The Nature of Man as Born Philosophers

The Nature of Man as Born Philosophers

To begin with, why do we question at all? As rational beings, we are meant to philosophize in such a way that we think, feel and are capable. At some point or another, we have been in deep thought that we often look beyond any questions raised. Heidegger quoted that “Questioning of man is a questioning out beyond man as he ordinarily appears to be.” 1 I agree to this statement because all man by nature desire to know. Even if we are not capable of doing anything, we still long to see everything. We are not contented; we continue to live out the best of today more than yesterday. We even philosophize on the verge of our existence. Our concern is trying to understand ourself but self is our greatest enemy, it’s because of self that we start to philosophize.

With the coming and predominance of Christianity, reason was with the companion of faith.2 In St. Augustine’s view, reason is not single but double, not unique but divided in nature.3 Since man is part of nature and nature is the creation of God, we being the noblest creation of God are created in His image and likeness and because of the fall of man, death came to all men because all sinned.

1 .Martin Heidegger, The Essence of Human Freedom, An Introduction to Philosophy: Man as Site of Fundamental Question , trans. Ted Sadler (Vittorio Klostermann, Frankfurt am Main, 1982), 89

2. Manuel B. Dy, Jr, Philosophy of Man: Existentialism and Man’s search for Meaning (Makati: Good Will Trading Co, Inc.,2001), 31

3. Lecture delivered by Ruby S. Suazo,PhD about The Crisis on Man’s Knowledge of Himself: Distorted “Reason” (July, 2011)

In line with this, Kraye noted that “death is without doubt an evil; but, as I have said elsewhere, it is an evil not of wrongdoing, but of punishment”.4 If God is good, why would He create such evil? God did not create evil, Adam was created in the image and likeness of God. However, when Adam’s family began after the fall (presence...