The Human
Person in the
Environment
Wang, Yeo
REVIEW
The Human as an Embodied Spirit
• Metaphysical Approach
- Which focuses on the kinds of substances and capacities that uniquely make
up a human person.
- Dealing with the WHAT of a human person.
• Existential Approach
- Which focuses on the kind of life, or mode of existence, that is unique to
human person.
‐
Dealing with the WHO of a human person.
Human Person
‐
• Spirit
‐ Emphasizes non-physical nature.
• Soul
‐ Emphasizes its consciousness.
• Mind
Emphasizes
function.
its
life
• Components
 Unspirited Body View
 Disembodied Spirit View
 Embodied Spirit View
giving
Unspirited Body View
‐
•
‐
Human person is just essentially just
his/her body and nothing more.
• Behaviorism
Mind-Brain Identity Theory
‐ “Mental states” simply refer to
Mental state or neutral state of the inclination of tendencies to show
brain.
certain behavior.
Unspirited Body View
Disembodied Spirit View
‐
Human person is just essentially just
his/her spirit and nothing more.
• Both believed:
Plato’s Immortality of the Soul
‐ Spirit or soul is independent with the
•
‐ Soul must be immortal
body
‐
• Descartes’ View of Reality
‐ Mind (non-physical) and
(physical)
Matter
Immortality of the spirit
Disembodied Spirit View
Embodied Spirit View
‐ Human
‐ Soul
of Animals (Sensitive
person
is
just Soul)
essentially the unity of his/her‐ Soul of Humans (Rational
body and spirit.
Soul)
• Aristotle’s Idea of Soul
• Thomas Aquinas’ Idea of Soul
‐ Soul is the cause of life and, a‐ Human soul is “subsistent”
form and Mind is a matter.
rather than “substance.”
‐ Soul of Plants (Vegetative
Soul)
Embodied Spirit View
Marks of the Mental
• General
- Distinguish
minds.
between minds &
• Distinguishing features of Mind
non-• Consciousness
- Awareness
- Cognition, Emotions, Sensations,
• Particular
- Distinguish material states from one
another.
Perceptions, Quasi-Perceptions
Distinguishing Features of Mind
• Subjective Quality
- Person has experience them.
- Particular way to become conscious. • Private
• Intentionality
‐ Directly knowable to the person who
has them.
- Mental states to have contents
or states of affair in the world.
• Ontological Subjectivity
What does the
pictures means?
Environment
Environmental Philosophy/ Environmental Ethics
-
Discipline in philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings
with the environment and its non-human contents.
• Three Major Views Regarding the Relationship Between Humanity and
Environment
Anthropocentrism
Biocentrism
Ecocentrism
3 Major Views Regarding the Relationship
Between Humanity and Environment
•
Anthropocentrism
- Focuses on the significant role of humankind in the world in the world and considers nature as
the means by which humans are able to meet their needs and survive.
- This view believes that humans are the most important species on the planet and they are free
to transform nature and use its resources.
Anthropocentrism
3 Major Views Regarding the Relationship
Between Humanity and Environment
• Biocentrism
- Humans are
not only significant species on the planet, and that all
organisms have inherent value and should be protected.
-
This view drives the activities of humane organizations that advocate the
ethical treatment of animals.
Biocentrism
3 Major Views Regarding the Relationship
Between Humanity and Environment
• Ecocentrism
- Humankind is part of a greater biological system or community and that we have
a significant role as stewards or guardians of nature.
-
This view also promotes the idea that order and balance in nature brings about
stability and beauty.
-
Deep Ecology and Gaia Hypothesis, philosophical views that emphasized the
important role of the interaction between the living and non-living components of
the environment.
Ecocentrism
•
-
•
-
Environmental aesthetics
Philosophical view that believes inEnvironmental Ethics
maintaining order in the environment
will bring out the natural beauty of the- Moral approach that analyzes the
surroundings and contribute to the well- relationship between humans and the
being of the people and other organisms environment.
living in it.
- Emerged in the 1970’s, advocating
human responsibility and actions with
regard to environmental issues.
Environmentalism
One important development that arose
during the late twentieth century.
Perspective that advocates action to
address the growing environmental
problems.
Environmental Ethics
• Main Ideas
All non human elements of the world, including animals and natural
resources, have intrinsic value and should be preserved.
The preservation of the environment will benefit humans by providing for
the needs of present and future generations.
Humankind has a responsibility to safeguard the planet as stewards of
creation.
Environmental Ethics Views
• Social Ecology
- Applies an ecological
meeting environmental challenges.
and ethicalClimate Ethics
approach in analyzing society, andClimate Justice
sees a relationship between social
problems
and
environmental
problems.
• Environmental Aesthetics
• Environmental Justice
- The fair distribution of environmental
- Concepts of beauty in nature in the
context of maintaining and balance in
the environment
benefits, as well as the burden of
• Sustainability Development/Sustainability
- This concept focuses on reconciling human
activities and economic
development with the protection of the environment.
-
Wise decisions regarding the use of natural resources to ensure that there is
still enough left for future use.
Sustainability’s 3 Important Principles
• Environmental Integrity
• Equity
- Maintaining the state of environment. - Use our
• Economic Efficiency
- Prudence in decision-making regarding
the use of resources to ensure that
there is minimum to zero waste.
natural resources in such
manner that these are conserved so
that the next generation will be able to
use them.
Values That Can Guide Us in Personal Use of
Resources
• Prudence
- Ability to regulate one’s actions and behavior.
• Frugality
- Being thrifty with the use of one’s resources.
As human persons, it is our responsibility to treat with respect not only
our fellow humans, but also everything in our world.
QUIZ
1.) This view considers man is the most important species on the planet.
A. Humanism
B. Anthropocentrism
C. Humanocentrism
2.) The branch of Philosophy that is concerned with the natural environment and
humanity’s place in it.
A. Environment Philosophy
B. Environmental Philosophy
C. Environmentalism
QUIZ
3.) This view believes that all organisms have inherent worth and should be valued
and protected.
A. Biocentrism
B. Ecocentrism
C. Naturalism
4.) This view places great value in ecosystem and biological communities.
A. Egocentrism
B. Biocentrism
C. Ecocentrism
QUIZ
5.) Philosophical views that emphasized the important role of the interaction between the
living and non-living components of the environment.
A. Deep Ecology & Gaia Hypothesis
B. Deep Web & Gaia Theory
C. Social Ecology & Gaia Hypothesis
6.) Philosophical view that believes in maintaining order in the environment will bring out
the natural beauty of the surroundings and contribute to the well-being of the people and
other organisms living in it.
A. Nature Ethics
B. Environmental Ethics
C. Environmental Aesthetics
QUIZ
7.) Perspective that advocates action to address the growing environmental
problems.
A. Environmentalism
B. Environmentalist
C. Environmental
8.) Moral approach that analyzes the relationship between humans and the
environment.
A. Nature Ethics
B. Environmental Ethics
C. Environmental Aesthetics
QUIZ
9.) This concept focuses on reconciling human activities and economic
development with the protection of the environment.
A. Personal Development
B. Sustainability Development
C. Ecological Development
10.) The fair distribution of environmental benefits, as well as the burden of
meeting environmental challenges.
A. Judgement
B. Environmental Sharing
C. Environmental Justice
Thank You and God Bless