Freedom of the Human Person (Part 1)

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Questions and Answers

What is necessary for the concept of positive freedom?

Total lack of responsibilities

Absence of external interference

Complete independence from societal norms

Active effort and control over oneself (correct)

Which type of freedom involves using one's freedom to uphold human dignity?

Psychological freedom

Absolute freedom

Moral freedom (correct)

Negative freedom

What illustrates a failure to use freedom responsibly?

Volunteering for social causes

Choosing friends who inspire you

Neglecting duties to pursue leisure activities (correct)

Finishing academic requirements before socializing

Which statement accurately reflects the concept of absolute freedom?

It is unattainable as freedom requires some form of responsibility. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of negative freedom?

Represents absence of constraints on actions Signup and view all the answers

In the context of existentialism, what is freedom often linked to?

Personal choice and responsibility for one's actions Signup and view all the answers

A person exhibits psychological freedom when they:

Act according to their innate desires and choices Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher's perspective is closely associated with the balance of freedom and moral responsibility?

Aquinas Signup and view all the answers

What is freedom defined as in the context of human capability?

The intrinsic ability to choose and perform actions without external restraint. Signup and view all the answers

According to Aristotle, what is necessary for the realization of true freedom?

The exercise of rationality and intellect. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of freedom does St. Thomas Aquinas emphasize?

Freedom is a condition of goodness arising from our spiritual nature. Signup and view all the answers

How does a person's freedom relate to their moral choices, according to the content?

Freedom involves the responsibility to choose between good and evil. Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of volition encompass according to Aristotle?

The ability to discharge one’s will through intellect. Signup and view all the answers

In what way does being denied freedom affect a person, as mentioned in the content?

It contributes to a loss of their humanity. Signup and view all the answers

What notion does St. Thomas Aquinas introduce concerning God's existence?

The existence of God provides humans the unique ability to effect change. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best encapsulates how the use of freedom impacts one's humanity?

Self-control increases the level of one's humanity. Signup and view all the answers

What is the central idea of existentialism as presented in the content?

Humans create their own existence through choices. Signup and view all the answers

According to Sartre, what precedes essence?

Existence Signup and view all the answers

How do Hobbes, Rousseau, and Locke conceptualize freedom?

In relation to the existence of a government. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of freedom refers to the absence of physical restraint?

Physical Freedom Signup and view all the answers

What does Sartre suggest happens when a person exercises their freedom?

They become real. Signup and view all the answers

What does psychological freedom allow an individual to do?

Perform actions deemed right and wise by themselves. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the social contract as explained in the content?

To establish a basis for moral duty and obligation. Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher is associated with the idea that individual freedom leads to personal responsibility?

Jean-Paul Sartre Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Freedom of the Human Person (Part 1)

Freedom is the human capacity to act (or not act) as one chooses without external compulsion or restraint.
Freedom is intrinsic and indicates a person's capacity
Choosing one's actions and performing them distinguishes persons from animals.
Animals respond to commands and pre-determined stimuli while persons can choose their course of action.
Freedom entails responsibilities. A person's freedom (or lack thereof) impacts their humanity.
Aristotle defined volition as the faculty or power to use or discharge one's will. He stated that the will is tied to intellect, and humans have the power to choose good or bad, worthy or worthless. Happiness is in one's own hands, to preserve and develop or cast away. Reason is a divine characteristic.
St. Thomas Aquinas considers freedom to be tied to spirituality. It is a condition of goodness, which arises from our nature to be in the world.
St. Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica), asserts that God exists as a first cause, and that humans have the power to change themselves and the world. A conscience is a result of spirituality.
Jean-Paul Sartre's Existentialism establishes that existence precedes essence. Persons build their destiny through choice. Individual choice is independent of the influence of others.
Freedom means exercising our capacity to make decisions, change our life path, and direct the path of our lives through our own steering.
Freedom is something that is exercised through choices. When a person exercises her freedom, she becomes real.
Hobbes, Rousseau, and Locke define freedom in the context of a social contract with a governing body. It is an amount of surrendered freedom to gain the benefits of an ordered society
Freedom is never absolute, it always comes with limitations (responsibilities)

Kinds of Freedom

Physical Freedom: The absence of any physical restraint that limits one's mobility
Psychological Freedom: Ones' innate freedom to choose actions based on right and wise judgment. It cannot be denied or taken away.
Moral Freedom: Using freedom to uphold human dignity and goodness, demonstrated by charitable work, outreach, sensitivity for others & social responsibility.
Positive Freedom: Freedom that involves active effort, mastery and self-control. Taking responsibility for our actions.
Negative Freedom: The absence of interference or coercion. This is the freedom from external obstacles.
Absolute Freedom: Absence of hindrances, allowing one to do whatever you want. In reality, though, freedom isn't absolute. It's always subject to limitations.

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Description

Explore the concept of human freedom and its intrinsic nature. This quiz delves into the distinctions between human beings and animals regarding choice and volition. Uncover the philosophical insights of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas on freedom and its implications for humanity.