Philosophical Evolution of Human Nature

Humanism and the Greek Conception of Man

Sophocles, a Greek playwright, conceived that nothing is as wonderful as man. For Greek philosophers, the human being is admirable because he is a special part of nature, but is different from other natural beings. Plato believed that humans are dual beings, consisting of the body (material and mortal) and the soul (spiritual and immortal). He says the human being must constantly make an effort to get rid of everything that ties them to this world. Aristotle argues that man is a physical and biological being that has a vegetative soul, like the rest of the animals, and a sensitive soul. All his activities as a living creature are adapted to a greater determination. For Aristotle, man is a substantial unity—that is, a single reality in which we can distinguish, but not separate, two substances: body and soul. Moreover, humans are social by nature and, through reason and language, can establish what is right and wrong.

The Human Being in the Hellenic Era

Hellenism is the expansion of Greek culture to the East. With the decline of the polis, the human being is discovered as an individual—that is, as a unique and isolated being in the world, a particle of the cosmos. This era gave rise to new doctrines:

• Cynicism: Proclaiming that human beings should return to their original nature, which is the simple and spontaneous life of animals.
• Epicureanism: A model of monistic and materialistic anthropology. Everything which exists is composed of material atoms; therefore, humans are too. Upon the death of the body, the atoms become part of other bodies and souls.
• Stoicism: Says that we are a small part of the cosmos, so insignificant that we cannot choose our destiny; we are subjected to living without the ability to choose.

The Christian Conception of Man

Christianity is the first universalist religion of the West. It introduces some new ideas about man and his place in the world:

• All humans are equal and have the same dignity.
• Man was created free and rational.
• Human life has a transcendent meaning.

For Christianity, human beings need to be saved; they are born with sin and must be freed by Jesus Christ.

Man in the Renaissance

The Renaissance was a cultural renewal movement starting in Italy that ultimately affected how we understand science, art, philosophy, religion, and politics across Europe.