(THE HUMAN PERSON AS A MORAL BEING) WHO AM I? (THE HUMAN PERSON AS A MORAL BEING)

MAN IS A SUBSTANTIAL UNITY MAN POSSESSES DIGNITY AND RIGHTS BASIC ANTHROPOLOGY MAN IS A PERSON MAN IS A SUBSTANTIAL UNITY MAN IS A SOCIAL BEING MAN POSSESSES DIGNITY AND RIGHTS

A CONCRETE INDIVIDUAL SUBSTANCE ENDOWED WITH REASON A. BASIC ANTHROPOLOGY MAJOR THEMES 1. MAN IS A PERSON A CONCRETE INDIVIDUAL SUBSTANCE ENDOWED WITH REASON

2. MAN IS A SUBSTANTIAL UNITY A UNION OF BODY AND SOUL, AN EMBODIED-SPIRIT MAN POSSESSES A COMPLETE SPECIFIC/UNIQUE NATURE

MAN IS NOT MERELY AN INDIVIDUAL SUBSTANCE WITH A UNIQUE EXISTENCE RATIONAL NATURE / INTELLIGENCE TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD FREEDOM TO SELF-GOVERN IN THE WORLD

ACCORDING TO SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS THE HUMAN PERSON IS THE MOST PERFECT IN THE WHOLE NATURE WITH REASON TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AND WILL TO DIRECT HIMSELF TO TRUE GOOD

Man is a relational being. He is open to himself and to others 3. MAN IS A SOCIAL BEING Man is a relational being. He is open to himself and to others Hence, man is inter-subjectivity, a community LOVE

Social Nature of Man Founded on nature Life a life of comfort and security Capacity of speech “There is no need for means of communication if man is meant by nature to be alone.”

Social nature to social obligation General not an individual command Now, is it wrong to live in solitude? It is not wrong for a hermit to live alone if, in his estimation, he can achieve his individual aims in a better way by adopting the solitary life. Marriage is a general demand but not everyone is not oblige to marry.

Social contract “When man enters into a society, he contracts his freedom because he has to live with other free beings.” – Jean Jacques Rousseau

What are man’s social obligations as social being? POLITICS - man needs society, and if he does not because he is sufficient unto himself, that man is either a beast or a god.

Extreme notions of man as a social being: SOCIALISM / COMMUNISM - mortal enemy of capitalism - issue of private property Socialists propose to abolish capitalism and private property because they claim these are the sources of social evils.

Communism Is a complicated doctrine which includes a complex of atheism, evolutionism, historical materialism; it has a methodology on its own according to which the future ideal state can be attained through revolution, dictatorship suppression of freedom, etc. New Order of Society: blind obedience to the Party

Right to Private Property Nature intends men to have private property to a certain extent for his needs and for those of his family. But, abuse can be perpetrated. Therefore, the needs of Ethics, so that men are made aware of their social obligation to other men.

Reminders of Ethics: Principle of Stewardship Universal Destination of Goods Common Good It stands to reason that if they derive protection from society, they must be ready to contribute to that society. Submit to authority and to the legitimate laws of society

4. MAN POSSESSES DIGNITY AND RIGHTS

THE HUMAN PERSON POSSESSES DIGNITY THAT HAS NO PRICE BUT VALUE IMMANUEL KANT

TO BE A HUMAN BEING IS TO BE A FELLOW HUMAN BEING MARTIN BUBER I EXIST IN THE MEASURE THAT I EXIST FOR OTHERS FOR AFTER ALL, TO BE IS TO LOVE E. MOUNIER THE FACE OF THE OTHER TELLS ME THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KILL THE PERSON WITH THAT FACE E. LEVINAS

B. CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY MAN IS A CREATURE MAN IS THE IMAGE OF GOD MAN IS FALLEN BUT REDEEMED

TO BELIEVE IN GOD AS CREATOR 1. MAN IS A CREATURE TO BELIEVE IN GOD AS CREATOR IS TO LOOK UPON COSMIC EVOLUTION AS GOD’S CONTINUING ACTION THIS VISION SHOULD MAKE MAN RESPONSIBLE, LOVING, AND CARING

TO AFFIRM GOD AS CREATOR IS TO HIGHLIGHT MAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD ALL HUMAN ACTIVITIES ARE SEEN AS EXPRESSIONS OF THE CREATIVE AND PERSONAL ACTION OF GOD

He has the capacity to respond freely to the call of God. 2. MAN IS THE IMAGE OF GOD Man’s likeness to God is not only in his reason but also in his responsible conduct. He has the capacity to respond freely to the call of God.

BECAUSE OF THIS REALITY OF MAN CARE MUST BE TAKEN THAT THERE BE NO MANIPULATION THAT MAKES MAN LESS HUMAN THAT VIOLATES THE DIGNITY OF HIS PERSONALITY MADE TO THE IMAGE OF GOD.

3. MAN IS FALLEN AND REDEEMED FROM THE DAWN OF HISTORY, MAN ABUSED HIS FREEDOM SET HIMSELF AGAINST GOD AND SOUGHT TO FIND FULFILLMENT APART FROM GOD

AS A CONSEQUENCE, MAN BECAME AWARE OF HIS LIMITATIONS AND HIS ABILITY TO BECOME WHAT HE OUGHT AND DESIRES TO BECOME MAN’S REASON HAS BEEN CLOUDED AND HIS WILL WEAKENED BY SIN AND THUS THE IMAGE OF GOD HAS BEEN DISTORTED

THROUGH THE INCARNATION GOD HAS ENTERED HUMAN HISTORY AND RESTORED THE IMAGE OF GOD IN MAN. ON ACCOUNT OF HIS GREAT LOVE, HE BECAME WHAT WE ARE THAT HE MIGHT MAKE US WHAT HE IS ST IRINAEUS

THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO GOD’S CALL MUST INVOLVE ENTRUSTING ONESELF COMPLETELY TO THE LORD OF THE FUTURE EACH MORAL CHOICE IS A STEP OF FAITH INTO THE FUTURE WHICH PREPARES FOR THE NEXT STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN DESTINY WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM