DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES AND THEIR CONCEPTS OF MAN What is good is that which furthers my

interests.”
St. Francis de Sales

⮚ “Man is an epitome of the world; he is a little

world in himself, in which all that is to be found
in the great world of the universe is to be
Philosophy #5: NIHILISTIC WORLD VIEW
found.”

Philosophy #1: ORIENTAL VIEW ⮚ Person and life have no ultimate meaning

⮚ Submissiveness to the cosmic powers flowing in ⮚ Material things give meaning to life. Nothing is

the universe; let these powers control their more important than material possessions.
destiny ⮚ “In the light of death, life has no real meaning-
⮚ “cannot live locked up to myself; I must be open
it is a joke- tale if an idiot signifying nothing”.
to the world so forces can flow through me”
Philosophy #6: CHRISTIAN way of life
Philosophy #2: PLAYBOY/PLAYGIRL theory of life

⮚ “Hedonism” ⮚ Action is a way of life

⮚ Pleasure (physical and sensual) is considered a
⮚ “not to decide is to decide”
“god”
⮚ Appears in many ads and pages of popular ⮚ Christians relate positively towards others
magazines
because he has accepted in faith the word of
⮚ “get as much gusto out of life; pain and
God.
suffering are evils that must be avoided; always
feel good” ⮚ “I have worth; live a life of loving service. Life
has a final meaning in God and in Jesus Christ.
Philosophy #3: COMMUNISTIC view of man
CHRISTIAN CONCEPT OF MAN: IMAGE AND LIKENESS
⮚ Best known proponent of this is Karl Marx (he OF GOD
preached that individual’s worth is only to the
degree that he/she helps the interests of the ❖ God created us in His own image and likeness.
state) Not the physical resemblance but qualities of
⮚ “my purpose is to work for the glorification of God (abilities to think, choose, love, and relate
to others)
the group; I am like a cog in a big machine as I
submit my efforts to the larger efforts of the ❖ We are “someone, not just something”
state”
1) Historical Beings
Philosophy #4: ATHEISTIC EXISTENTIALISM
⮚ We undergo a process throughout our
⮚ Extremely individualistic way of looking at man own history
⮚ Famous proponent of this is Jean-Paul Sartre ⮚ “Madaling maging tao, mahirap
(he holds that “each person is radically alone magpakatao”
and separated from all other”)
⮚ Unlike John Donne (he wrote that “No man is 2) Embodied Spirits

an island unto himself”) ⮚ Though made with body and soul,

⮚ “I must do whatever I can to increase my own man is one

freedom – which is doing what I want to do.

 ⮚ Do not mean a man with body and ⮚ Acts of Man (Actus Hominis) –
spirit performed without intellect and free
⮚ Expression of body is possible will; spontaneous biological and
because of the spiritual gifts of sensual processes
intellect and free will
⮚ Examples: breathing
⮚ Respect our bodies as “Temple of the
Holy Spirit” (Mystery of Incarnation)
HUMAN ACTS’ CONSTITUENT PRINCIPLES
3) We are relational beings
1) Knowledge – person is responsible for acts done
⮚ We cannot be fully human unless we in ignorance, unless ignorance is willed (visible
relate with others ignorance), conscious of the act without
evaluating the action if it’s good or evil
⮚ “for others” cause we are called to
2) Freedom – not the power to do what the
serve and love each other person likes; but the right of being able to do
⮚ “by others” cause we are born and what he ought to do for his ultimate end
3) Voluntariness or Actual Choice – anything that
raised in our own families
is an object of the will is “willed”, but not
⮚ “with others” cause we become our everything that is willed is an effect of the will
fullest selves when we relate with
others
⮚ God is a communion of loving persons CHRISTIAN MORALITY – we opt to do what is good
because Christ himself did it

4) Unique though fundamentally equal

⮚ We are different from one another KINDS OF FREEDOM
(unique), but we are all created equally 1) External Freedom
because of our common human
dignity ⮚ Freedom TO DO what we can possibly

⮚ Obliged to treat people with genuine do

respect ⮚ Our freedom of choice

2) Internal Freedom
5) We are conscious beings
⮚ Freedom TO BE all we can possibly be
⮚ Among other creations, only human
⮚ It’s the kind of person we become
beings can ask and answer questions
because of the options we choose
⮚ “aware of themselves in their outgoing
⮚ Calls us to be our truest self that God
acts” (we have this capacity because of
our intellect and will) calls us to be

⮚ Human acts (Actus Humanus) – ⮚ Call to become a person created in the

consciously and freely chosen acts; image and likeness of God

those we perform knowingly, willingly; “Freedom is not a license to say or do anything, but to
actions by which we respond to known do what is just and right.
will of God
FREEDOM
⮚ Examples: reading, praying, loving
 3) Ordered by Competent Authority – only the
❖ Power rooted in reason and will; perform
person who has knowledge and legit authority
actions on one’s own responsibility have the power to implement laws
❖ Human freedom is a force for maturity in truth 4) For the sake of the common good – respects
and goodness the dignity and true freedom of a person;
nurture social well-being; promote lasting peace
True Freedom – freedom from conditions that hinder us
from following Him; freedom for growing into His
likeness KINDS OF LAW
Moral Obligation – moral force that directs us to do 1) Natural Law- universal moral law through
good and warns us against evils human reason; universally true for all regardless
THREATS TO FREEDOM of race, religion, etc., accepted by all people
Examples:
1) Interior Threats – come within our self ❖ Do not do unto others what you do
Ex: bad habits, fear, passion, ignorance not want others to do unto you.
2) External Threats – forces in society that ❖ Maintain your health and well-being.
endangers our quest for inner; influence us to
act selfishly 3 Essential Characteristics of Natural law
Ex: oppression, injustice, corruption ● Universal (Universality) – applies to all human
SIN – greatest single obstacle to our authentic freedom beings
● One and the same for All (Unity and
DIMENSIONS OF FREEDOM Invariability) – all people possess equal moral
dignity and equal basic rights
1) Personal – calls us to a personal commitment to
● Immutable (Immutability) – there cannot be
Jesus Christ (our source of morality that makes
any change in what is good or evil
us authentically free).
❖ Holy Spirit – helps us to overcome sin
and gives us power to be of loving
service to others
2) Relational – freedom is always lived in
2) Divine Law – moral laws revealed to us by God
community because we are persons
thru 2 important events
in-community
A. Old Testament (Ten Commandments) deut. 5:6-21
LAW
1) You shall not have other gods besides me.
⮚ Binding rule of conduct which shapes our freedom
2) You shall not take the name of the Lord your
⮚ It is GOOD and JUST if it protects the true freedom
God in vain.
Of people
3) Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 4) Honor your father and your mother.
5) You shall not kill.
“law is an ordinance of reason, promulgated by a
6) You shall not commit adultery.
competent authority for the sake of the common good”
7) You shall not steal.
4 Characteristics of a JUST Law 8) You shall not bear false witness against your
neighbor.
1) Ordinance of reason – reasonable; studied 9) You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
carefully and seriously 10) You shall not covet your neighbor’s good.
2) Properly Promulgated- put into effect by official
proclamation; clearly communicated to people
B. New testament
 ❖ Christ taught us to return to its very core which
⮚ Receive the sacrament at least during
is LOVE
❖ God’s law is an authentic law of love Easter
⮚ Observe days of fasting and abstinence
THE BEATITUDES

1) Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the 4) Civil Laws – human-made decrees that binds
kingdom of God . citizens of a nation
⮚ to be totally independent to God Ex: Philippine Constitution which upholds the
because He is the source of good things dignity of each filipino
2) Blessed are they who mourn for they will be
comforted.
⮚ To have sincere compassion for all who
suffer
3) Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the
land.
⮚ To have humility
4) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness for they will be satisfied.
⮚ Practice justice
5) Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be
shown mercy.
⮚ Get right into the situation of others
6) Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see
God.
⮚ To be upright and have sincere motives
7) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be
called children of God.
⮚ Promote peace grounded on truth,
justice, and grace of God
8) Blessed are they who are persecuted for the
sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.
⮚ Live our faith despite great adversaries

Christ sent us the gift of grace through the Holy Spirit

that places His liberating love in our hearts.

3) Church Laws – expressions of the divine law in

concrete Christian living

⮚ Attend mass on Sundays and holy days

⮚ Confess sins at least once a year