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.