INTEGRAL HUMANISM AND THE ESSENCE OF INTEGRAL EDUCATION

Resumen

The present work is an attempt to identify the authentic nature of man as a composition of body and soul, rather than an ordinary matter. The work argues that man is endowed with a spiritual dimension which elevates him over other temporal beings. His spirituality is the nexus between him and his maker, but without necessarily placing him on the same level with his maker. It is therefore imperative that he should be treated in the society in accord with his authentic being. The work is corroborated further with two classical philosophies: the school of idealism initiated by Socrates/Plato and that of realism spearheaded by Aristotle. While the former concentrates on the world of “forms and ideas”, the latter, on the other hand, concentrates on the practical world of concrete realities. The lesson to be drawn from both divergent perspectives is that in human life, one should go beyond the sensory organs in search of ulterior truths and immaterial values as idealism offers. From the realist approach on the other hand, he can live a concrete life by optimizing all that nature offers him and moderate same with the help of his intellect.