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Human nature as the principle of pedagogical practice in the work of Živan Bezić
Draženko Tomić
; Učiteljski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Sažetak
The article examines the understanding of human nature in the work of Živan Bezić (1921–2007), scholar and writer, professor of pastoral theology and occasionally of pedagogy, moral theology and ascetics, missiology and parish administration at the School of Theology in Split, author of more than three hundred scientific articles, mainly in the field of ethics, ascetics, and pedagogy. Although Bezić has not discussed human nature systematically, he has touched upon this topic in several of his works, especially in the books Kršćansko savršenstvo (Christian Perfection, 1986) and Etika i život (Ethics and Life, 1995).
Nature (fyzis, natura) implies the omnientirety of the material and biological reality inherent in the world which is not the fruit of human action. Entirety of all beings constitutes a natural order, while the natural perfection is the fulfilment of all goods that belong to the nature of a particular being. Bezić uses the notions ‘priroda’ and ‘narav’ as synonyms for ‘nature,’ which implies an inner, unchangeable and essential structure of the being, the principle of the action of human being. When he speaks of laws, Bezić distinguishes the laws of nature from natural law. According to Bezić, the laws of nature (‘prirodni zakoni,’ leges naturae) are those which regulate the course of natural phenomena, characteristic of the organic, anorganic, material world, while, natural moral law (‘naravni zakon,’ lex naturalis moralis) is that which regulates the freedom of human behaviour. Bezić’s view does not greatly deviate from the traditional doctrine on human nature (‘narav’) as the principle of the action of human being with onthological and anthropological features, and nature (‘priroda’) as an extra-human, i.e. material, plant and animal world, that is, in the narrower philosophical sense, nature as an internal principle of conduct or action of a thing.
With regard to man and his nature, Bezić stands on the positions of the traditional scholastic doctrine, according to which natural law (‘naravni zakon’) is equal and binding for all people and all generations, i.e. enjoys universal value. Human nature (humanity, as Bezić would put it) is a special principle of human action. A man can be a man only in a human manner, i.e. in conformity with his nature. Human nature is good in itself, yet inconsistent. A particular feature of human nature is rationality, and thus only that which is rational can be natural in a man. Man also possesses another spiritual power – will, the good being its object. Nor should emotions be overlooked. Inherent in these powers are the functions of cognition, will and emotion. A man who has reared and cultivated to the utmost extreme all his physical, spiritual, psychophysical and moral abilities possesses natural perfection. Cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance) are acquired through exercise, have their natural purpose and add efficiency to action. Supernature Bezić defines as a perfection of nature, as a wholeness of all features that belong to a being, as a harmonious unity of all its components which constitute it and which serve the fulfilment of its purpose, by which he most probably and unintentionally equalizes supernature with natural perfection.
Questioned in the third part of the article is the educability of human nature, that is, the conceptual pair person – personality. Bezić argues against those who claim that human nature cannot be educated, but also those who claim that it is fully submissive to external influences. Worthy of mention is his saying: »education is neither impotent nor omnipotent«, implying that education is possible and efficient only within the bounds of the capability of human nature and the capability of society. Here Bezić touches upon the construction of human personality. Personality is a human person with its specific spiritual physionomy which accomplishes the wholeness of its humanity. It is primarily composed of the consciousness of one’s own self and individuality.
The study of human nature, including that of Bezić, may find its application in ethics, where human nature is set as one of the moral sources. The study of nature may also find its place in educational disciplines, because education ought be based on human nature, whereby one should not disregard the fact that every form of education takes place in a concrete society and for a concrete society. Bezić’s exposition on nature is also significant for the development of human personality, because it is infused with optimism and faith into the possibility of a fully accomplished human personality.
Ključne riječi
Živan Bezić; human nature; person; personality; education
Hrčak ID:
241048
URI
Datum izdavanja:
25.6.2020.
Posjeta: 2.277 *