DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THE HUMAN PERSON

Philosophical Anthropology

The study of the nature of humanity, particularly in philosophical contexts.

Pre-Socratic Thinkers

Early Greek philosophers who sought to explain the nature of the cosmos through empirical observations.

Socratic Method

A form of cooperative argumentative dialogue to stimulate critical thinking and illuminate ideas.

Empirical Observations

Knowledge gained through sensory experience and experimentation.

Arete

Excellence or virtue, especially in relation to human character.

Imago Dei

The concept of being made in the likeness of God.

Plato's Theory of Forms

The philosophical idea that non-material abstract forms, and not the material world, possess the highest and most fundamental kind of reality.

Hylomorphism

Aristotle's theory that substances are composed of both matter (hyle) and form (morphe).

Eudaimonia

A term often translated as happiness or flourishing; the highest good in Aristotle's ethics.

Appetitive

• pleasure centeredness

• bodily fulfillment or desire

• leads to the tendency to want immediate gratification

Spirited

• will-soul

• heart of the soul

• emotions, courage, and ambition

Intellectual

• mind or brain of the soul

• rational truth seeker

• responsible for reason, logic, and understanding

ARISTOTLE

student of Plato who disagrees with their teacher

• considers Plato's ideas as impractical and abstract

  • True knowledge is practical and can be applied to better the world of “matter.”

theory of substance

The world is divided into two categories, which are substance (what something fundamentally is) and accidents (its characteristics or properties)

Tabula Rasa

blank slate

ST AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

“Credo ut intelligam”

AUGUSTINIAN WAY

• free to serve God without fear

  • willingly move with love and not a necessity

ST THOMAS AQUINAS

FUNCTIONS OF THE SOUL

BEING RATIONAL

TELOS

FUNCTIONS OF THE SOUL

• RATIONAL

  • intellect, reason

  • allows us to understand and think

• SENSITIVE

  • senses (material, cognitive capacity) and appetites (inherent inclination of being toward one’s passions and desires)

  • enables us to feel, desire, and perceive

• NUTRITIVE

  • for growth that we share with all living beings