What Makes Man Limited and Possible 6.

The human encounter cannot occur without

the body.
Man’s Material Composition
Helen Keller
Man is composed of a material component making him a
corporeal being. - Best thing about her: She was the first both deaf
and blind person to get a bachelor’s degree in
1. Man is a vegetative organism.
art. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of
2. Man is a sentiment organism.
Freedom, one of the United States’ two highest
What makes man open for possibilities? civilian honors.

Aristotle’s View: Rationality - To PHILOSOPHIZE is to man has these

possibilities to TRANSCEND THE SELF. In spite of
What makes man open for possibilities?
one’s limitations, UBERMENSCH, limitations and
1. Man is a rational animal – Pain and pleasure shortcomings in order to become OVERCOME a
2. Transcending sentience through rationality super-man.
3. Man as non-material being
4. Human intellect and will
HUMAN AS AN EMBODIED SPIRIT
Transcendent: Non-material nature
Man – the general term commonly used to refer to the entire
 Subjectivity and individuality human race.
 The “I”, I am I
Human – refers to man as species
Man’s Limitations and Possibilities
Human Being – used to distinguish man from other animals.
 NIETZSCHE concept of UBERMENSCH as person
Person – refers to a human being granted recognition of
endowed with reason and passion to choose
certain rights, protection, responsibilities, and dignity above
whatever goal or purpose the person has.
all. The totality of an individual, possessing awareness, self-
 EXISTENTIALISM emphasizes the importance of
determination, and the capacity to interact with others and
individual experience and the freedom of choice in
with himself/herself. Is able to reach out and interact with
the face of an uncertain existence.
other. Has dignity
 SELF-AWARENESS
- recognition of one’s own limitations and Personhood – refers to the state of being a person
possibilities.
- refers also to be conscious of our subjectivity Human nature – refers to the characteristics like thinking,
and individuality. feeling, and acting, that distinguish humans from all other
- is to look at oneself, of being a person. creatures. Essence of humanity.
- Is central to understanding human limitations
and possibilities
 HUMANS capable of both acknowledging their Self-awareness
constraints and striving towards higher possibilities
- This awareness of the self also enables us to
through intellect, will, and self-consciousness. are
experience an “inner world” that is defined by
material, rational, and transcendent beings
our personal thoughts and ideas. We experience
THE HUMAN BODY interiority that is the quality of being focused on
one’s inner life and identity. This interiority
THE BODY AS BOTH INTERMEDIARY AND INTERSUBJECTIVE
enables us to practice creativity.
- The body as an obstacle - Creativity also means that a person can create
1. The human body refers to the finitude of within himself what is not yet existing outside.
man in the sense that human bodily Having an inner world allows a person to create
existence is limited by SPACE, TIME, DEATH. goals, dreams, plans which may be realized
2. Death – the final end of man, the final end through activity.
of the body.
Self-determination
3. The body as an object, as an instrument.
Treating the body as a thing as an “it”. (ex: - This refers to the capability of persons to make
prostitution and child labor) choices and decisions based on their own
preferences, monitor and regulate their actions,
and be goal-oriented and self-directed. We are
- The body as a bridge persons because we act and we are aware of our
actions.
“I-IT” Subject-Object relationship – - Our free will enables us to do actions whenever
we want to and make various alternatives
1. The body serves as a medium. The world
- Consequence is the result or effect of an action
becomes “my” world because of my body.
or condition. Philosophers believe that a person
2. My body cannot exist apart from the world.
acts freely and with due regard for the
3. Man is a situated being.
consequences of his actions.
4. The body as a bridge refers to as our
- Morality is the goodness or badness of an act.
interaction towards other subject.
- Human action is such an important aspect of the
5. The human body as bridge is a gesture of
person that many philosophers consider human
human encounter. This is a Subject to
action as a way to reveal a person’s true nature.
Subject relationship (S-S). “I-You
Relationship” - Martin Buber Externality
 - Refers to the capability of a person to reach out very biologically deficient being. We do not have
and interact with others and the world. the natural ability to fly. We cannot breathe
- The realization that we are not alone and that underwater without using breathing apparatus.
there are indeed other people around us that We cannot survive in certain environments like
enables us to reach out and establish other animals.
meaningful relationships with others. - Despite this limitations, we have used out
- Philosophers consider man as social being and intellect to devise means to achieve several
that a person never exist in isolation. feats.
- Our interaction with others define our existence - The ability to surpass limits is called
as person. We grow and develop not only transcendence, and it is also one important trait
through our thoughts and actions, but also that distinguishes the human person from other
through the influence of other people in our beings in existence.
lives.
TRANSCENDENCE
Dignity
- Our mind is an important tool that allows us to
- Refers to the innate right to be valued and go beyond many of our physical limits. Although
respected. Philosophers consider all humans as we have these physical limitations, we can
having an inherent worth or value. transcend them because of our spiritual
- Each person is worth the same as another dimension.
person in the sense that every person is - As human persons, we have nat ural tendencies
priceless, unique, unrepeatable, irreplaceable. or inclinations. Some of these are felt bodily
- Human dignity is rooted in the nature of the functions like hunger, fatigue, etc.
human being, meaning, a person has dignity transcendence means overcoming oneself or
simple because of the fact that he is human. being in control even if the body reminds us of
- Dignity also drives us to seek what is good. certain tendencies. Although these tendencies
are felt, the person can govern them and ensure
What is in our human nature that enables us to become
that they are exercised within the bounds of
persons?
reason.
- Aside from the physical characteristics, another - Each individual carries within himself the
aspect pf the human that define us as persons is possibility of transcending his limits by exerting
the spirit. This intangible element enables us to enough effort and perseverance.
exercise thought, possess awareness, interiority, - Philosophy gives us useful tools to explore our
and the capacity to reach out to the outside limits and possibilities. The essence of
world and other persons. transcendence is to acknowledge our
limitations, identify possibilities for development
How are the body and spirit related? and change ourselves for the better.
- Opening yourself to new experiences and ideas
- Philosophers consider the human person as
is another aspect of transcendence.
defined by the union of the body and the spirit.
Our capacity for transcendence gives us the
- The human person is an embodied spirit.
opportunity to work toward becoming better
- Embodiment enables us to do and experience all
versions of ourselves.
the things that makes us human persons.

Science: Love is a result of various biological reactions

associated with an increase in hormones.

Philosophy: Human persons do not love just with the heart

nor the brain. We love another person with out entire being.

Embodiment

- The human body stands as the mediator

between the material world and the spiritual
world. Being an embodied spirit, the person is
able to encounter the world of objects (and
other personal subjects) in a manner that
transcends the physical. This feature allows him
to form intimate relationship with those outside
him.
- Human embodiment allows persons to attach
certain feelings or ideas not only to people but
also to objects. (pair of shoes as a present from
a loved one)
- With human embodiment, physical acts are no
longer purely physical acts, because the body
conveys something from a person's inner world.

How does my human nature enable me to explore my

limits?

- Human nature still has limits despite being an

embodied spirit. It can be said that the person is