John Aldous Cascon

Associate in Philosophy

I. Discuss how, throughout history, the importance of the human person has evolved. Your
answers must be based on the assigned articles in our course, our class lectures, and additional
philosophical works you have encountered on the said topic. I will also look into how you explain
the transition from ancient philosophical understanding of the human person to the succeeding
eras such as medieval philosophy, modern philosophy (concentrate on Descartes), and the
more recent existential-phenomenological approach that characterizes the articles from our
course textbook.

The importance of human person has evolved throughout the time. From understanding the
world, the being – soul & body, the age of enlightenment (metanarratives) up until the
Philosophers critique modernity and structuralism, the study of the ultimate causes and
principles of human person progressed. Some may have focused on the activities that set
human apart from animals and other organisms. And, others make use of the principles of
human understanding and being itself. There were questions which cannot be either observed
or measured according to the restricted scientific norms, thus, made the study and investigation
of human person more interesting.

Philosophy challenges us that one must philosophize. What sets us apart from animal is our
intellectual power and will. Animal on the other hand only has sensation and perception. We, as
humans have the ability to understand, judge and reason. As a human being, we often consider
and classify people according to our knowledge of their abilities, talents or skills.

For example, we refer our co-seminarian as a musician, singer or sometimes as a dancer.

There were times that we give them moniker because of their giftedness. Let’s say Sarah
Geronimo is a singer, Manny Paquiao is a boxer and Carlos Yulo is a gymnast. The activities
and abilities are ascribed to that individual and that individual is the ultimate subject of all the
acquired skills and activities. We then say that human as an individual is perfected and qualified
by the activities, habits and skills that they possess. However these does not constitute the
individual, rather, abilities are only perfection of powers that predate the existence of abilities.

John Kavanaugh S.J, shared on his discipline of personhood that we humans are evolutionary
event. We’re not only influenced by the past but we are also proactive in judging and evaluating
the present. The art of questioning makes us human, that is our complete reflective act of
consciousness. As humans, we’re fond of asking questions since the time of our awareness.
Not only do we ask questions, but we do so continuously and about everything. Philosophical
questions originates from wondering which we can root back from the Greeks, which will be
discussed thoroughly later. Why do we questions then? Because question always reveals to us
not that something is known but also that something is unknown.

To understand more the human person, let us now trace back how its philosophy evolved
throughout the time. Ancient Philosophy is primarily concern with the Cosmos, but that however
is inseparable to us human as we are considered part of the nature. The Socratic Method helps
us to appreciate more the art of questioning or inquiry because Socrates always answer
questions by questions that leads not only the search about the universe but also the truth about
man. Moving forward to the Medieval Perspective of man, the period where Christians defended
their faith against heretics. This is the time where the play of faith, reason and philosophy is
significant. As we discussed earlier, humans has the cognitive and volitional capacity, it is the
ability to judge, reason and philosophize. With this, I can say that this period was characterized
by the use of faith, religion as the basis of assessing things to be true and acceptable. To quote,
John Aldous Cascon
Associate in Philosophy
St. Clement of Alexandria called Philosophy then as a handmaid theology, thus made this era
theocentric. It is also said that philosophy cannot reach that which seems to be beyond its
capacity of explaining, thus, at the end of the day, faith will always be there to finish its job. Man
was viewed to be a creation of God bound by his Will and purpose. However, since it is
bounded by faith, the introjection of judgment and reasoning is limited.

Going to the Modern Philosophy, Rene Descartes is famous for his universal methodic doubt
which tells us the idea and the need for man to doubt everything except doubting itself. “Cogito
ergo sum”. He explained that one should not accept thing to be true without passing judgement
and reasoning. For me, it is also part of the art of questioning we discussed, it could be part of
the investigation but for himself alone. Existentialist would rather invite us to ask similar
questions but seek the answer for ourselves. I can cite some examples that would help us
understand more how existentialist thinks:
- I’ve been in to theater since I was 9 years old. I performed on different stages such as
CCP (Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo) and Meralco Theater. One lesson that I would
always remember is to act not to impose what the script says but to let the audience
paint what message I would like to deliver. Through the lens of an existentialist, the
audience reaction won’t matter, they would focus more on the actor, what he did and
what could be the reason.
- I am hungry and I am craving for a baguette topped with tomato dressing, basil leaves
and some jammed strawberries. When I arrived at the restaurant, I saw a friend coming
over. I convinced him to order the same so we get to share the bill. He then said yes, but
still on top of what I like, he ordered ice cream because he’s craving for that too.
Through the lens of an existentialist, man is still manipulable or controllable by the
others. However, man on his own is capable of deciding on his own.
- When I was in college, I’m torn between entering the seminary of taking Business
Management from a well known University. As much as I want to pursue the life in
seminary, I cannot just leave my parents alone that time since my parents are still
grieving because of my brother’s death. That time, no one could actually give me an
answer since both causes could lead me to a better future. Therefore, I decided on my
own, I took up Business Management and still live with my parents. So my choice, no
matter what it was, was the only true choice, provided that I made authentic. Because it
was determined by the values I chose to accept.
Having said all of these examples, I then say that existentialism is a true search for meaning
within. But you have to experience, discover and explore more yourself outside. This search for
meaning is a life-time task; to seek, discern and eventually decide for ourselves.

Now, moving on existential-phenomenological approach, we can say then the richness of

human nature is to go back to its original experience, independent of any prejudices. The
approach here is holistic, it describes man from what is properly human and it proceeds from
the internal to the external. It is always about the totality of a human experience. For example,
we consider language as an embodiment of thinking, thought and culture. Let’s take the
experiential learning that Lumad’s use as a method of education. If you ask them what an
“eggplant” is, they would say it in their native tongue or some will describe and tell you how it
looks like. They might not be able to articulate what it is, as long as you understand each other,
then it is acceptable and justifiable on this approach.

From this consecutive series of explanation of understanding how important the nature of man
is, we can see how every human being is endowed with two powers: intellective power and
volitional power. It is the main foundation of our evaluation, judgement and reasoning.
John Aldous Cascon
Associate in Philosophy
II. Choose one article that we have discussed and write a reflection paper about it. Remember
that you are writing a philosophical paper on the course Philosophical Anthropology. (not more
than 3 pages)

Insight
By Roque Ferriols, SJ.

As the author said, insight is a kind of seeing with the mind. I came to think of a very popular
OPM song that made its listeners think and analyze the lyrics beyond the given text. The song is
“Spoliarium” by Eraserheads. Let’s try to dig deep every verse to understand more the
underlying issues the composer wants to convey. This could be a good example of metaphor,
one kind of techniques for doing something with an insight.

[Verse 1]
Dumilim ang paligid
May tumawag sa pangalan ko
Labing isang palapag
Tinanong kung okay lang ako
Sabay abot ng baso, may naghihintay
At bakit ba pag nagsawa na ako
Biglang ayoko na

The meaning of the first verse is pretty much obvious. She doesn’t know why she’s there.
Drinks were offered, she got drunk until she had an almost blurry vision. There’s a hint given
here, she was asked if she’s okay yet there’s no clear response given. Another question would
be, ‘what is that something waiting for her after a drink?’. Could it be a possible sexual abuse?
Let’s see from the coming verses.

[Chorus]
At ngayon, 'di pa rin alam
Kung ba't tayo nandito
Pwede bang itigil muna
Ang pag-ikot ng mundo

The spinning world is a sign that she’s really drunk. She’s almost unconscious and skeptic of
the reason why she’s there. She’s hoping to regain her consciousness. Could there be a
possible betrayal? Is this something planned and they just let her sink in their trap?

[Verse 2]
Lumiwanag ang buwan, San Juan
'Di ko na nasasakyan
Ang lahat ng bagay ay
Gumuguhit na lang sa 'king lalamunan

Moon shines bright at around 10pm. If we can look back at first verse, it was just around dawn.
She’s been there for more than 4 hours. San Juan is a city known for its night life. What is it that
she’s riding? Is it just about a conversation or a group of friends? Or she’s really riding in to
someone? The last two strands could be a clear description of sexual abuse.

[Pre-Chorus]
Ewan mo at ewan natin
John Aldous Cascon
Associate in Philosophy
Sinong may pakana?
At bakit ba tumilapon ang
Gintong alak diyan sa paligid mo?

Now here, it’s clear, she’s betrayed. “Gintong alak” is not a liquor, it was her. It was her that
caroused their throats.

[Verse 3]
Umiyak ang umaga
Anong sinulat ni Enteng at Joey diyan
Sa gintong salamin, 'di ko na mabasa
Pagkat merong nagbura

And this could be the most controversial part, Enteng could be the famous Vic Sotto who
portrayed the role ‘Enteng Kabisote’ and Joey as his comedy partner from a noontime show.

While the lyrics of Spoliarium is too abstract, this song has long been associated with alleged
rape case and suicide of Pepsi Paloma, a famous teen star that time. However, Ely Buendia
declined to acknowledge the true meaning of the song and even commented that he will “take
that secret till death”.

Let us observe each verse, it was not revealed consequently but clues were given to thread it
properly that help us sharpen our insight. Maybe this one is a combination of conceptual
analysis and metaphor. It’s also possible that we abstracted too much and went beyond the
necessary conceptual analysis and forgot to return to the concrete fullness of the original
insight.