Introduction to
MODULE 3.1
Philosophy
The Human Person
As An Embodied
Spirit
PREPARED BY MS. MARY GRACE L. SAGUN
OBJECTIVE
At the end of this module, you should be able
to:
a. recognize how the human body imposes limits
and possibilities for transcendence (PPT11/12-
If-3.1); and
b. evaluate own limitations and the possibilities
for their transcendence (PPT11/12-Ig-3.2).
The Human Person as an
Embodied Spirit
The human person has been among the central topics of discussion since the
beginning of philosophy. Philosophers, from the pre-Socratic era to the 21st
century, continued to seek and understand the nature of man, what is it to be a
human, and what sets man from other beings or things that are existing.
In the previous module, “Ways of Doing Philosophy”, the ability of man to search,
understand, and grasp the truth were discussed. Through the activities, you were
able to exercise characteristics of man as a thinking being. As such, you were
taught on how to know and separate true from untrue arguments.
In this module, the other nature of man, of the human person, as an embodied
spirit will be discussed. Through the activities, you will be able to understand and
answer questions like, “What is the meaning of a person as an embodied spirit?”,
“How does man recognize his/her limitations?”, and ‘How does man transcend?”.
Reflect on
yourself as a
human being
by doing this
activity called
“My Self in the
Eyes of the
Other”. Follow
the steps
below.
“What is a great spiritual
practitioner? A person who lives
always in the presence of his or
her own true self, someone who
has found and who uses
continually the springs and
sources of profound inspiration.
As the modern English writer
Lewis Thompson wrote: 'Christ,
supreme poet, lived truth so
passionately that every gesture
of his, at once pure Act and
perfect Symbol, embodies the
transcendent.'To embody the
transcendent is why we are
here.”
MAN AS AN
EMBODIED
SPIRIT
In order to fully understand the nature of the human
person as an embodied spirit, we must have a general
understanding about the terms used:
What do we mean by embodied?
According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary, embody means to give a body to
(a spirit) or to represent in human or animal form. Embodied, therefore,
means something is given concrete form, materialized, or incorporated to a
body.
What is a spirit?
Likewise, Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines spirit as an animating or vital
principle held to give life to physical organisms. In a similar fashion, it refers
to the characteristics of a person that is considered as being separate from
the body, and that many religions believe continue to exist after the body
dies. Among the terms used to mean spirit are soul, psyche, mind, and
atman.
What do we mean, then, by embodied spirit?
Initially, when we say embodied spirit, we are referring to a
spirit, an immaterial entity, having a body. It means that a spirit
is incarnated or incorporated to a body.
However, embodied spirit, in the context of philosophy, refers to
the inseparable union of the body and the spirit. Likewise, both
are also integrated. In this sense, we do not only exist physically
but spiritually. Our actions, feelings, and thinking do not only
affect our physical body but also our spiritual nature.
“Embodiment’, thus, enables us to do and experience all the
things that make us human persons (Abella, 2016, p.52).
Man is a limited being
It is an acceptable idea that human beings are higher in
nature than other existing being like animals and plants. Man
does not only eat, grow, and feel but also think, understand
reality, and is able to create relationships with other people.
However, there are strengths of other beings that are limited
to man. Some animals have superior physical abilities in
terms of strength, eyesight, and other uses of their senses.
Likewise, man is limited in him/herself, that it cannot be both
at different places at the same time, cannot travel from one
country to another or communicate with relatives from other
places without the use of technologies.
Man is also a transcendental being
Although man is limited, man can overcome his/her limitations. This
ability is called transcendence. Transcendence originated from the
Latin words trans, meaning "go beyond," and scandare, meaning
"climb.” It is the ability of man to experience reality beyond what
the physical body allows him to be. A person can travel to the past,
to the future, or to other places without actually going there. We
can travel through the use of our imagination. Likewise,
transcendence also means understanding, overcoming, and being
in control of the one self. Being able to control the self means that
we are able to identify our limitations and we make developments
in order to change ourselves for the better. Regardless of our status
in life, we open ourselves to new experiences and ideas in order to
have a meaningful existence
Fulfilling a goal requires transcendence as it allows us to think and feel that
despite the physical and material challenges that we have right now, we can
still attain self-actualization, much like Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of needs,
Life Stories of Transcendental
Existence
Transcendence varies across all people
and may not happen to everyone, but
here are examples of people who have
undergone self-actualization despite
their physical, material, social and
environmental limitations.
Seatwork:
Distinguish mere limitations of man from possibilities for transcendence by
completing the matrix using the statements below. Write your answer on your
notebook. (20 points)
1. Having been born in a poor family
2. Being addicted to cigarette and alcoholic beverages
3. Laziness and inspirited behavior
4. Having an old model mobile phone
5. Slow to understand things
6. Experienced many broken heartedness
7. In a state of loneliness, emotional stress or mental sickness
8. Experienced failures and other difficulties in life
9. Having no motorcycle or car
10. Having physical disabilities
Seatwork:
Distinguish mere limitations of man from possibilities for transcendence by
completing the matrix using the statements below. Write your answer on your
notebook. (20 points)
1. PT
2. ML
3. ML
4. ML
5. PT
6. PT
7. PT
8. PT
9. ML
10. ML
