Body only
Ultimately what one takes as the extent of a person, or personhood, as well as which entities are acceptable for inclusion, the nature of that being's evolution and (if assumed) existence after death, can be defined both metaphysically and anthropocentrically. Here then are a few options:
Body Only
Body and Soul
The Self as Illusion
The Multi-faceted Self
The Self as something to be aquired
definition Personhood is defined by the presence of Reason, and the organ for this is the brain
Includes:usually man only. i.e. this is an Anthropocentric
only human beings (who have an advanced brain)
or (in the case of broad-minded materialism) humans and other entities witha similiar brain or neural development and civilisations, languge etc (ETs, A.I.'s etc)
Individual evolution and destiny:Race and culture evolves, but not the individual.
Individual evolution and destiny: Death of the body (cessation of the brain) means annihilation, or at best a return to the universal energy field
who favours this understanding: Materialism
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Definition: Personhood is represented by consciousness in the form of the mind, spirit, or soul. According to religions this is given by God
Includes: usually Anthropocentric
only human beings (who are made in the image of God)
have a soul (or have a higher/ rational/ divine/ whatever soul).
Animals are generally not considered to have a soul. No concept of AI. ETs may be like humans with souls or (according to televangelical etc) or may be devils
Individual evolution and destiny: The spirit or consciousness retains its identity even after the dissolution of the body, continuing either in some spirit state or reincarnating.
In the lower religions it is thought that believers go to heaven to be with God, the rest are either fried in hell or cease to exist ("perish")
who favours this understanding: This is the most common Philosophcal and Religious definition - especially the Monotheistic exotic religious position. holism or dualism
Definition: There is no personhood as such. In Buddhism the person is the false illusion of a self . In Advaita Vedanta the lower personality or ego is distinguished from the Supreme Self (Atman)
Includes: Generally a Universal approach - considers all beings as valid and equal (human, animal, ET, etc) have a (false) self, as well as an intrinsic Reality (Buddhist Shunya, Vedantic Brahman etc). However transcendence of the (false) self is only considered possible when in the human condition.
Individual evolution and destiny: Continued reimbodied existence which is purposeless and full of suffering, until one attains relase (transcendence, enlightenment, Nirvana. etc)
who favours this understanding: This is the standard Mystical and Spiritual Definition - Buddhism, Vedanta, Tantra in part, Gnosticism - also the pop-guru definition
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who favours this understanding: Various esoteric teachings: e.g. Neoplatonism, Ishraqism, Kabbalah, Hermetic Occult, Theosophical, Anthroposophical, Sri Aurobindo, the New Age, some Neo-Paganism, etc
Definition: There is both a finite personal self and a higher self (which may or may not be equated with the Vedantic "Atman", and between these there are layers or levels of self or vehicles of consciousness, koshas, etc (often fractally multiplied)
Includes: in Eastern and New Age versions: all beings, human, animals, plants, stones etc, spirits, ETs, AI's etc etc (Biocentric or Universal in approach)
In traditional Western esoteric religious versions it is more Anthropocentric
Individual evolution and destiny: Evolution of the higher faculties of the person/soul through successive life-times. the lower of person/soul levels only have one shot at it and may go to heaven or the underworld or dissolve after death
Definition:Although there are strata of higher and lower consciousness, only the (mortal) body and lower faculties are innately developed, but the immortal spirit self has to be developed.
Includes: Only those few who can develop a higher self or "soul"
Individual evolution and destiny: The personality has to developed through incarnation, one can attain immortality/enlightenment/ higher evolution if one works at it, otherwise dissolution or underworld after death
who favours this understanding:. Certain esoteric teachings:
Egyptian alchemical
Taoism, Gurdjieff, some Hermetic and Occult.
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