Man as a Person
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18-Oct-2014 -
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Transcript of Man as a Person
MAN AS A PERSON
A. BASIC ANTHROPOLOGY
MAN IS A PERSON
MAN IS A SUBSTANTIAL UNITY
MAN IS A SOCIAL BEING
MAN POSSESSES DIGNITY AND RIGHTS
A. BASIC ANTHROPOLOGYMAJOR THEMES
A CONCRETE INDIVIDUAL SUBSTANCE ENDOWED WITH REASON
1. MAN IS A PERSON
2. MAN IS A SUBSTANTIAL UNITY:A UNION OF BODY AND SOUL
Man possesses a complete specific nature.
Man is not merely an individual substance with a unique existence, a self-subsistent substance
2. MAN IS A SUBSTANTIAL UNITY:
MAN IS AN AUTONOMOUS BEING
BECAUSE OF HIS RATIONAL NATURE MAN IS ENDOWED WITH: INTELLIGENCE TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLDFREEDOM TO SELF-GOVERN IN THE WORLD
THE HUMAN PERSON IS THE MOST PERFECT
IN THE WHOLE NATURE (SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS)
WITH REASON TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD &
WILL TO DIRECT HIMSELF TO TRUE GOOD
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 of LOVE
4. MAN POSSESSES DIGNITY AND RIGHTS
DIGNITY IS RELATED TO GOODNESS, EXCELLENCE, AND PERFECTION
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MAN THAT POINT TO HIS DIGNITY ARE
INTELLIGENCE, FREEDOM, & LOVE
IN HIS ENCYCLICAL ENTITLED HUMANAE VITAE, POPE JOHN PAUL II
HIGHLIGHTED THE INCOMPARABLE WORTH OF THE HUMAN PERSON
THE HUMAN PERSON POSSESSES DIGNITY THAT HASNO 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
KEY CONCEPTS OF MAN AS PERSON
1.) AUTONOMYMAN MUST BE VIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF
THE UNIQUE VOCATION OF EACH PERSONS
2.) SELF-REALIZATIONTHROUGH HIS FREE ACTIVITY,
MAN CANNOT BE JUDGED IN ABSTRACTION FROM THE CONCRETE STATE OF THE ACTING
PERSON
3.) RESPONSIBILITYMAN DEVELOPS HIS PERSONALITY THROUGH
INTER-SUBJECTIVITY
B. CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY
MAN IS A CREATURE
MAN IS THE IMAGE OF GOD
MAN IS FALLEN BUT REDEEMED
NATURE AND GRACE
1. MAN IS A CREATURE
GOD IS IMMANENT TO HIS CREATURES JUST AS HE IS TRANSCENDENT
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,
IMMANENT AND PERSONAL ACTION 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.
2. MAN IS THE IMAGE OF GOD
MAN APPEARS AS THE FIRST CREATURE THAT ISCONSCIOUS OF WHERE HE HAS COME FROMAND OF THE POTENTIALITIES OPEN TO HIM
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 FREEDOMSET 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 INCARNATIONGOD HAS ENTERED HUMAN HISTORY
AND RESTORED THE IMAGE OF GOD IN MAN.
“ON ACCOUNT OF HIS GREAT LOVE, HE BACAME 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.
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.
NATURE AND GRACE
GRACE IS A GRATUITUOUS GIFT OF GOD TO ALL PERSONS
IT IS A SHARE IN THE VERY NATURE OF GOD
IT IMPLIES THE INDWELLING OF THE BLESSED TRINITYIN THE SOUL OF MAN
THIS IS A DESTINY GOING BEYOND THE CAPACITY OF MAN, HENCE IT IS CALLED SUPERNATURAL.
CHRISTIAN LIFE CONSISTS IN CONFORMING TO THE WORKINGS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN
THE DEPTHS OF MAN’S HEART.