Lesson 3: The Person as Embodied Spirit

MAN, HUMAN, HUMAN BEING, PERSON, PERSONHOOD

• Man: Refers to the entire human race (men and women).

• Human: A word used to describe our kind/species.

• Human Being: A term to show humans are different from animals or other species.

• Person: A human who can think, make choices, and talk or act with others (possesses self-awareness, rational mind and the capacity to interact with other).

• Personhood: The state of being a unique person with value and moral worth.

• Classification of origin of humans: Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus, Homo Sapiens

WHAT IS A HUMAN PERSON?

• A human person is someone who:

  • Belongs to the human species.

  • Has a body, birth rights, and three parts: soul, mind, and spirit.

TWO GENERAL PARTS OF A HUMAN PERSON

• Cognitive Self: The thinking part of a person (answers "What am I?").

• Physical Self: The body and actions (answers "Who am I?")

Embodied Spirit

• The human person is an embodied spirit, meaning the body and soul are united.

• The soul animates the body and expresses itself through human actions (Inseparable union of human body and soul).

• (Abella, 2016) Characteristics of the embodied spirit:

  1. Self-awareness

  2. Interconnectedness with others and the world

  3. Freedom to choose

  4. Intrinsic dignity and worth

Plato’s Three Functions of the Soul

• Plato believed in the dichotomy of body and soul.

• the soul is the true essence of a person, the body is only its prison.

• the body depends on the soul, but the soul exists independently

Tripartite Functions:

1. Rational Function – Reason and intellect

2. Passion Function – Emotions and will

3. Appetitive Function – Physical desires, cravings, and basic needs

Aristotle’s Three types of Souls

• Aristotle believed the soul cannot exist separately from the body.

• The soul (psyche) is the source of life.

• It is the form of a living, organized body, meaning the soul and body are inseparable.

Three Kinds of Souls:

1. Vegetative Soul – Present in plants (growth and reproduction)

2. Sensitive Soul – Possesed by humans and animals (sensation and movement)

3. Rational Soul – Unique to humans (thinking and reflection)

Transcendence - The ability to surpass limits

• Thomas Merton (1948) - we find ourselves by discovering the divine image within.

• We must struggle to regain awareness of our own spiritual nature.

• The term comes from Latin, meaning “to go beyond”.

Three Main Spiritual Philosophies on Transcendence

Hinduism

• Goal: Union of the individual soul (Atman) with the Absolute (Brahman) — the ultimate truth.

• Humans have dual nature:

  • Spiritual, immortal essence (real)

  • Empirical, material life (temporary)

• The soul is eternal but bound to the material world through the law of Karma.

• Life is a cycle (samsara) of birth, death, and rebirth until liberation (moksha) is achieved.

• Moksha is the release of the spirit (jiva) from samsara.

• Liberation requires spiritual progress and self-effort.

• True knowledge (vidya) is realizing the real self (atman) beyond sense-based understanding.

• Hinduism emphasizes:

  • Self-knowledge

  • Overcoming ignorance

  • Realizing the oneness of reality

• Achieving unity with the Absolute fulfills one's true destiny.

• Four primary values in Hindu life:

  1. Wealth

  2. Pleasure

  3. Duty

  4. Enlightenment

  • Karma (law of cause and effect) governs the cycle until enlightenment is reached.

Buddhism

• Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), a prince from the Sakya clan in the kingdom of Magadha (560–477 B.C.), who renounced his royal life in search of truth.

• Core Teaching: Dharma or the Law of Salvation, focused on:

  • Inner cultivation of spiritual attitudes

  • Self-discipline to master bodily desires

• Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path as the way to reach arhatship (moral perfection), which leads to Nirvana after death.

• Four Noble Truths:

  1. Life is full of suffering (dukkha).

  2. Suffering comes from desire, craving, and attachments.

  3. Ending desire ends suffering.

  4. Suffering ceases by following the Eightfold Path.

• Eightfold Path (the way to Nirvana):

  1. Right View – acceptance of the Four Noble Truths

  2. Right Intentions – aspiration for good, for self and others

  3. Right Speech – avoid lying, gossip, or harmful words

  4. Right Action – behave with goodwill and moral integrity

  5. Right Effort – direct efforts toward wisdom and virtue (resist evil)

  6. Right Concentration – deep meditation, reaching mystical focus

  7. Right Mindfulness – awareness of thoughts and actions

  8. Right Livelihood – earn a living ethically

• Ethical Precepts:

  • Do not kill

  • Do not steal

  • Avoid misuse of senses (e.g., sexual misconduct)

  • Do not lie or deceive

  • Avoid intoxicants (e.g., drugs)

• Buddhist Practice Four Sublime States (ideal attitudes):

  • Love (universal loving-kindness)

  • sorrow for others’ suffering

  • joy in others' happiness

  • Equanimity (calm acceptance of joy and sorrow)

• Buddhist Councils (Preserving Teachings):

  • First Council (Rajagaha, 477 B.C.): 500 disciples orally recited and preserved Buddha’s teachings → Tripitaka

  • Second Council (Vesali, 383/377 B.C.): Discipline relaxed slightly to ease burdens of the teaching

  • Third Council (245 B.C.): Reforms made; Buddhism began to expand widely

• Buddha emphasized:

  • Intellectual freedom

  • Independent thinking in practicing and understanding the teachings

Christianity

• Early Christianity: No need to prove God’s existence; later argued philosophically when facing naturalistic beliefs.

• Belief in God: Considered reasonable—explains the world and human experience philosophically.

• St. Augustine (354–430 CE)

  • Philosophy = Love of Wisdom (amor sapiential) → leads to happiness.

  • Wisdom = God (Divine Logos) → Philosophy = Love of God.

  • Christianity = Only full and true philosophy.

  • Faith leads to knowledge of God, perfected by understanding.

  • Knowledge begins within (not from outside sensation).

  • 3 Levels of Existence:

    1. Mere Being

    2. Living Being

    3. Rational Being

  • Humans are soul + body → Rational substance.

  • True wisdom is moral and practical, not just theoretical.

  • Higher knowledge = rational principles guided by will, leading to eternal Truth.

• St. Thomas Aquinas

  • Human beings = spiritual + bodily.

  • Humans are moral agents → can change and grow for the better.

  • Unity of body and spirit explains human complexity.

Limitations and Possibilities for Transcendence

• Forgiveness

  • Frees us from anger and bitterness.

  • Holding grudges often masked by rational excuses.

• Beauty and Nature

  • Nature shows grace and perfection (e.g., flowers, sunsets, family time).

• Vulnerability

  • Part of being human.

  • Accepting help from others gives meaning and honesty to life.

• Failure

  • Reveals our limits.

  • Teaches hope, surrender, and growth.

• Loneliness

  • We must choose: False happiness or a real life with solitude and connection.

  • Loneliness shows our dependence and opens the way to freedom.

• Love

  • Brings joy, meaning, and transcendence.

  • Takes us beyond ourselves.