Person Facing Person

Abstract

The author states that Christian philosophy is not merely a philosophy pursued by Christians or one in agreement with the faith; it is primarily, a philosophy which takes up questions suggested by theology. The problems of inter-personal relations were — according to the author — suggested by the Gospels which showed a trinitarian vision of God. Those considerations on the relations of the Persons in the Holy Trinity lead then to considerations of the relations existing among human persons. The dogma of the Holy Trinity amphasizes the communal character not only of Divine Persons but also of human beings. The author discusses extensively the analysis of values, pointing out that a person is the ultimate connecting point between a value and a being as being.

A personal being has its own needs for various values, itself representing a variety of values — both as substance and as a personal unit. Reality, in general, is not axiomatically neutral and, above all, no person is neutral in relation to personal objects possessing the same nature. It is a matter of opening towards mutual and interpersonal solidarity and affirmation which is proper to every person. People are not self-sufficient; they need many persons and things. They must serve others if they want to be served and what's more they seek for and find themselves outside themselves, behaving disinterestedly and unselfishly. All human matters are focused around the value of person as person.