Philosophy of Man

Delos Reyes, Paula Palmon, Sheila

Laus, Alwyn Pamintuan, Daniel

Magat, Timothy Pangilinan, Faith

Nasal, Maechelo Jim Tan, Daniel Joseph

Nucup, Corina

A-502

Dehumanization of Practicing Witchcraft

Dehumanization

To deprive of human qualities such as individuality, compassion, or civility.

The act of degrading people with respect to their best qualities.

It can occur in different ways such as:

Discursively (e.g. verbal abuse)

Symbolically (e.g. imagery)

Physically (e.g. slavery, physical abuse)

Two forms of Dehumanization

a. Animalistic form- occurs when uniquely human characteristics are denied to an out
group. People that suffer animalistic dehumanization are seen as amoral, unintelligent,
lacking self-control and likened to animals.

b. The mechanistic form occurs when features of human nature are denied to targets. Targets
of mechanistic dehumanization are seen as cold, rigid, interchangeable, lacking agency,
and likened to machines or objects. Mechanistic dehumanization is usually employed on
an interpersonal basis (e.g. when a person is seen as a means to another's end)

Dehumanization may be carried out by:

Social group institution

Interpersonal

Intrapersonal (within oneself)

Witchcraft

involved the idea of a diabolical pact or at least an appeal to the intervention of the spirits
of evil

Supernatural aid to invoke:

compass the death of some obnoxious person

awaken the passion of love in those who are the objects of desire

bring calamity or impotence upon enemies, rivals, and fancied oppressor

Witchcraft in the Philippines

Witchcraft in the Philippines is often classified as malevolent,

Practitioners of black magic called Magkukulam in Tagalog and Mambabarang in

Cebuano

Mambabarang- are noted for their ability to command insects and other invertebrates to
accomplish a task, such as delivering a curse to a target.

Magic and witchcraft in the Philippines varies considerably across the different ethnic
groups, and is commonly a modern manifestation of pre-Colonial spirituality interwoven
with Catholic religious elements such as the invocation of saints and the use of pseudo-
Latin prayers (oracin) in spells, and anting-anting (amulets).

Practitioners of traditional herbal-based medicine and divination called albularyo are not
considered witches. They are perceived to be either quack doctors or a quasi-magical
 option when western medicine fails to identify or cure an ailment that is thus suspected to
be of malevolent, supernatural origin (often the work of black magic).

Kulam use for avenging of ones enemy by torturing using voodoo dolls

Gayuma love potion

Paktol asking of spirits to cause pain and death to a person

Nakapagpapagaling for healing purposes

Orasyon Sacred prayer use to possess power

Catholic Standpoint on Witchcraft

Witchcraft is concerned with the producing of effects beyond the natural powers
of man by agencies other than the Divine

In the Holy Scripture references to witchcraft are frequent, and the strong condemnations
of such practices

Magic in itself is an abomination and is supposition of fraud

Exodus 22:18, "wizards thou shalt not suffer to live" "Thou shalt not suffer a witch
to live".)

Scientific Standpoint

Medical Explanations of bewitchment

- Hysteria and psychosomatic disorders- Some physical diseases are believed to

have a mental component derived from the stresses and strains of everyday living.

- Sometimes those who are being possessed or practicing magic relate them to
having psychological disorders

Dehumanization of Witchcraft Practitioners and Believers

Verbal Abuse - includes bullying, abuse disguised as a joke

Imagery symbolizes evil, imposes negativity, use to describe an evil woman

Physical Abuse - They are being hunted and being burned alive

Conclusion
 Witchcraft has been throughout in history, from the medieval period up until now. Today,
it is most likely to be seen on rural areas. It is subjective for, not everyone believes in it.
Mysteries like witchcraft, sorcery and similar situations are often treated as cultural ideology
providing a scapegoat for human misfortune. Sometimes we use witchcraft for health related
problems, but sometimes also for avenges.

Science as we all know is a systematize body of knowledge base on facts gathered over a
long period of time to explain the world we live in. It is based on facts, based on what we see, on
what are senses tell us and not by what we believe. Often times what science cannot explain
seems unacceptable by the general public. It is somewhat a fiction, if there is no available
scientific explanation especially in an urban context.

We, humans, are rational beings capable of doing decisions based on our assessment. We
do judgement on situations based on our understanding. Sometimes, our judgements are clouded
by our own personal prejudices the conflict of beliefs and the limitation of what are mind is
capable of grasping. Dehumanization starts when we start to question the beliefs of others. We
tend to discriminate because there is a conflict on our principles. Dehumanization can occur in
different ways like verbal, symbolical and physical. Verbal abuse like salot are part of
witchcraft, people who practices such are considered a curse in the society and must be avoided.
Bruha and mangkukulam with wicked eyes, long crooked nose and mischievous smile with
long pointed hat and broomstick are often associated with witches that impose negativity. They
also symbolize women who are evil, cunning and deceptive. Witches were routinely hunted,
persecuted and killed in order to salve a mounting mass hysteria or temporary calm down during
the medieval period. Today, there are also cases of kuno witches that were caught and burned
alive.

Is it really right to judge people base on their personal beliefs and principles? Is it also
right to judge those who judges? Because if we do, we are no longer different from them. We
believe that there should be an understanding from both societies. We should understand those
who believe and should also give that understanding for those who do not.