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Human Being: The Dignity of The

Human dignity is rooted in being created in the image and likeness of God. This likeness refers to qualities like the ability to think, reason, and choose freely. Because of this, humans are given stewardship over creation and the responsibility to develop morality. Human dignity is inherent, inviolable, and inalienable - it cannot be taken away or degraded as it is sacred. As relational beings, humans exist in relationship with God, others, and the world. They are also embodied subjects and historical subjects. While uniquely original, all humans share a fundamental equality. Ethics considers both the being of a moral agent through virtues and character, and their doing through duties and actions.

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71 views22 pages

Human Being: The Dignity of The

Human dignity is rooted in being created in the image and likeness of God. This likeness refers to qualities like the ability to think, reason, and choose freely. Because of this, humans are given stewardship over creation and the responsibility to develop morality. Human dignity is inherent, inviolable, and inalienable - it cannot be taken away or degraded as it is sacred. As relational beings, humans exist in relationship with God, others, and the world. They are also embodied subjects and historical subjects. While uniquely original, all humans share a fundamental equality. Ethics considers both the being of a moral agent through virtues and character, and their doing through duties and actions.

Uploaded by

Justine Cruz
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE DIGNITY OF THE

HUMAN BEING
To have dignity means:

to have worth and value.


HUMAN DIGNITY
• The inviolable dignity of every human person. . . is the
most precious possession of an individual, [whose]
value comes not from what a person 'has' as much as
from what a person 'is' " (CL 37).

But other creatures have dignity


too, so what’s so special with
human dignity?
This worth and value of the human
person is rooted in his creation in
the image and likeness of God.
This likeness does not refer to a physical
resemblance, for who can describe the
physical features of God. Rather, the likeness
refers to qualities which we believe God has,
based on His works we see around us.
These qualities include:

The ability to think (reason)


The ability to choose (will)
…to choose to love
…to choose to relate
with others
IMPORTANT TEACHINGS ABOUT
MORALITY

• Because we are made in the divine image


and likeness of God, we are given
stewardship over all of creation, we have
the responsibility to develop a sense of
morality,
and to live a
moral life.
The characteristics of our human dignity:

INHERENT
It means that human dignity is naturally
associated with a person
or thing,
as an essential
characteristic.
The characteristics of our human dignity:
INVIOLABLE
It means that human dignity cannot and must
not be violated
[ all kinds of violations ]
or disturbed.
The inviolable dignity of every human person.
. . is the most precious possession of an
individual, [whose] value comes not from
what a person 'has' as much as from what a
person 'is' " (CL 37).
The characteristics of human dignity:

INALIENABLE
It means that human dignity cannot be
transferred
or taken away.
Our human dignity, therefore, is
part of us. It is to be treated as
something SACRED,
and no one
can degrade it.
HUMAN DIGNITY

• Christ reveals how the essential dignity of all persons is grounded


directly on their origin, meaning and destiny. We believe all
persons are created by God in His image and likeness (cf. Gen
1:26) through our Lord Jesus Christ, "through whom everything
was made and through whom we live" (1 Cor 8:6). We believe all
are redeemed by the blood of Christ (cf. Eph 1:7; Col 1:14), and
are sanctified by the indwelling Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 8:14-16; 1 Cor
6:19). We believe all persons are called to be children of God (cf.
1 Jn 3:1), destined for eternal life of blessed communion with the
Father, His Risen-Incarnate Son, and their Holy Spirit (cf. CCC
1692).
CHARACTER OF THE HUMAN PERSON
1. Relational Being

To be human person is to be essentially directed


towards others.

Human persons need to live in social groups with


appropriate structures which sustain human dignity
and the common good.

The fundamental conviction of our faith is that


human life is fulfilled in knowing, loving, and
serving God in communion with others.
Human Person:
The Subject of Morality
• Relational Being:
Human existence is born of
relationship and nurtured by
it. To be a human person is
to be essentially directed
towards others. We are
communal at our core.

Personal existence then,


can never be seen as an
“I” in isolation, but always “….male and female, He
as “I” and “you” in created them.”
relationship. (Gen 1:26-27)
CHARACTER OF THE HUMAN PERSON

• As a relational being, we relate to the


following:
• 1. We relate to the Supreme Being
• 2. We relate to ourselves
• 3. We relate to the universe
• 4. We relate to the people around us
• 5. We relate to the events/situations
CHARACTER OF THE HUMAN PERSON

2. Embodied Subject

As a subject, means he is in charge of his life.


Empowered to act according to his conscience,
freedom and knowledge.

The moral implication of the person as subject is


that no one may ever use humans an object or as
a means to an end.
CHARACTER OF THE HUMAN PERSON

3. Historical Subject

Relentlessly temporal, seizing each opportunity of


the present moment as part of a progressive
movement toward our full human development.

Ever moment of life is in tension with the past and


the future when we integrate our past into the
person we are becoming we move into the future not
only with sense of integrity but also with coherent
sense of direction.
CHARACTER OF THE HUMAN PERSON

4. Fundamentally Equal but Uniquely Original

While everyone shares certain common features of humanity,


each one does so differently and to different degree.

Dispositions, mark our unique character.


Our intention or the basic direction of our actions governed
by our knowledge and freedom, puts the distinctive mark of
personal style on what we do.

Even though we appeal to the same objective norms in


relation to the same issue, each of us will only be able to live
up to the norm and respond to issue according to his capacity.
CHARACTER OF THE HUMAN PERSON
2 DIMENSIONS OF THE MORAL AGENT: THE HUMAN
PERSON

A. Ethics of Being

- Interiority of the person.


- It pays attention to what is happening to the
person performing actions rather than on the
actions the person performs.
- It focuses on the beliefs/ philosophies we live by,
the intentions we have, on the pattern of actions
- It asks. What sort of person should I become
because I believe in Christ?
- Sort of persons we ought to be.
- Character
B. Ethics of Doing

- Interiority of the person get expressed in


behavior.
- Actions are always expression of a person’s being .
- Right actions come from a good person.
- Attends not only to the duties and obligations of
the person acting but also to the circumstances
which make up the moral situation.
- It asks. What sort of action should I perform
because I believe in Christ?
- Sort of action we ought to perform.

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