Understanding the Person: Dignity, Personalism, and Historical Perspectives

The Person as an End in Themselves

From a moral perspective, and stemming from fundamental postulates, Kant emphasizes the concept of the person. This definition of the human being underwent significant discussion from Scholasticism to Kant. According to Kant, the human being is only knowable as a moral entity. Moral law manifests in humans as an imperative, because the will is not subject solely to reason, but also to other influences like impulses and inclinations.

Kant distinguishes between two types of imperatives: the categorical imperative, where the action is presented without reference to any purpose and is the sole basis for moral law, and the hypothetical imperative, which represents an action as good in relation to achieving a specific end. The person, as an end in themselves, possesses absolute value by virtue of being a person. This value surpasses all other considerations, making them worthy of respect. To use people as a means to an end, according to Kant, is to deny their inherent dignity. A person's dignity is priceless.

Personalism

Emerging in the second half of the twentieth century, personalism is a philosophical movement that revisits the notion of the person, placing it at the center of philosophical inquiry. While not a rigidly defined philosophical model, personalism shares a core tenet: it offers a view of the person as a supreme value. Various strands exist within personalism. For instance, G. Marcel's essential personalism views the person as an existing and communicative being. M. Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological personalism conceives of the individual as constructing their identity. E. Mounier's Christian Personalism considers the human being as created to love and be loved. Ricardo Yepes, offering a free interpretation of personalism, asserts that the person needs to be understood.

Characteristics of the Person

The person embodies intimacy, representing the inner richness that facilitates self-knowledge. The person is in control of themselves and responsible for their actions. Freedom is a defining characteristic; life is not predetermined but a blank slate upon which each individual writes their own story. When a person shares their intimacy, they demonstrate another characteristic: the capacity to give. Love is the ultimate expression of this capacity. Dialogue, involving empathy and mutual enrichment, is another key feature. The person is capable of possessing, with virtue being the most valuable possession. The person is a seeker of happiness, finding fulfillment in aligning their desires with their lived experiences. The person's ability to work provides significant fulfillment. The person yearns for eternity, desiring to love and be loved forever, reflecting a religious dimension.

The Human Being in Ancient and Medieval Thought

The Human Being in Ancient Times

The word "person" originates from the Latin "persona" and the Greek "prosopon." The Latin term means "to sound the voice," while the Greek term referred to the masks worn by actors, which identified characters to the audience. These masks had openings to amplify the voice. In Roman law, the term "per se sonans" denoted a person who speaks for themselves and possesses rights. In ancient times, people were the privileged: nobles and those with possessions, excluding slaves, foreigners, and women.

The Human Being in Christianity

In Christianity, the term "person" undergoes a transformation, leading to different philosophical formulations regarding men and women. Christian philosophical contributions build upon Boethius' definition, a precursor to scholasticism, defining man as an "individual substance of rational nature." "Individual substance" emphasizes identity and existence itself; each person is unique and unrepeatable, yet open to others.