The document discusses the nature of the human person from various perspectives. It defines a human person as having physical, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional attributes. Key characteristics of a human person include being rational, free, unique, social beings, and sexual. Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs is also summarized, identifying physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization as the basic human needs. The document further explores philosophical, biblical, and other views on the nature and characteristics of human persons.

1. THE
NATURE
OF
HUMAN
PERSON
Module 2:

2. OBJECTIVES
• describe the nature of the human person:
• identify the importance of a person's
ability and capacity; and
• describe a person's unique qualities that
make him/her a productive social being.

3. What is a human person?
• Estañol (2007) defines the human
person as having physical, spiritual,
emotional, and intellectual attributes.
• St. Thomas Aquinas describes the
human person as having physical and
spiritual substance because he/she has a
soul and is created by a Superior being
with a divine purpose.
• Dictionaries define the human person as
a self-conscious animal.

4. Characteristics of Human Person
• Rational
• Free
• Unique
• Social being
• Sexual

5. RATIONAL
• Every person is a rational being. This is
what distinguishes a person from all other
creatures in the world. As a rational being,
a person is free to think and has the
capacity to reason. He can distinguish what
is right and what is wrong because he has
intellect.

6. FREE
• All human beings are born free. A person
has the freedom to do or not to do a
specific action. However, every person
must be responsible for his own action. In
other words, a person can do whatever he
pleases but not to the extent of doing harm
to his co-creatures.

7. UNIQUE
• Every person is unique. Every person has
his own identity such that no two persons
are the same. Generally speaking, human
beings have the same characteristics and
physical features and but no two persons
are the same because every person has its
own perception, has different sets of values
and priorities in life.

8. SOCIAL-BEING
• Every person is intrinsically a social being.
He cannot detach his “being” from others
and all other creatures in the universe.
Human nature is characterized by his
togetherness and relationship towards
other creatures; be it a thing, object or his
fellowman.

9. SEXUAL
• All created living things are sexual in nature
but the uniqueness of expression of a
person’s sexuality makes it all different.
The expression of a person’s emotions,
attitudes, feelings, actions and thoughts in
sexual activity best exemplifies his
uniqueness from animals.

10. CORE AND RELATED VALUES
HUMAN PERSON AS SELF
DIMENSION VALUES
PHYSICAL HEALTH
Physical Fitness, cleanliness,
harmony with the material universe,
beauty and art
INTELLECTUAL TRUTH
Knowledge, creative and critical
thinking
MORAL LOVE
Integrity/ honesty, self-worth/ self-
esteem, personal discipline
SPIRITUAL SPIRITUALITY
Faith in God

11. CORE AND RELATED VALUES
HUMAN PERSON IN COMMUNITY
DIMENSION VALUES
ECONOMIC ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY
Thrifts/conservation of resources, work
ethics, self-reliance, productivity, scientific
and technological knowledge, vocational
efficiency, entrepreneurship
POLITICAL NATIONALISM
Common identity, national unity, esteem of
national heroes, commitment, civic
consciousness/ pride,
“Bayanihan”/solidarity, loyalty to country.
GLOBAL SOLIDARITY
International understanding and
cooperation

12. BIBLICAL VIEWS
• The human person has superiority and dignity
inherited from the Supreme Being to the book of
Genesis 1:26-27, “God created man and woman
in His own Image and likeness and made them
masters of the fish of the sea, the birds, the
heaven, the earth, the wild beasts, and all the
fish of the sea, the earth, the wild beasts, and all
the reptiles that crawl upon the earth.”

13. BIBLICAL VIEWS
• Agbuya (1999) states that "He/She (human
person) is designated by God to exercise
dominion over other creatures in his/her
everyday use of freedom, search for happiness,
and openness to the world around him/her. And
what makes him/her human is his/her being a
true person, which includes the special gifts and
talents of thinking, loving, longing for happiness,
and making decision. The human nature was
patterned after the image of God."

14. PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS
• According to Protagoras, a human person is the
measure of all things that exist and of all things
that do not exist.
• Furthermore, Plato claimed that the perfect
human being does not exist in this world
because what is in this world is just an imperfect
copy of humanity's original self in the realm of
ideas.
• Parmenides posited that a person has
knowledge of something that exists, for a person
who does not exist is nothing

15. Maguigad (2006) in his book, Philosophy of the Human
Being, explains the different philosophical views of the
human person. These are the following:
• Conservatism
The conservative view is not entirely positive
and definitely non-egalitarian. Some men
contribute more than others to society, and,
therefore, must be rewarded and honored by
society. All human persons may not be of equal
value to society: some men are intended to rule,
the rest to obey. This is in line with one of the
Confucian ethical ideas which states that the
superior man must rule and the commoner must
bow before his authority.

16. • Liberalism
Liberalism has a more egalitarian view of
human nature. It believes that all men are capable
of reason and rational action and have the capacity
to live satisfactory and productive lives if given the
opportunity. Reason is common to all human
beings and this fact raises them above the level of
beasts and enables them to know the principles of
suitable living. According to Mencius, every human
being can become a sage king, that is, anyone can
gain the wisdom to rule.

17. • Socialism
In socialism, the human being readily
engages in cooperative social activities when given
the opportunity. Unfortunately, this natural
cooperative instinct is not fostered when some
people selfishly exploit other people.
Marx believes that man is driven primarily by
desire for economic gains. In his Das Kapital, he
considers the human person as a social animal; if
he/she fails to relate actively with others and with
nature, he/she loses himself/herself and becomes
alienated. His/ Her drives lose human qualities and
assume animal qualities.

18. • Fascism
Fascism holds that what matters most is the
country itself. The human being can prosper only
when the nation prospers; his/her fate is merely
secondary when it comes to the country. Like the
conservatives, the fascists contend that some
human beings are naturally and racially better than
others.

19. ABRAHAM MOSLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
SELF-
ACTUALIZATION
SELF-ESTEEM
Achievement • Mastery
• Recognition • Respect
LOVE/BELONGING
Friends • Family • Spouse • Lover
SAFETY
Security • Stability • Freedom from Fear
PHYSIOLOGY
Food • Water • Shelter • Warmth

20. Characteristics of Human Person
1. Physiological needs include the biological and basic
needs such as water and clothing. These needs are
immensely important because they are essential for
survival.
2. Safety needs include security and protection from physical
and emotional
3. Social needs include affection, sense of belonging, and
friendship, which people seek to overcome feelings of
loneliness and alienation.
4. Self-esteem needs include achievement, mastery, and
confidence derived from recognition, respect, and
attention. When these needs are satisfied, the person
feels confident and valuable. However, when they are not
met, the person may feel inferior, weak, helpless, and
worthless.
5. Self-actualization means a person has reached the peak
of his/her potential.

21. “Being human is
given. But keeping our
humanity is a choice.”