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Shared with Animals

Because of the physical dimension of human nature, we share with animals the physical faculties such as the five senses, appetites (drives) for physical goods and emotions.

Knowledge of the Physical World

The five senses are our primary way of gaining knowledge. They helps us to know primarily about the physical world, but secondarily about spiritual truths. Sense knowledge lays the foundation for all human experience.

Desire for Physical Goods

When properly ordered, the physical appetites drive us to get what we perceive to be good for our bodies and to avoid what we perceive to be evil for our bodies.

 

Emotions

Emotions are the felt response of the sense appetite toward a perceived good or evil. Their purpose is to motivate us - to set up in motion" to gain what we perceive to be good or to avoid what we perceive to be evil. While emotions are not unique to humans (animals do have emotions), human emotions are uniquely connected to the spirit and so are deeper and more complex.

Living a Truly Human Life

Being truly human does not mean suppressing the physical dimension of our nature, but balancing it and subjecting it to the spirit.