Freedom of the Human Person PDF

  FREEDOM ======= - The human capacity to act(or not to act) as we choose or prefer without any external compulsion or restraint. - It is an intrinsic and essential property of a person.  - Important indication of human f...

  FREEDOM ======= - The human capacity to act(or not to act) as we choose or prefer without any external compulsion or restraint. - It is an intrinsic and essential property of a person.  - Important indication of human freedom is the ability to MAKE CHOICES and PERFORM ACTIONS. -- -- -- -- - If there were no intellect, there would be no will. The will of humanity is an instrument of free choice. It is within the power of everyone to be good or bad, or worthy or worthless.  - For Aristotle, a ***human being is rational.*** Reason is a divine characteristic. If there were no intellect, there would be no will.  - St. Thomas Aquinas (Freedom is Spirituality and Love) ================================== - considers the human being as a moral agent. - Our spirituality separates us from animals; it delineates moral dimension of our fulfillment in an action. Through our spirituality, we have a conscience. Whether we choose to be "good" or "evil" becomes our responsibility - St. Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica) establishes the existence of God as a first cause. And as God's creations, human being have the unique power to change themselves and things around them for the better. - We have a conscience because of our spirituality  - As humans, we are both material and spiritual. We have a conscience because of our spirituality. God is Love and love is our destiny. [Jean Paul Sartre] =================================================== - a representative of existentialism. - For Sartre, the human person has the desire to be God: the desire to exist as a being which has its sufficient ground in itself *(en sui causa).* - The human person builds the road to the destiny of his/her choosing; he/she is the creator. - Sartre emphasizes the ***importance of free individual choice***, regardless of the power of other people to influence and coerce our desires, belief and decisions. - Freedom means exercising our capacity to make decisions, change of our lives through our own steering.  - Therefore, FREEDOM is something that we need to exercise through our **CHOICES.** - **[Hobbes & Rousseau]** define the freedom of an individual in the context of having a government to rule them (contract), which is the basis of notion of moral obligation and duty. - Social Contract -- [an agreement] where individuals sacrifice an amount of their freedom and [submit to a higher authority.] - It is a necessity that we must assure for the government and people to work as one. From this understanding also arises certainty that we have freedom.  - **Is the mandatory use of face mask and face shield a violation of our freedom?** - **Was freedom of speech appropriately exercised on the picture?** Kinds of Freedom ===================================== 1. **Physical Freedom** - Refers to the absence of any PHYSICAL RESTRAINT. The  2. Psychological Freedom ===================== - Also called as "freedom of choice." - The person is free to perform actions that he/she considers right and wise. A person is also free to act or not to act. - Psychological freedom is INNATE and CANNOT BE DENIED AS A PERSON. 1. Freedom to choose your friends 2. Freedom to choose your partner 3. Freedom to choose your course in college 4. Freedom to be what you want to be 3. Moral Freedom ================================== - Using freedom in a manner that upholds human dignity and goodness. 1. Doing charitable works 2. Participating an outreach activities 3. Being sensitive to the needs of other 4. Being prudent on the use of social media - a kind of freedom that requires active effort; has control or mastery of his/herself and has the strength to do what is good. - This is doing the right thing and exercising our freedom in a responsible manner. - You will finish first the school requirements before hanging out with friends. - no form of hindrance that would prevent from doing what you want. - Should FREEDOM be absolute?  LAW === - a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or government institutions to regulate behavior.  [4 Classification of Law] ===================================== 1. Natural Law 2. Eternal Law - its God's perfect plan, not fully knowable to humans. It is determined the way things such as animals and planets behaved and how people should behave. - its God's rational purpose and plan for all things.  3. Divine Law - comes only from revelation or scripture, hence, biblical law and is necessary for human salvation. - a law that is believed to come directly from God.  4. Human Law