Untitled Quiz

Freedom of the Human Person (Ethics)

• Freedom involves choice and understanding that all actions have consequences
• Chance and choosing are separate concepts; if a person can choose, they are responsible for the outcome of their actions
• Freedom is the ability to create one's self and define one's personality through choices
• Freedom is rooted in self-determination, intellect, and free will; actions determine the kind of person one becomes
• Freedom entails responsibility and requires control over impulses and addictive behaviors; losing control diminishes freedom and dehumanizes a person

Elements Defining Freedom

• Voluntariness: The ability to act based on one's free will and self-determination; it also means a person can act even if not obligated

• Voluntary acts have moral value

• Actions have consequences

• Responsibility: Being accountable for one's actions and their consequences; a person unaware of their actions' effects may have diminished freedom

The Act of Making a Choice

• Prudent choices involve weighing reasons, evaluating alternatives, and considering the weight of each consideration
• The act of choosing includes weighing reasons for each alternative, leading to the choice of one option over another

Ethics

• Ethics is a branch of philosophy that examines the principles of morality systematically
• Moral agents are responsible for their actions and must consider the well-being of others
• Moral decisions are based on ethics, character, behavior, and values; these affect individual and collective well-being

Intellectual vs. Practical Choice

• Intellectual Choice: A choice made based on moral principles and considering societal norms; it's a normative answer to hypothetical dilemmas, similar to abstract/theoretical decision-making
• Practical Choice: A choice driven by emotional and psychological factors, influenced by stress, lack of time, and emotional state in actual situations

Moral Dilemma

• A dilemma is a situation forcing a choice between conflicting options, none ideal
• If the choice involves human actions with moral implications, it's an ethical/moral dilemma
• Moral dilemmas require "moral agents" to act in a morally acceptable manner

Lindsay's Dilemma

• Lindsay, a devout religious person, is facing an ectopic pregnancy
• Conflicting options: abortion (to save her life) or not resorting to abortion (to abide by her religious beliefs)

Conditions of Moral Dilemmas

• The moral agent is obligated to choose the best course of action
• There are conflicting courses of action, none ideal
• Some moral principles are inevitably compromised, no matter the outcome

Military Doctor's Dilemma

• A military doctor must choose between two wounded soldiers who urgently need blood transfusion when only one is available

Prudence in Choice

• Prudence in making choices means being mindful of implications, considering the future, and utilizing past experience and values when making choices; the well-being of others also matters
• Choices aren't just about ourselves but also how they affect others

Choices: Consequences and Sacrifices

• Necessary sacrifices for growth occur in life choices
• Decisions have consequences (risks and sacrifice); human motivations in taking risks often come from experiences and values
• The outcome affects one's progress. The goal depends on bearing the consequences and sacrifices

Exercising Freedom Responsibly

• People ought to exercise freedom responsibly and beneficially
• Freedom, although essential, isn't absolute, and it requires limitations to self-interests
• Recognition and understanding of right and wrong guide us towards recognizing and acknowledging freedom's limits
• Freedom should be exercised with due regard for the welfare of others, as well as knowledge and truth; prudence is a virtue in making sound choices

The "Given" and the "Chosen"

• "Given" factors (predetermined circumstances) don't negate freedom but create opportunities to act
• Freedom is a means to improve ourselves as individuals and as a society; free will is how we choose to improve