Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person by Roberto D. Abella, M.Div., D.Min.

Chapter 8- Human Person as Oriented Toward their Impending Death

How does the reality of death define our lives?

Death is commonly understood as the end of bodily functions which signals the end of a person’s life. It
also refers to the separation of the body and the spirit. As mentioned earlier, the human person is an embodied
spirit. The body, being material, is bound by the laws of time and space and is subject to growth, death, and
decay. The spirit, being immaterial, will continue to exist even after the body has passed.

It is true that a person’s spiritual nature allows him or her to transcend his or her temporality and
physical limits. However, we also cannot deny the material nature of the person, that he or she is still bound by
the same laws of nature and reality that apply to all objects in existence. Everything that came to being in this
universe will eventually come to an end. We are born into human life, we grow and age, and we eventually die.
This paradox defines the uniqueness of human existence.

It can be said that we are also beings who are moving towards our impending death. This makes a
person’s life limited in time. The focus on this limit has led to several attitudes towards death. There are people
who deny the idea of human decline and death. Some people rely on anti-aging treatments and products to
make them look, feel, and think that they are younger than they really are. Others focus on experiencing intense
moments and feelings in order to feel alive because no one really knows when life will end. This has given rise
to various expressions such as #YOLO (You Only Live Once) and "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we
die." Additionally, people also put great importance to speed and efficiency we are concerned about doing more
things in a shorter span of time so we can do more in a lifetime. We find means and ways to travel faster and do
things more efficiently by spending less time and energy because We wish to experience more of the world.

These attitudes are not necessarily bad but they may prevent us from reflecting on the reality of death.
We must embrace the fact that death is an integral part of our life. Once We have come to terms with that, we
can focus not just on the quantifiable aspects of life (eg., years lived, material things owned) but also on its
quality. Ultimately, the acceptance of our temporality can bring about
a sense of freedom in us. It can also give us a clearer purpose and
focus on our activities. Since we cannot do everything in our lifetime,
We must be able to reflect on what we need to do and identify the
goals we need to achieve so we can say that we have lived a
meaningful existence.

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Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person by Roberto D. Abella, M.Div., D.Min.

How should I live my life before it finally ends?

Understanding the person as a being-towards-death brings us back to a very important topic: freedom. It
has been discussed previously that the essence of freedom is self-determination the capacity to choose and act
for oneself. While there is no freedom in the inevitability of death, a person can still exercise freedom in
choosing how to face the reality of death in their lives. For example, a person cannot stop himself from growing
old. However, he or she can choose to embrace aging gracefully. You may have seen older people who take
pride in their gray hairs, wrinkles, and the fact that they have grandchildren. Other people, however, take a
different path and use any means to mask their physical aging such as getting cosmetic surgery or availing of
“age-defying" treatments.

As biological beings bound by natural laws and the inevitability of death, we cannot stop aging and the
eventual decline of our bodies. However, we can definitely choose to spend our lives doing good and
reasonable things or even go against what is good. The person, therefore, is the author and protagonist who
determines the development and conclusion of his or her life story.

The temporal existence of a person means that his or her life is temporary; he or she is not a being who
exists permanently and for eternity. Accepting the fact that we have a limited time in this world allows us to
determine the course of our life to paint a picture of how our life will progress and how we envision it to end.
While most people would prefer to not have any sort of limit, it makes perfect sense to appreciate the beauty of
something as it is framed within certain lines. The key idea is that we all have a vocation to live life in the best
possible way that we can by being excellent persons. It would be nearly impossible to measure this, but look at
how having a finish line makes us appreciate the efforts of runners even more than if there was none in the first
place. Ordinarily, we celebrate the fastest runner, but we can also appreciate the runner who improved the most
given the same set of conditions" '

Temporality challenges us to make choices that will be good for us and the people around us. It must
also be noted that since we have a body, we are always in the moment we exist in the here and now. The person
is always in the present although his spiritual nature allows him to transcend the present. Whenever we make a
choice. we cannot

What makes you happy?

What brings you happiness? Is it the food you eat? The clothes you wear? The gadgets you own? The
achievements you reap as a student? The moments you spend with your family and friends?

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Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person by Roberto D. Abella, M.Div., D.Min.

Ancient Greek philosophy considers happiness as an achievement and it must be gained by living a
productive and moral life. Religious philosophers consider happiness as a union with God. Other contemporary
views define happiness as “whole-life satisfaction,” based on our evaluation of our overall life experiences.
Ethics plays a significant role in defining the means to achieve happiness. Various philosophical views
emphasize the importance of setting worthwhile goals in life to achieve personal happiness. Happiness also has
a social element, as we should not only be concerned about our own happiness but also the well-being of
others.

As we understand ourselves better, we also come to realize that happiness is a state of being and not
merely an emotional experience or a chosen mental attitude. We do not really choose happiness because we all
have a tendency towards it, but that we choose the means to achieve it. What makes a person happy is that
which fits his nature we are made truly happy by things that are true and good. On the other hand, what is false
and evil does not make a person happy.

As an embodied spirit. we must also consider the goods or sources of happiness which are proper to a
person. A noble good is one which is pursued for its own sake; it is good in itself. Love and friendship are some
examples. A useful good is considered good so long as it serves as a means to an end; its goodness is found
only from what it can provide. For example, money is good as it can buy you something. Finally, a pleasurable
good is good so long as it provides some form of pleasure, though it does not have to be physical. It must be
understood that a specific good cannot be categorized strictly under one kind. For example, friendship may be a
noble good because it is good to be a friend to someone. However, pursuing it with incorrect intentions (e.g.,
befriending someone for academic or career advancement) makes it only a useful good.

The kind of happiness that can be gained from a good is also closely tied to its nature. For example,
material things may satisfy bodily needs and can somehow make a person happy, but they cannot provide
permanent happiness because what is material will fade over time. On the other hand, friendship is a noble
good and definitely provides a more permanent kind of happiness.
Happiness from a material thing diminishes as soon as you have it,
while happiness gained from friendship only grows as it progresses.
This brings uss to a very important lesson in life: real happiness can
be found in more permanent and meaningful things.

Why do we suffer?

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Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person by Roberto D. Abella, M.Div., D.Min.

When was the last time you experienced suffering? What was the reason behind it? How did you overcome
it? Suffering takes place when we patiently endure unpleasantness, discomfort, and pain. It can come in the
form of physical suffering, when we experience physical sensations such as discomfort, hunger, distress, and
pain. These are often caused by injury, disease, and the lack of basic needs. It can also be in the form of mental
suffering, which involves emotional and mental states such as depression, anxiety, fear, loneliness, and grief.
These may be caused by unexpected situations in life such as sudden changes in lifestyle, loss of employment,
stressful situations, and grief caused by the death of a loved one. The tension between what a person is and
what he wants to be may also be an experience of suffering.

We normally experience difficulties in life, and how we deal with them is often determined by our
mindset regarding suffering. Generally, suffering is viewed as an undesirable condition, and that we naturally
seek pleasure and avoid pain. Those Who adopt this perspective often focus on the various means to avoid
suffering or eliminate it entirely from life. Another view considers suffering as necessary because it helps
existence.

How do happiness, suffering, and death give meaning to your life?

As we approach our death, we experience both happiness and suffering. Although these are distinct
experiences, the two are not really meant to be complete Opposites, for there may be instances _when they
enrich one another. The pursuit of happiness requires that we go through the effort to achieve it. Our efforts are
often marked by difficulties and discouragement.

For example, a person who wishes to pass his or her exams must spend time to study and exert effort to
perform well in his or her academic tasks. Athletes who wish to become the best in their sports often
experience hardships in training, injuries, and several setbacks before they are able to gain victory. Look back
at an achievement in your life which you consider your most significant triumph. Certainly, that victory was
coupled with trials and difficulties, but that victory was made more significant and "sweeter" by the fact that
you were able to surmount the challenges you faced.

If we are willing to suffer through adversities and maybe even suffer cheerfully, it makes the pursuit of
happiness even more worthwhile. As a result, we not only attain the happiness that we want, but we also
become better persons in the process. The reality of death means that our existence is unique and that we will
not always get another chance to do the things we want in this life. Therefore, we should not easily give up on
the pursuit of good things. Reflecting on the reality of death enables us to think of how we can best live a

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Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person by Roberto D. Abella, M.Div., D.Min.

meaningful life. We can strive to leave behind a legacy either in the form of an inheritance, a reputation, or a
significant achievement.

We have the tendency to form bonds with others. This is in our nature as human persons. This also
means that we also find meaning in life when We open ourselves to others. Therefore, We have an opportunity
not only to enrich our lives but also to touch the lives of others. A person lives a truly meaningful life when he
or she lives in unity and harmony with others. Although we are different from each other, we are all made to
love and serve one another. People are able to become truly great when they live for people other than
themselves. When we have genuine relationships with others, we not only share in each other's happiness but
we also bring happiness to others. We also share in each other's suffering and help each other in difficult times.
We eventually become part of someone else's life, and we are able to live on in them in the same way that those
whom we hold dear live on in our lives. When a person passes away, he or she continues to live on because a
part of that person is now with us.

Because of our freedom, how we choose to live our lives is entirely up to us. Against the backdrop of
death, we are now called to use our freedom in the best way possible to bring us closer to our happiness and
bring happiness to others as well. Our lives are works in progress, stories in the process of being written, and
songs that are about to be sung. Life is a gift given to each person and it is important to turn this life into a gift
for others as well.