Human Personhood – above all things and at the very base of our existence
Central to identity, spirituality and emotional balance is the development of Human Personhood. Personhood has several dimensions. One, it is the innate sense of morality that prevents us from becoming a danger to ourselves and to society. Rather it is that intrinsic judgement of right and wrong that stems from within even without any apparent training in regulations or compliance with law. Whether this is psychological or has a biological basis is still a matter of research, however it has been recognized that the complexity of our cerebral cortex is what separates us from other animals and it therefore follows that our rational reasoning and our emotional control help us tide over our beastly selves.
It is this understanding that is the basis of a civil society that consists of a working majority of law-abiding citizens not because they have all received education about all the laws and regulations (that are being constantly modified to make society better equipped to tackle breakdown and more protected against conflict with and the intervention of anti-social forces) but rather because society expects that every individual has a developed human personhood.
Our present education system is the means of formally preparing individuals in their area of expertise. However, the information explosion in our society today acts as a major influencer. At no other point in human history has such a force been unleashed. Internet, social media and broadcasting and sharing networks have exerted an overpowering influence on shaping personalities, societal attitudes and even daily interactions in more undesirable ways than their beneficial impact.
In this context the endeavours of Fr Dr Patrick M D’Souza assume relevance. Arising from his doctoral thesis, he has developed the World of Emotions program as a supplementary education program primarily with a view to giving college students more than just the training and education needed for attaining expertise in their chosen field of knowledge. What started as a personality development program slowly became an endeavour that could be extended to people from all walks of life.
Human Vs person – The Perspective
To the untrained and unaware student, “Human” and “Person” may have the same meaning but for the definers of human personhood there are two camps – one who believe that personhood follows from being human and the others who believe that it is the person that is more definitive and recognizable than merely just being human.
Imagine it in this way – foetuses, children, people in deep coma or a vegetative state would still be entitled to certain basic human rights such as the right to live, the right to growth and opportunity simply because they are humans even though they are not yet or no longer “persons.”
However, in yet another sense being persons gives us respect and allows us privacy and also makes us capable of making judgements, initiating actions and recognizing our duties and obligations towards others – in short awareness of one’s identity and one’s place in the world.
Whatever the perspective – it is imperative that Human Personhood encompasses both the “human” and the “person” elements.
Implications and relation to other disciplines
Apart from the obvious legal implications that first come to mind such as human rights, law abiding behavioral expectations, and assumption of moral character of an individual, there are other ramifications of human personhood – such as
- Ethical considerations in decisions, judgements, and actions
- Psychological development with respect to cognition, affective learning and degrees of intelligence
- Personality and the development of desirable traits such as integrity, honesty and empathy
- Organizational and managerial ramifications such as democratic processes, group behaviour, and industrial psychology processes.
Identity and Personhood
While identity is easily understood through physical, psychological and cultural perspectives, the cognition of personhood hinges on five core processes or criteria
- Consciousness
- Reasoning
- Self-awareness
- Motivated actions, and
- Communication
There is a divergence on whether these criteria emanate from the physical realm (Body theory), functional realm (Brain Theory) or as a result of retention of experiences (memory theory) or whether these criteria are indicative of a transcendental level of existence (soul theory)
The Ultimate Treasure
Whatever be the current analytical status of Human Personhood – it is undoubtedly a treasure that is with us. For it places us in a unique position to experience the world around us in a way that helps us strive for and attain happiness, fulfillment and peace.
It is with this aim that the endeavour towards enhancing human personhood – the unique initiative of Fr. Dr Patrick M D’Souza – must be viewed.
The importance of Fr. Dr. Patrick D’Souza’s work
His work must be viewed from the human perspective especially his efforts to make it into a supplementary education programme whereby it becomes a part of the learning and moulding of the individuals in their formative years. The conscious attempt to make it part of the education process is a unique contribution because it brings the subject down from its academic echelons and percolated its priceless precepts to the youth and therefore in real terms, he has brought the treasures of human personhood to them.