Artificial Birth Control: What Does It Mean To Be Human?

There are a lot of great things about being a human, like taking a deep breath of fresh air while on a hike, experiencing the ups and downs of love, or getting wrapped up in a good book. These are a few of things that the average human will likely get the chance to experience during their lifetime. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to experiences that a human receives, but what does it really mean to be ‘human’? Philosophers and theologians have debated this topic for years, because people want to understand what makes us human - likely so that they can better understand their purpose in life. The facets of being human are countless, resulting in the formation of a variety of ideas and opinions when it comes to what this really …show more content…
It is justified when the Pope says that birth control is bad because it is impeding God’s will by hindering biological processes that God made, thus making use of artificial birth control morally evil. While this is, in fact, the main point of the reading, the applicable portion to being human is presented when Modras writes, “the human condition, finite and fallen, marred by sin, does not always allow the luxury of an ideal situation in which all values are able to be maintained” (Modras 290). This brings to mind the question of the human condition, as well as whether or not values are ever truly able to be maintained. Considering the fact that humans are marred by sin, and have the opportunity to exercise free will, the values can be maintained; it is ‘doable’, just incredibly difficult. I feel the Pope is saying that people get caught up in what is best for them and what is going to benefit them immediately, rather than what is the right thing to do in the long run. I think that the Pope and Modras are both justified in saying that all parts of an act must be good, because it puts emphasis on the entirety of the act; just because we have the freedom of will to do something that makes our lives easier does not necessarily mean that we should do it. In this reading, the Pope and Modras are saying that we are human because of free …show more content…
First of which, is the similarities between Arendt’s action and personalism mentioned in Modras’ paper. Arendt’s action talks about how humans use free will to interact socially in the community, while personalism is the approach that Modras takes to help to defend the pope. According to Vatican II’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, human persons are “radically social beings who develop full potential only within human relationships” (Modras 283). It is very important for humans to interact with one another, and the way in which they do that is what shapes the community they live in, as well as the society that they create. These relationships are so important and are strong as they can be, due to the strong emotional component of our being. Another concept that a few readings had between them was that determining whether or not being on planet Earth makes us human. Arendt writes, “The earth is the very quintessence of the human condition, and earthly nature, for all we know, may be unique in the universe in providing human beings with a habitat in which they can move and breathe without effort and without artifice” (Arendt 2). In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the same concept is challenged. Ultimately, I think that Earth has become a part of our identity as it does provide perfect conditions for us to live and thrive, as