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Man As A Ruler Being in the World of Existence

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A Term Paper Presented to the Faculty of St. Francis Xavier College Seminary

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In Partial Fulfillment to the Requirements in Philosophy Of Man

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by Sem. Orville M. Zamora February 2010

Table OF Contents

Introduction

What is in man? Through out history, we can see that man is always the center and dominant creature in the world. This is very evident today as man rapidly advance in progress and in technology. With all these observable accomplishment, we can not deny that there must be something that man possess. This something must be particular to him. It must also be a possession that only man has endowed with. In the different field of study, we can learn that many would like to find answers to the question raise above. If we try to examine, it has been answered by different intellectuals most likely by the philosophers, through knowing the different concepts of man. Obviously, man is conceived and understood according to his very nature. Considering the way man is described, these are to be considered as concepts and attributes. In other words, these are man's inherent characteristics.

In the world of existence, we can reflect that man must possess something that makes him distinct from other beings. It is evident that man most likely differ from other beings like plants and animals. Even though we can observed that man and animals are likely the same when it moves. However, intelligible acts is still very observable that shows their great distinction. In this research, the researcher would like to give emphasis why man is considered a ruler being. As ruler being, this means that he is capable of ordering things. He has power to govern and put things subjects to him. In short, he is capable of living systematically and harmoniously with his fellow. The research will find an answer what is in man that makes him a ruler being in the world of existence. The research will find out too why man capable of ordering and governing things.

Chapter II Review of the Related Literature In this chapter, the researcher would like to know the different concepts about man. This concepts that are inherent in man, will answer to the issue and questions raise in the introduction. This will also clarifies the reason man is described as a ruler being in the world of existence.

Man as a person `	Our conception of man must be founded upon the conception of personality. True anthropology is bound to be personalized. Consequently, it is essential to understand the relation between personality an individuality. Individuality, is a naturalistic and biological category, while personality is a religious and spiritual one. An individual is part of species. It springs from the species although it can isolate itself and come into conflict with it. The individual is produce by the biological genetic process, it is born and it dies. But personality is not generated, it is created by God. It is God's conception, which springs up in eternity. Personality is a wholesome and unity possessing absolute and eternal worth. An individual may be lacking in such wholeness and unity, he may be disintegrated. Personality is a the image and likeness of God in man. That is why it rises above the natural life. It is spiritual and presupposes the existence of the spiritual world. The value of personality is the highest hierarchical value in the world, a value of spiritual order. It is essential to bear in mid that the value of personality presupposes the existence of the supernatural values and is indeed constructed by them. The idea of ideal values in personality is the concrete fullness of life.(Readings in Epistemology)

Man as different from animal Let us recognize the difference that exist between men and brutes. It is remarkable fact that there are none so depraved and stupid, without even excepting idiots, that they can't arrange different words together, forming a theme or statement by which they make known their thoughts. On the other hand, there's no other animal, however perfect and fortunately and circumstanced it may be , which can do the same. It isn't the want of organs that rings tis pass, for it is evident that magpies and parrots are able to utter words just like our selves, yet they can't speak as we do. That is, so to give evidence that they think of what they say. On the one had, men, who being born deaf and dumb, are in the same degree or even more than brutes, destitute of the organs which serve the others for taking, are in habit of themselves inventing certain signs by which they make themselves understood by those who, usually in their company who learn their language. This doesn't show that brutes have less reason than men, but that they have none at all. When we are notice the inequality that exists between animals of the same species, as well as between men, and observe that some are more capable of receiving instruction, it isn't credible that monkey or parrot, selected as the most perfect of its species, shouldn't in these matter equal the stupidest child to be found. We ought not to confound speech with natural movements which betray passions and may be imitated by machines as as be manifested y animals, nor must we think as did some of the ancients that brutes talk although we don't understand their language. For if these true, then they could communicate to us since they have many organs which are allied to our own. It is also remarkable fact that although many animals exhibit more dexterity than we do in some of their actions, we at the same time observed that they don't manifest any dexterity at all in many others. Hence, the fact that they do better than we do, doesn't prove they are endowed with mind. It rather shows that they have no reason at all. It is the nature which acts in them according to the disposition of their organs, just as clock, which is only composed of wheels and weights is able to tell the hours and measure the time more correctly than we do with all our wisdom. (Readings in Epistemology)

Man as a thinking and free being Like all animals, man also possess a brain. However, man has a mind or intellect. Man is intrinsically equipped with a capability to think. Man has senses which enable him to acquire knowledge through his body. Unlike the animals that is move by its instinct, man moves by the use of his intelligence through external and internal senses. Through his body, man possess nine senses. Five of which are known as vision, taste, smell, hearing, and touch are considered as external senses. Memory, imagination, consciousness, and instinct are considered as internal senses. This man's spiritual power is composed of intellect and will. It is man's mind or intellect consider as the knowing power or faculty. Now, we consider man as a thinking being. But, what is thinking? According to Babur, thinking can be construed in a three fold perspective. First, it is a mental activity. Second, as a mental activity, man thinks when he is in control of his mind. Man is in control of his mind when he makes use of his mind. Third, as man uses or controls his mind, he engages in an introspective or subjective empirical activity. Thus, thinking may occur when man come to grips with making a decision, searching or solving for the answer to a problem, remembering, reflecting, meditating, analyzing, evaluating, judging and interpreting. In thinking, man acquires understanding by these different processes. This is the reason why man is considered a rational being. As a rational and thinking being, man can act accordingly. Hence, man is a being that understands the reason of his existence and  the existence of other beings. (Readings in Epistemology)

After examining man as a thinking being, we will mow understand man as a free being. We said earlier that intellect and free will are man's spiritual power. Concretely, we would likely to ask what is this man's free will. According to the Wikepedia, free will is the power of making free choices that are unconstrained by external circumstances. Thus, man's will is his power of freedom to choose. Man acts accordingly by his free choice. Man is a being endowed with the gift of freedom. He knows he is free to perform or not to perform an action. Man therefore is a rational and free being.

Man a social being Man is a social being. As a social being, this implies that man is capable of associating himself with other fellow humans. It was Aristotle who described man as a social being  or(animal). The very reason why man considered a social being is because man is capable of communication. The communication tool of man is language. Without this fundamental tool man would be likely no more than better than animals. It is so for language is a communication of thoughts and feelings through a system of arbitrary signals, such as voice sounds, gestures, or written symbols. Man uses language in order to communicate. This is the reason why man is largely different from animals, because man has an intelligible communicative skill. .

Man and his dignity

The human person is endowed with dignity. This is deeply rooted in his creation in the image and likeness of God. The divine image is present in every man. It shines for in the communion of persons, in the likeness of the unity of the divine persons among themselves. Endowed with a “spiritual and immortal” soul, the human person is “the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake”. By his reason, he is capable of understanding the order of things established by his Creator. By his free will, he is capable of directing himself toward his true good. By virtue of his soul and spiritual powers of intellect and will, man is endowed with freedom, an outstanding manifestation of the divine image. ( CCC, Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Man, therefore is considered a ruler being in the world of existence. As a ruler being he is capable of harmonizing things intelligently. He doesn't only harmonize things, but also knows and                            and understand he appearance of his very being. He also have knowledge about  the  existence of things. Because of this man have a dominion over other creatures here on Earth.

In this sense, it is good to highlight the points that would consider and justify man as a ruler being. The first point is that man is a thinking being. As a thinking being,he is capable of rationalizing. He has this natural capacity to know and understand things. Man's rationality therefore is a fundamental element that brings man to rule the world. The other point is that man is capable of uniting himself with his fellow. Man is therefore a social being. As a social being he knows to live socially with his fellow. The third point is that man is considered a person. Man as a person means he has value and worth. This connect to the fourth point in which we consider man as  a free being and endowed with dignity. The dignity of man lies from the very heart that man is made in the image and likeness of God. Since man is made in God's image, personality brings forth. Man's personality has value. And this value is the highest hierarchical value and spiritual order in the world.

Finally, we can summarize this conclusion by quoting the words written in the book of Genesis. As what the book says, man is made in the image and likeness of God and all the creatures here on earth are under in man's control.

It is obvious that there is no one in this world that can surpass man's power. From the research, it is clear that man is the only creature endowed with different and unsurpassed talents. We can verify this distinction way back to the course of nature. Trees and animals hierarchical order of creatures.