- The dimensions of the human being
- Biological or physical dimension of the human being
- Social or socio-political dimension of the human being
- Emotional or affective dimension of the human being
- Cognitive or intellectual dimension of the human being
- Spiritual or moral dimension of the human being
We explain what the dimensions of the human being are and what the biological, social, emotional, cognitive and spiritual dimensions are like.
The dimensions of the human being
When speaking of human dimensions or dimensions of the human being, you are usually referring to the different spheres of existence of the life human, that is, to the different areas of life that constitute our existence and that we can cultivate to a greater or lesser degree.
In other words, these "dimensions" are what make up the complexity of the human being, whose existence involves a set of powers and possibilities much more vast and diverse than those to which animals aspire. They are understood as dimensions since each one proposes its own perspective of the human being, despite the fact that they always exist at the same time.
The human dimensions are of particular interest to education and psychology, since they allow us to understand in a holistic the human being, that is, in its totality, being able to prioritize its different fundamental aspects and better understand how they are organized, how they operate or which ones receive priority in certain circumstances.
However, there is no consensus regarding which or how many are these fundamental dimensions of the human being. Depending on the author consulted, they may vary between three, four, five and even eight different dimensions, depending on how many different layers of human existence are taken into consideration, that is, on how broad or specific our gaze is.
In this article we will try to propose an intermediate vision, neither too general nor too specific.
Biological or physical dimension of the human being
This dimension refers to our existence as living creatures, that is to say, what we traditionally understand as our body itself, separated from our mind or our spirit. Therefore, our most "basic" or "animal" aspects are part of the biological dimension, such as the satisfaction of our vital needs (hunger, thirst, etc.) or our instincts (reproduction, etc.).
In addition, in this dimension the human being is understood as a body, that is, as a biological and biochemical machinery, which requires care, attention and is susceptible to diseases. Taking care of this aspect of ourselves goes through food, physical activity, hygiene, etc.
Social or socio-political dimension of the human being
The sermon of John Donne (1572-1631) is famous regarding that “no person It is an island ”, that is, human beings cannot live alone, but we are gregarious beings who tend to group together and form communities. In fact, this aspect of our species played a vital role in its dominance in the prehistoric world.
Thus, the social dimension refers to our interaction with others, that is, to our social life and the role we play within the network of contacts, exchanges, associations and dynamics that make up our community. The family, the friendships, work groups, everything in our life occurs socially and attention to this aspect of ours is key to our overall well-being.
Emotional or affective dimension of the human being
Emotionality and the affective world is the next dimension of the human being to consider, in which our internal world of feelings, affective ties and other drives that facilitate social interaction has a place. They represent our most primitive and rudimentary way of thought, that is, our most essential way of connecting with the world.
Emotions and affections are essential for our well-being as individuals, and managing them is key to our performance in life. societyAn emotionally frustrated individual will find it difficult to carry out tasks for which he is otherwise well suited.
On the other hand, affective life is usually defined based on interaction with others, especially during childhood and childhood. adolescence, key formative stages for the individual. Unfortunately, this aspect of us does not always receive due attention, and it often gets in the way of the more refined or complex aspects of our thinking.
Cognitive or intellectual dimension of the human being
What distinguishes the human being from the animals, precisely, is their capacity for reasoning, deduction, deep understanding of the reality surrounding area, and the possibility of using the creativity to design solutions based on what is observed. To all this, in one way or another, we call it "intelligence"Or" reason. "
Reasoning is a unique and particular dimension of our species on the planet. It is closely linked to language and the capacity for abstraction and representation.
Therefore, it is also the result of the accumulation and exchange of information that characterizes us. For millennia we have tried to systematize it through schools, academies and different societies of the knowledge, whose historical role is to preserve and transmit knowledge from generation to generation in an efficient way.
Thus, the intellectual life of the human being is the one that has to do with his intellectual formation, his reasoning capacity and his handling of the knowledge that he needs to lead an existence as full as possible.
Spiritual or moral dimension of the human being
One of the most difficult aspects to define of the human being is what has to do with his sense of transcendence, that is, with those values and aspects of the existence of type moral, which obey the need to answer the question about good and evil.
What is living a good life? What does it mean to do wrong? How should human beings organize themselves so that the world is a "good" place for themselves and for other species? What responsibilities does his ability to think bring to the human being?
Questions like these have always accompanied the human being, in his quest to discover a truth essential and fundamental of universe. They have been commissioned by philosophers, religious and artists alike, each immersed in their historical moment and their cultural context, to try to propose a ethical code and moral, that is, a "correct" way of living, in accordance with the designs of a God, a law or one tradition.
Thus, the moral or spiritual dimension of the human being has to do with their ability to feel part of a harmonious vision of the world, that is, to find their place in the order of things, something that cannot be found through cognitive life or social life only. In its own way, art also aspires to answer these questions, through its own complex language: painting, music, literature, etc.