The Forest and the Trees

Dr. John Grabowski explores the theological meaning of personhood in his new book, A Catholic Guide to Being Human. In the book, Grabowski suggests that understanding the human person requires distinguishing between man as a "what" and a "who." He argues that modern society has lost confidence in its answers to what it means to be human, leading to a world that is less humane despite increased technological mastery.

Stephen P. White notes that Grabowski warns of a future where humans become technological giants but moral midgets. This loss of perspective mirrors themes in Pope Leo XIV's Magnifica Humanitas, which describes the temptation of the technological age as a modern attempt to build a new Tower of Babel. According to the text, a world constructed without reference to God will inevitably fail to respect the true nature of humanity.