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Limitations and Transcendence

(1) Humans have limitations due to being embodied beings, including facticity (circumstances already given like birth parents), being spatially and temporally located (can only be in one place at a time), and using the body as an intermediary to experience the world. (2) However, humans can transcend these limitations through their free will and attitude. For facticity, one can change their mindset; for spatial-temporal restrictions, make the most of occasions; and for the body, be more creative in self-expression and relationships. (3) Transcending limitations takes work but allows humans to improve their perspective and make the future their goal rather than be controlled by present restrictions.

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Vann Lim
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7K views

Limitations and Transcendence

(1) Humans have limitations due to being embodied beings, including facticity (circumstances already given like birth parents), being spatially and temporally located (can only be in one place at a time), and using the body as an intermediary to experience the world. (2) However, humans can transcend these limitations through their free will and attitude. For facticity, one can change their mindset; for spatial-temporal restrictions, make the most of occasions; and for the body, be more creative in self-expression and relationships. (3) Transcending limitations takes work but allows humans to improve their perspective and make the future their goal rather than be controlled by present restrictions.

Uploaded by

Vann Lim
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LIMITATIONS AND

TRANSCENDENCE

Introduction to Philosophy of a Human Person – Week VI


Learning Outcomes
 Recognize how the human body imposes limits and
possibilities for transcendence;
 Distinguish the limitations and possibilities for
transcendence; and,
 Cite your ways of transcending limitations.
Limitations of a Human Person
as an Embodied Spirit
Human existence is an embodied existence. Embodiment refers
to the biological and physical presence of our bodies, which are
a necessary precondition for subjectivity, emotion, language,
thought and social interaction. As regards, a human person has
limitations. For this lesson, you will identify three namely,
(1)facticity, (2)spatial-temporal being, & (3)body as intermediary.
1. Facticity
According to the French philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre, it refers
to the things in our lives that are already given. An embodied
subject, whose being is to be in the world, will have its first
limitation the moment it is born. The moment that we are born,
we are already related to people – our parents. THIS IS OUR
FIRST LIMITATION.
1. Facticity
Moreover, it refers to all the details that surrounds us in the
present as being-in-the-world in the here and the now. This
includes our environment, our language, our past decisions, our
past and present relationships and even our future death. All the
facts that we currently have are part of our limitations.
1. Facticity
For example, if only I know how to speak Filipino and English,
then that hinders me from talking to, say a Chinese who only
knows Mandarin. This Thus, if we look at every aspect of who
we are right here and now, we will realize that our being-in-the-
world imposes practically countless limitations on us.
2. Spatial-temporal being
On the level of being spatial, as an embodied being, we are
subjected to the physical laws of the universe. We are restricted
by our spatial nature. We are set to be at one place at a time. We
are limited by our bodies to be present in two or more places at
the same time. For example, I cannot be in Manila and in Cebu
at the same time because my body does not allow me to.
2. Spatial-temporal being
On the level of temporality, our finitude – finite quality and state –
is the most obvious limitation. In the case of youth – When we
are younger, we want time to speed up because our youth
prevent us from doing what adult seem to enjoy. There so many
NOT YET.
2. Spatial-temporal being
Our being situated in a particular time and place shall prescribe
the way we look and understand things. No matter how much we
imagine ourselves looking at something using someone else’s
perspective, we cannot do so. We will always have our own
spatial-temporal condition as the backdrop of our understanding.
3. Body as intermediary
It is due to our body that we experience the world from a
particular bodily standpoint. We experience the world as our
world and not the world of others. For example, we will never
really know how it is to be a rock star unless we become one
ourselves. Our body limits our experience of the world to our own
world.
3. Body as intermediary
Moreover, our body as intermediary limits us in communicating
with other people. We cannot, by the use of sheer will, tell others
what we have in mind. Our body set a limitation for
understanding one another because on the one hand, it may
never fully disclose what we would like to express. Also, it may
hide certain thoughts and feelings.
Transcending Limitations
Undeniably, transcending limitation is easier said than done.
However, if one continues to be controlled with his/her
limitations, one will never improve. One of the things that makes
us human is our free will. We have every right to choose
whatever we think is better for ourselves. As we move forward,
there may be another limitations but transcending it again will
better our perspective of life.
Transcending Limitations
Undeniably, transcending limitation is easier said than done.
However, if one continues to be controlled with his/her
limitations, one will never improve. One of the things that makes
us human is our free will. We have every right to choose
whatever we think is better for ourselves. As we move forward,
there may be another limitations but transcending it again will
better our perspective of life.
For Facticity
We cannot simply truly change our facticity, but what we can do
is change our attitude towards them. Our mindset plays a critical
role over this. Thus, in order to transcend facticity, one should
have a positive, flexible, and innovative mind to be able to make
this opportunities to grow.
For Spatial-Temporal Being
Spatial – since we know that we can only be at one place at a
time, we are invited and challenged to make the most out of a
certain occasion. As for Temporal – we should give the present
its due worth and simply appreciate it. Humans need to be more
discipline if one wants to transcend. Space and time are two
things one cannot control. However, what one may do is to
manage it responsibly.
For Body as Intermediary
Our experience of the world as our world becomes a privilege
experience. What we experience is only for us to experience.
Having a body may prevent us from disclosing what we really
want to express. This then challenges us to be more creative in
our expressions. Since having a body hides our thoughts and
feelings, this challenges us to work on a good relationship with
people whom we want to open up for us.
Conclusion
As Blaise Pascal puts it, “The present is never our goal; the past
and present are our means; the future alone is our goal. Thus,
we never live but we hope to live, and as we are always hoping
to be happy, it is inevitable that we will never be so”. As regards,
as humans, it is our responsibility not be halted by these
limitations. One should have a positive mindset to able to
manage his/her life according to what he/she desires.

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