUMAN PERSON
HISTORICAL CONCEPT OF HUMAN PERSON

Our prime objective in this unit is to

present the historical concept of the
human person. Hence, we shall study
a person in history. We shall analyze
the concept of the human person in
different eras: Cosmocentric,
Theocentric and Anthropocentric.
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HISTORICAL CONCEPT OF HUMAN PERSON

On the other hand, we shall also

make our study on the concept of the
human person according to the views
coming from the Eastern
philosophies and thoughts: Upaniśad,
Confucian thought, Buddhism,
Jainism and Islam.
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HISTORICAL CONCEPT OF HUMAN PERSON

Finally, we shall synthesize the

concept of the human person
comparatively, observing the similar
aspects found in and coming from
both Western and Eastern thoughts.
Lastly, we shall sum up our study. In
this unit we shall be able:
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HISTORICAL CONCEPT OF HUMAN PERSON

• To highlight the historical concept of the

human person.
• To describe this concept according to
different eras
• To present the different views on this
concept coming
• To have a comparative synthesis on the
concept of the human person.
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We would basically, analyze
“person” in these perspectives:
Cosmocentric, Theocentric and
Anthropocentric. Let’s consider
them one by one. Finally we will
analyze them according to
Western and Eastern thoughts.
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In the Cosmocentric era human
person is studied or understood in
relation to the Cosmos. Here, the
Cosmos is at the centre. Hence,
the Cosmos is given great
importance.

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Here, we see he is not the master
of all creation rather he is a part of
it. Thus, human person can be
known in relation to the whole
creation.

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The whole Greek philosophy gives
importance to the cosmos or
nature. Their thoughts and
philosophies are in view of nature,
and the human person is a part of
it. As we said above, a person here
refers to all human beings, and
thus to all mankind.
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The next era is the Christian era or
period (Theocentric) where
human person is being studied or
understood in reference to God.

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Genesis 1:27 So God created
man in His own image And
God said, Let us make man in
our image, after our likeness.

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In this period philosophers,
church fathers and scholastics
studied human person as
God’s creature. Thus, human
person has to follow God’s law
to live a proper life in the
society with others.
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Also called the Decalogue, the
Ten Commandments are the
most famous and influential
Top Ten list in history.

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2. Thou shalt have no other gods
before Me.

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With the modern age the study on
human person takes an
anthropocentric turn leaving aside
both cosmocentric and theocentric
perspectives. Here, human person
himself is the point of the departure.
He himself becomes the basis and
object of the study matter.
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WESTERN CONCEPTS OF HUMAN
PERSON BY THE PHILOSOPHERS IN
DIFFERENT ERAS

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Concept of “person” expressed by
the Greek philosophers(Plato and
Aristotle) in the Cosmocentric era .

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Early Greek philosophers, being
cosmologists considered human
person in his objective aspect and
thus as one item in the cosmos,
rather than in his subjective aspect,
as the subject of knowledge or as
the morally willing and acting
subject.
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In the course of time, Sophists
identified person as a miracle
among the miracles of the cosmos.
They started speaking about
person’s self consciousness. Hence,
for the first time, it is they who
considered a bit the subjective
aspect of human person.
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For Plato, the idea is the only reality
that exists. Hence, his reference is
mainly to the world of ideas. For
him, a human person exists with his
two realities, two distinct substances
body and soul, hence the idea of a
dichotomy.

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After all, his consideration is only
towards the soul. Thus, we can say,
for him a human person is
recognized through his spiritual
aspect that is the soul which is
immaterial.

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After all, his consideration is only
towards the soul. Thus, we can say,
for him a human person is
recognized through his spiritual
aspect that is the soul which is
immaterial.

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For Aristotle, there is only one
substance, composed of substantial
form and prime matter and not two
substances as Plato thought.

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Concept of human person
expressed by the Mediaeval
philosophers (Augustine and
Thomas) in the Theocentric era

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Augustine of Hippo views human
person, in relation to person’s
spiritual character. In the mediaeval
or Christian era a human person was
considered to be a created being in
the image and likeness of God.

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Now when we speak of the likeness
of God, we already admit the
person’s spiritual aspect.

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Augustine introduced the theory of
illumination. Through the light of
illumination a human person could
reach or come to the vision of His
creator.

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The main aim of a human
person in his life was to
obtain salvation

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As Augustine would say “Evil
is the absence or privation of
good”, because all that is
good comes from God.
Hence, a human person had
to overcome such a privation
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As Augustine would say “Evil
is the absence or privation of
good”, because all that is
good comes from God.
Hence, a human person had
to overcome such a privation
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Augustine derived the study
of a human person from Plato
and Plotinus. Both these
philosophers over-
emphasized on soul and νούς
respectively without giving
due importance to body.
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According to Thomas
Aquinas too, a human person
is composed of body and
soul.

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He has drawn the idea of the
unity between substantial
form and prime matter, from
Aristotle’s hylemorphic theory

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However, his philosophy is
not totally a copy of Aristotle.
Being a Christian thinker, he
too lays the stress on the
spiritual aspect of a human
person.
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However, his philosophy is
not totally a copy of Aristotle.
Being a Christian thinker, he
too lays the stress on the
spiritual aspect of a human
person.
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When we come to the point of a
free act, we mean specially the
freedom of choice, between good
and bad acts. Thus, it is the human
person who has the responsibility to
lead himself to his destiny, to
salvation through freedom of
choice.
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When we come to the point of a
free act, we mean specially the
freedom of choice, between good
and bad acts. Thus, it is the human
person who has the responsibility to
lead himself to his destiny, to
salvation through freedom of
choice.
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Concept of human person as
expressed by some Modern and
Contemporary philosophers in the
Anthropocentric era

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With Rene Descartes, we enter into
the modern thinking about a human
person. As we mentioned above, in
the modern era, the person is the
fundamental subject matter of one’s
thinking.

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Descartes’ concern about the
person’s existence can be seen in
his affirmation, “Cogito ergo sum”,
that means “I think therefore I exist”.
Thus, according to Descartes a
human person’s existence is
revealed in his thinking activity.
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Though Descartes gives importance
to the person’s thoughts, he also
accepts the other side of him that is
his body, the extended reality. Thus,
a human person is in a way, a
composition of res cogitans and res
extensa or thinking and body
(extended reality).
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This aspect is very much evident in
his affirmation made, “Cogito ergo
sum”. Hence, here we see, a human
person is studied and understood
through his own thinking activity.

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 IN CONCLUSION,

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In the Cosmocentric era, we see that a
human person is one of the objects of
the cosmos. He is studied in view of the
nature or cosmos. He remains as a part
of it. Initially, he was seen only with his
objective aspect by the cosmologists
but from the sophists onwards even the
subjective aspect of a human person is
known.
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In the Theocentric era, a human person is
studied in relation to God or Absolute
reality. He is considered to be a created
being by His Creator. To live in a worthy way
a human person has to follow the laws of
God. By following them, he will be able to
attain the salvation or return back to his
creator. Almost all the Mediaeval thinkers
study a human person always in relation to
God or Supreme Being
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In the Anthropocentric era, a human person is the
main focus of the study. Thus, he places himself at
the centre. He is understood with his different
aspects. He himself becomes the eminent subject
matter to be dealt with. He presents himself with
various dominant and leading roles. As we have
analyzed with the help of some modern
philosophers, all of them considered a human
person in their thinking.

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HOW DO DIFFERENT HISTORICAL ERAS
SHAPE THE CONCEPT OF PERSONHOOD?

DISCUSS THE IMPLICATIONS OF PLACING

THE HUMAN PERSON AT THE CENTER OF
THE COSMOS WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING
THE PRESENCE OF DIVINE POWER. HOW
DOES THIS BALANCE BETWEEN HUMAN
AGENCY AND COSMIC ORDER
INFLUENCE PHILOSOPHICAL AND
RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN
EXISTENCE?