ABSTRACT
This thesis examined the existential phenomenology of Acting Person for the realization of “Integral Human Development.” It is on the social relevance of human actions being fashioned by the contents of “human lived experiences” being expressed in “truth in right conscience and freedom.” Such concern for Integral human development is solely dependent on the ontological foundation of the human person as a being capable of acting, participating and becoming. It is on the existential understanding of natural law principle and morality in the exercises of human actions, with references to the valuation of truth through which integral human development is fully realised.
This thesis recognised that the contemporary world development has long been driven by dehumanizing actions in the names of creativities, innovations, policies and decisions making, and such acts are undermining the Otherness of Living. Therein, the thesis recognises that the adoption of an ontologized Ethics of Living inherent in Karol Wojtyla’s (Pope John Paul II) existential personalism, will help the human persons as Acting Persons to overcome dehumanizing actions and valued choices by proper and truthful expression of their lived experiences by instituting the courses of social order and justice, which will indispensably guarantee integral human development.
Through the Understanding of Wojtylan existential personalism, the thesis recognised the development of the world and the valuation of the human person has been hindered by the societal enthronement of wars and other forms of violence. With human actions, mankind fashions histories and controls the future through the cultivation of individualism, sectionalism, escapism and isolationism and misguided patriotism. Such actions are motivated by greedy and selfish interests and desires, and at such, the interests for violent conflicts and other forms of dehumanization question or interrogate the motivations or reasons on which human actions are carried out, and the modalities of which actions of the same persons who want rights to be respected, promoted and protected.
The methodology of the study is analytic (which is a theory of clarifying concepts and situating the meaning of concepts) cum hermeneutic (which is a theory of interpretations of concepts and meaning). Both methods were employed to assess Wojtylan transcendental/existential personalism for the realization of integral human development through effectual adoption of Otherness of Living. The thesis examines some existentialist/metaphysical cum phenomenological thoughts in order to clear the distinction between existence and essence on the one hand; and on the other hand, to show the necessary connection between existentialism and essentialism as a key towards the understanding of the human person. This stands at the core of Wojtylan Acting Person who is not only a being in himself/herself, but at the same, as a being with others.
Therefore, the thesis argued that the possibility of social order and justice resides in the existential phenomenology of the Acting Person by sustaining the Otherness of Living. It also owes that, only when the consciousness of Otherness of Living is adequately practiced through the truthful exercises of actions and valued choices that the human persons are integrally developed. With the phenomenology of Otherness of Living in truth as evident in the ontologised ethics of Living of Wojtylan existential personalism, the thesis concludes that social order and justice as an indispensable condition for world development dependent on fully integration and comprehension of the human person, by which the Culture of War and other acts of dehumanization will be overcome.
