Introduction to the

Philosophy
of the Human Person
Quarter 4 — Module
The Human Person as an Embodied
Subject

Self-Learning Modules
Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person –
Grade 11 Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 4 – Module 5: Freedom of the Human
Person First Edition, 2020

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: “No copyright shall subsist
in any work of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of
the government agency or office wherein the work is created shall be
necessary for exploitation of such work for profit. Such agency or office may,
among other things, impose as a condition, payment of royalty.”

This material has been developed in support to the Open High School
for Senior High School Program implementation in the Department of
Education, Region X-Northern Mindanao. It can be reproduced for
educational purposes and can be modified for the purpose of translation
into another language provided that the source must be clearly
acknowledged. Derivatives of the work including creating an edited
version, enhancement or a supplementary work are permitted provided all
original works are acknowledged and the copyright is attributed. No work
may be derived from this material for commercial purposes and profit.

Borrowed materials included in this module are owned by the

respective copyright holders. Effort has been exerted to locate and seek
permission to use these materials from the respective copyright owners.
The publisher and author do not represent nor claim ownership over them.

Printed in the Philippines by: Department of Education – Regional

Office 10 Office Address: Zone 1, Upper Balulang Cagayan de Oro
City 9000 Telefax: (088) 880-7071, (088) 880-7072
E-mail Address: region10@[Link]
 11

Introduction to the
Philosophy
of the Human Person
Quarter 4 – Module 3
The Human Person as
an Embodied Subject

This instructional material was collaboratively

developed and reviewed by educators from public and
private schools, colleges, and universities. We encourage
teachers and other education stake holders to email their
feedback, comments, and recommendations to the
Department of Education at action @[Link]

We value your feedback and recommendations.

Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

 Table of Contents

Overview i

Pre – Assessment iv

Lesson Proper

Lesson 1: Understanding Human Person 1

Lesson 2: Relationship of the Body and the Spirit 5

Lesson 3: Limitations and Transcendence 8

Generalization 14

Application 15

Post – Assessment 15

References 18
 OVERVIEW
Name:
Date: Score:

Subject:
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person

Topic:
The Human Person as Embodied Spirit

Content
Standar
d s: The learner understands the human person as an embodied spirit.

Performance
Standards: The learner distinguishes his/her own limitations and the
possibilities for his/her transcendence

Learning 1. Recognize own limitations and

Competencie possibilities. (PPT11/12-If-3.1)
s 2. Evaluate own limitations and the possibilities for their
transcendence. .
(PPT11/12-Ig-3.2)
3. Recognize how the human body imposes limits and possibilities for
transcendence.
(PPT11/12-Ih-3.3)
4. Distinguish the limitations and possibilities for transcendence.
(PPT11/12-Ii-3.4)
What is In everyday life, we are facing different challenges that might come in
our way.
this These trials might push us into our limits that hinder our different
activities.
module all Somehow, we come to ask ourselves how our body works. What are
the things
about: that limit our capabilities? How are we going to surpass such
limitations?
In this module, you will be able to answer these and many other
questions that
may be bothering you. Concepts like embodiment, limitations, and
transcendence will be discussed in this module.

i
Module
Lesson 1: Understanding Human Person
Content
Lesson 2: Relationship of the Body and the Spirit Lesson 3:
:
Limitations and Transcendence

Components in each Lesson

What I Need to Know

- Learning Objectives

What I Know?

- Pre-Assessment

What’s In?

- Review Activity

What’s New?

- Motivational Activity

What is It?

- Lesson Proper

What’s More?

- Performance Task

What I Have Learned?

- Generalization

What I Can Do?

- Application

ii
Assessment

- Post-Assessment

iii
 What I Need to Know

At the end of this module, the learners will be able to:

1. define human person;
2. value the significant relationship of the body and the spirit;
3. realize that human person has limitations; and
4. transform limitations into possibilities.

The following are your guides for the proper use of this module:

1. Follow closely the instructions in every activity.

2. Be honest in answering and checking your exercises.
3. Answer the pre-test before going over the materials. This is
to find out what you already know.
4. Answer the exercises encountered at the end of every lessons.
5. Review the lesson that you think you failed to understand.
6. Seek assistance from your teachers if you need help.
7. Ask permission from y our parents/guardians whenever
you have research and requirements to be conducted
outside your home.

iv
 What I know

A. Identification.
Choose your answer on the box below.
Write only the letter of the word that corresponds your answer
and put it in your activity notebook.

a. Human f. dignity
b. Facticity g. self-determination
c. Free will h. transcendence
d. Human i. Body as Intermediary
Person
j. spirit
e. Self-
awareness

1. This term refers to a man as species and distinguishes man

from other animals.
2. This refers to the totality of an individual who possesses
awareness,
self-determination, and the capacity to interact with others.
3. This is the capability to act and be aware of one’s action.
4. The capability of a person to act based on their own preferences.
5. This enables the person to act whenever he or she wants to
and make
self-determination possible.
6. This is the inherent value of a person which cannot be
expressed in quantifiable terms.
7. This is the intangible element that enables us to exercise
thought, possesses awareness, and reach out to the
outside world and others.
8. Our ability to surpass limits.
9. Refers to the things in our life that is already given.
10. It allows us to experience the world as “our world” and
not the world of others.

v
 B. True or False.
Write T if your answer is True and F if your answer is False.
Write your answer in your activity notebook.

11. We can make use of our facticity as an excuse for our

difficulties and failures.
[Link] is something that does not bother as human persons.
13. Our body could conceal emotions we do not want to show.
14. Our interaction with others and the world is externality.
15. Our limitations as a human person may also
serve as our advantage as well.

Lesson 1: Understanding Human

Person

What’s New?

Activity 1. TRAIT ME!

Write your answer in your activity notebook.

Answer the question “What makes us human?” Explain your answer.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

1
 What is It?

Philosophers were initially concerned with the defining the essential

characteristic that makes a person human. This essential characteristic is
what distinguishes as from plants, animals, and other living things. Many
agree that this essential characteristic is nothing else but our being
rational beings. Our rationality makes us superior to all others because it
is the highest form of activity and no other being has it. To fully
understand the concept of human person we need to understand some
terms in relation to the discussion of the human person.

 Man – commonly used to refer to the entire human race

 Human
– refers to man as species – Homo sapiens sapiens
 Human
– used to distinguish man from another animals.
Being
 Person – refers to a human being granted recognition
of rights, protection, responsibilities, and
 Personhood dignity.
 Human – refers to the state of being a person.
nature – refers to the characteristics that distinguishes
human from all other creatures.

What is a Human Person?

A human person can be fully understood by defining it using the following

traits:

1. Self-awareness
- Refers to the person’s clear perception of oneself, which
includes her thoughts, emotions, identity and actions. It is
also driven by rationality or human thought. It is an
awareness not just of his or her surroundings but also of his
or her own existence, which lead to the notion of “self” – a
person who perceive and experience reality.

2. Self-determination
- Is the capacity of persons to make choices and decisions

2
based on their own preferences, monitor and, regulate
their actions. As a human person we act and we are aware
of our actions.

3
 - Self-determination is associated with freewill, consequence
and morality.

Freewill – enable us to act willfully, control our actions,

and recognize ourselves
as the source of action.

Consequence – is the result or effect of an action or condition.

Morality – refers to the goodness or badness of an act.

3. Externality
- Our capacity to reach out and interact with others and the
world. Meaning, our interaction with others and the world is
externality. We believe that no man is an island and that
we need to reach out to other to give meaning to our
existence – we do not live in isolation, we exist with others.
As we grow, the people around us influence our traits and
characters.

4. Dignity
- This is our innate right to be valued and respected. As a
human person we have an innate worth or value. Each
person is worth the other regardless of what status you
have in life. We do not equate our value to any material
thing that we have. Outside forces or characteristics such
as, beauty, intelligence or skills do not define our dignity.
- A person’s incapability and criminal act will not make
him or her less of a person he/she is expected to be.
- Since a person has dignity, he/she deserves to be treated
fairly. The recognition of the dignity of human person is the
basis for the recognition of human rights.

4
 What’s More?

Activity 2: My Reflection.
Write your answer in your activity notebook.

1. Based on the discussion, how did you understand the concept of

a Human Person?

2. Do you consider yourself a human person? Why or Why not?

Activity 3: Complete Me!

Write your answer in your activity notebook.

Complete the graphic organizer below and write in the boxes

examples that shows the following characteristics of the
human person.

A PERSON ....

has self- is able to has dignity

has awareness determinati reach out and
of self on interact with
others

5
Lesson 2: Relationship of the Body
and the Spirit

What’s New?

Activity 1: Music Reflection

Instruction:
a. Search in the internet the song “Heal the World”
b. Share your insights about the music.
c. How did the music affect you?
d. Write your answer on the space provided.

_
_
_
_

_
_
_
_
_
_.

6
 What is It?

Philosophers believe that what make a human person is not just all
about its traits and characteristics. It is also not all about its physicality
such as being tall, dark or having a black hair. But philosophers also point
out another unseen aspect of being a human person which is the spirit.
The union of the body and spirit is what a human person is according to
philosophers. Spirit refers to an intangible element of a human person
enables one to exercise thoughts, possess awareness, interiority, and the
capacity to reach out to the outside world and other persons.

The Human Person is an Embodied Spirit.

The idea of the human person as an “embodied spirit” does not

necessarily refer to the incarnation or materialization of spirit as an
immaterial entity. The embodiment of the spirit in the context of Christian
philosophy specifically refers to the inseparable union of body and soul.
Thus, when we say, “embodied spirit” we mean that the body is not
separate from the soul, just as the soul is not separate from the body.

So, when we speak that the human person is an embodied spirit, we

specifically mean that the human person is the point of convergence
between the material and spiritual entities, that is, between the body and
soul. We cannot say, therefore, of the human person without the union of
body and soul.

The human body also stands as the mediator between the material
and the spiritual world. Being an embodied spirit, the person is able to
encounter the world of objects in a manner that transcends the physical.
For example, of this is prayer where the human body becomes an object
of the world to reach the spiritual world (God) since in saying a prayer, the
body is required.

7
 What’s More?

Activity 2: Fill Me Up!

Discuss how embodiment is demonstrated in the following situations.
Write your answer in your activity notebook.

Situation Discussion
1. Kyle likes to listen to OPM (Original
Pilipino Music). He listens to music
when he paints, as it
inspires him to make beautiful
landscapes on his canvass.
2. Prince Emerson is very depressed.
His girlfriend just broke up with him
and he has spent the whole day in
his room. He keeps going over their
old photographs in happier times
while listening to their favorite
songs on the radio.
3. Kim nervously waits to be called
to perform on stage for her recital.
She looks toward the audience and
sees her family. Her father does the
“thumbs up” sign and smiles at her.
She smiles back and she can feel her
nervousness disappearing.

4. Kian carries a picture a picture of

his family with him in his wallet.
Whenever he gets a break from
working in the fire station he takes
the picture out and imagines
himself with his family back home.

8
Lesson 3: Limitations
and Transcendence

What’s New?

Activity 1. My Limitations!
Write your answer in your activity notebook.

Make a table and identify the different limitations or weaknesses that you
have. Feel free to write as many limitations as you want that you see in
yourself.

My Limitations

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.
9
 What is it?

This lesson will discuss about human being’s weakness and

imperfections – a person’s limitations and how he could go about getting
pass these retrains in his being. It is with good reason that we consider
the body as having a number of weakness because we have many
experiences that manifest the truth of this idea.

What is limitation?

Limitation - as defined in the Merriam dictionary is “something

that controls how much of
something is possible or allowed”. Human nature still has
limits despite being an embodied spirit. It can be said
that the person is very biologically deficient being. We
do not have the natural ability to fly. We cannot breathe
underwater without using breathing apparatus. We
cannot survive in certain environments like other
animals.

Three Categories of Limitations

1. Facticity
- Refers to the things in our lives that are already given (Ex. We
are born in a particular time and place, and we did not choose
them). It also refers to all the details that surround us in the
present. These include our environment, language, past
decisions, past and present relationships, and even our future
death.

2. Spatial-Temporal Being

- This means that we will not live forever – that we have a

limited period of stay in this world (we call this finitude). We
are just passers of this place.

- Our limitations here are based on time, ability, etc. (the not
yet and the no longer)

Example:
a) A 5-year old child cannot put on lipstick because she is
still a child (the not yet).
10
b) A senior citizen cannot bear a child because she is no
longer capable of reproduction.

11
 - On the level of being spatial individuals, we are limited by our
bodies to be present in two or more places at the same time.
We are set to be in one place at a time.

Example:
One cannot be in Manila and in Cebu at same time because his
body does not allow him to.

3. The Body as Intermediary

- We have established that we are our bodies, but also more

than our bodies. Our body then serves as an intermediary
between the physical world and us. It is because of my body
that I experience the world as my world and not the world of
other.

Example:
“I can always imagine myself living as a rock star; but I will
never really know how it is
to be a rock star unless I become one

myself.” “I can never be you or you can

never be me”.

What is transcendence?

Transcendence
- The ability to explore and surpass limits (Merriam Webster Dictionary).

A very important tool that allows us to go through our physical limits

is our mind. Although we have these physical limitations, we can
transcend them because of our spiritual dimension. We have natural
tendencies and inclinations as a human person. Some of these are felt
bodily functions like hunger, fatigue, etc. Transcendence means
overcoming oneself or being in control even if the body reminds us of
certain tendencies. Although these tendencies are felt, the person can
govern them and ensure that they are exercised within the bounds of
reason.

The presence of several limitations of being an embodied subject

12
may make us think that life is difficult and is very restricting. But, if we
come to think it, if we reflect on our personal lives, we could come to the
idea that the limitations that we have make our lives more colorful and
challenging.

13
 Let us try to look at this limitation and see how, we could surpass or
transcend our limitation or perhaps we could realize that there is really no
need to overcome it.

1. Facticity
We understand that our facticity are the things already
given to us the moment we are born. With this, we could say
that we really cannot do anything about it, what we could do
is to change our attitude towards it. If we let our facticity
define who we are then, that makes it a limitation but, if we
see our facticity as a chance to challenge and explore
ourselves then, we are making our facticity a positive aspect
of our life. As a free individual we should always think that it is
us, who could decide what we want to do with our lives and
that we are not limited to what nature has initially given us.
Facticity challenges us to be creative with our life options and
to maximize the possibilities that is given to us.

Example:

1. Nick Vujicic is born with no arms and legs. But this

limitation he had, did not hinder him to become a
successful person. He had been known all over the world
being a motivational speaker and he even build his own
family.

2. Spatial-Temporal

Our being temporal being maybe one of the things that

bothers as the most. Knowing that we are temporary being in
this world often times gave us fear to try and do things. We
are more concerned of what might happen tomorrow, next
month or next year that we forget to live our life for today. We
forget to cherish and enjoy the present because we are too
bothered of what might happen next. If we appreciate how
wonderful the present is, then perhaps we could look at our
temporality as a challenge, a challenge on making our life
more interesting, colorful, and meaningful, and how we make
most of the time given to us.
In relation to our being spatial being in one place at the
same time may be a limit to us, but if we take a look at it – it
also helps us overcome our temporality. Because being in one
place at a time give us the opportunity to appreciate more
the things and people around us. It gives us the chance to be
14
more connected to one another. We should appreciate always
what is present in our space because sometimes we only
appreciate things or people when it’s already gone.

15
 3. Body as Intermediary

Having a body as an intermediary to the world may only

allow us to experience the world base on our own point of
standing thus, limiting us to fully experience the world. But, if
we take a closer look at it, it is somehow our privilege to
experience the world uniquely. Our experience of the world is
unique and distinct from other beings. Therefore, it gives more
meaning to our experiences and how we live life as a whole.
Although our body oftentimes conceals or restrict what
emotions we wanted to convey but somehow it became our
protection for there are time that we do not want others to
know what we truly feel and think. The body may pose some
limitations, but these limitations serves as our advantage as
well.

What’s More?

Activity 3. Revitalized Me.

Write your answer in your activity notebook.

Instruction: Complete the chart by rewriting your present limitations with

reference to your answers in the previous activities. On the first column,
you may write your limitations and the corresponding actions on how to
surpass such limitation in the second column.

16
MY LIMITATIONS PLAN TOWARDS TRANSCENDENCE

17
 What I Have Learned

 The human being is recognized not only as a distinct species – Homo

sapiens, sapiens, but as unique being, an individual person
possessing awareness.
 The human person possesses self-awareness which refers to the
awareness of oneself as an active participant in reality. A person is
not only aware of his or her surroundings or reality but also of
himself or herself as a participant in this reality.
 Another trait that defines a human person is self-determination. This
refers to the awareness of one’s action. It is brought about by the
person’s free will and awareness of the consequences – that every
action will have results or effects.
 A human person is able to reach out and interact with others. Our
interactions with others define our existence and help us develop as
a person.
 A human person has dignity, that each of us has an innate value
and worth that cannot be quantified.
 The human person is an embodied spirit. The body is not separate
from the soul, just as the soul is not separate from the body.
 Despite being an embodied subject a human person has limitations.
Limitation is something that controls how much of something is
possible or allowed.
 There are three categories of limitations. Facticity, Spatial-temporal
being, and Body as intermediary.
 Facticity is referring to the things in our lives that are already given.
 Spatial-Temporal being this means that we will not live forever –
that we have a limited period of stay in this world.
 Body as intermediary our body serves as an intermediary
between the physical world and us.
 Transcendence is our ability to explore and surpass limits.

18
 What I Can Do?

Interview: Transcribe your interview in your activity notebook.

Instruction:
Interview a person you know in your community who has
overcome his or her limitations to great success. Identify the
factors that made that individual successful.

Assessment

A. Identification.
Choose your answer on the box below.
Write only the letter of the word that corresponds your answer
and put it in your activity notebook.

a. Human f. dignity
b. Facticity g. self-determination
c. Free will h. transcendence
d. Human i. Body as
Person Intermediary

1. This term refers to a man as species and distinguishes

man from other animals.
2. This refers to the totality of an individual who
possesses awareness,
self-determination, and the capacity to interact with others.
3. This is the capability to act and be aware of one’s action.
4. The capability of a person to act based on their own preferences.
5. This enables the person to act whenever he or she
wants to and make
self-determination possible.
19
 6. This is the inherent value of a person which cannot be
expressed in quantifiable terms.
7. This is the intangible element that enables us to exercise
thought, possesses awareness, and reach out to the
outside world and others.
8. Our ability to surpass limits.
9. Refers to the things in our life that is already given.
10. It allows us to experience the world as “our world” and
not the world of others.

B. True or False.
Write T if your answer is True and F if your answer is False.
Write your answer in your activity notebook.

11. We can make use of our facticity as an excuse for our

difficulties and failures.
12. Temporality is something that does not bother as human persons.
13. Our body could conceal emotions we do not want to show.
14. Our interaction with others and the world is externality.
15. Our limitations as a human person may also
serve as our advantage as well.

20