The Freedom of the Human Person PDF

THE FREEDOM OF THE HUMAN PERSON Lecture 5 Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Michael U. Henson, LPT, MAEd  FREEDOM the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. "we do have...

THE FREEDOM OF THE HUMAN PERSON Lecture 5 Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Michael U. Henson, LPT, MAEd  FREEDOM the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. "we do have some freedom of choice" absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government. “he was a champion of Irish freedom" the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved. "the shark thrashed its way to freedom"  FREEDOM To be free is part of man’s authenticity, it is part of our transcendence. Freedom consists of going beyond situations like physical or economic. “Freedom of conscience is the core of all freedom.” -Pope Benedict XVI  FREE WILL Man’s natural legacy. It is used when we act, in saying yes or no. It is identical to selfhood. You have it by simply being a human person (Johann).  FREEDOM OF CHOICE The freedom to choose between alternatives. It is the capacity to accept or refuse any activity, the capacity to do this or that (Fransen). Animals have freedom of choice but it is instinctive not deliberate.  FUNDAMENTAL OPTION This is the basic, freely accepted and intended involvement of a person as such (Fransen). Deciding of what kind of person you will be. You act on your decision, then you set priorities. You have an option, a free decision, a definite commitment of your wholeness toward the wholeness of reality as such.  FREEDOM AND SITUATEDNESS Human freedom is situated or conditioned (Fransen). 1. Human freedom does not start with a blank sheet. 2. Freedom involves the immediate complete set of circumstances in which they exist before the use of freedom.  FREEDOM AND DETERMINISM the doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes external to the will. Some philosophers have taken determinism to imply that individual human beings have no free will and cannot be held morally responsible for their actions. “Tao lang ako.”  Determinism is the opposite of being free. It is “que sera, sera”, whatever will be, will be. Three sources of determinism (according to Mondes): biological influences, social pressure, and the unconscious.  FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY Fulton Sheen: Freedom is not the right to do what you want to do, nor is it the right to do what you must do, rather, it is the right to do what you ought to do.  FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY Fransen: Freedom is more than just the result of the natural consequence of responsibility. The fact that you are responsible does not make you automatically do responsible acts.  FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY Genuine responsibility: precisely the ability to give an account. I can actually justify my actions as truly responsible to the objective demands of the situation. Responsibility includes responsiveness.  FREEDOM AND RESPONSIVENESS To respond is to answer to commit yourself. It goes beyond the limitation of the objective demands of the situation. To respond is to decide your course of action. At the core of human freedom lies the phenomenon of decision (existentialists). “I am my liberty.” (Sartre) You are the way you act, the way you choose to act. REALIZE THAT ALL ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES We indeed have freedom but what we do will have consequences: either good or bad.  I. ARISTOTLE The Power of Volition: in order to understand free will, we must understand the will.  ARISTOTLE a human being is rational. Reason is a divine characteristic. If there was no intellect, there would be no will.  THE INTELLECT AND THE WILL In understanding the intellect, one relies on the will. Reason (intellect) can think, but only with the will can you act. The task of the intellect is to guide the will by enlightening it. The will can be understood through the intellect. If there was no intellect, there would be no will.  The will of humanity is an instrument of free choice. We all have the power to do good or evil because: -our inner awareness of an aptitude to do right or wrong -the common testimony of human beings -the rewards and punishments of rulers -the use of praise and blame  Moral acts are always particular acts, in our power and we are responsible for them. Character or habit is not an excuse for immoral conduct. II. SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS Love is Freedom  FREEDOM AND CONSCIENCE As creatures of God, human beings have the unique power to change themselves and the things around them. The human being is a moral agent, since our spirituality makes us different from animals, it delineates our moral dimension to the fulfillment of an action. Through our spirituality, we have a conscience, choosing to do good or evil becomes our responsibility.  FREEDOM AND THE LAW As rational human beings, we have laws that should not only be obeyed but also obeyed voluntarily and with understanding. The law looks at the common good as its end. Primarily, it is conceived (mistakably) with external acts and not with internal disposition. A person must be judged through by his actions alone but also with the sincerity behind his acts.  SAINT THOMAS AND ARISTOTLE ON MAN’S HAPPINESS Aristotle: the purpose of man is to be happy. St Thomas Aquinas: There is a higher form of happiness that is possible for humans beyond this life. This perfect happiness can be found in God alone.  LOVE IS FREEDOM Love can bring out transformation in humanity. Love is in consonance to humanity’s free nature, law commands and completes; love calls and invites. There is indeed freedom of humanity but love governs human life. Since God is love, love is the guiding principle of humanity towards self- perception and happiness.  FREEDOM AND THE LAW Fourfold Classification of Law Natural Law Human Law Divine Law Eternal Law  NATURAL LAW This applies to human beings. Good is to be sought, and evil must be avoided (self-preservation). The desire to conserve human life and forbid the contrary is an inherent inclination. Example: avoiding to touch the fire of a burning candle. Natural Law and Human Law are both determined by human nature, Natural Law is the human participation to the Divine Law and is discovered by reason.  HUMAN LAW Human laws are considered conclusions from the natural law when they pertain to those matters about which the natural law offers a clear precept. To use Aquinas' own example, “that one must not kill may be derived as a conclusion from the principle that one should do harm to no man” (Summa Theologica).  DIVINE LAW Humans are ordained to an end transcending human nature. It is necessary that he has a law ordering him to that end. This is Divine Law. It deals with internal dispositions and external acts and ensures final punishment for all evildoings. This is not possible for human law. Divine Law is divided into the old (Mosaic-immature and imperfect) and new (Christian-perfect and complete).  ETERNAL LAW The law of God that governs all creation. It is the Supreme Reason that is unchangeable and eternal. God’s plan in controlling the universe. III. JEAN-PAUL SARTRE Individual Freedom  JEAN-PAUL SARTRE AND EXISTENTIALISM Jean Paul Sartre’s philosophy is considered to be representative of existentialism. He says that the human person is the desire to be God: The desire to exist as a being which has sufficient ground in itself (in sui causa). There are no guideposts in the road of life. The human person builds the road to destiny of his choosing. He is the creator.  JEAN-PAUL SARTRE AND EXISTENTIALISM What is an existentialist in philosophy? Existentialism is the philosophical belief we are each responsible for creating purpose or meaning in our own lives. Our individual purpose and meaning is not given to us by Gods, governments, teachers or other authorities.  JEAN-PAUL SARTRE AND EXISTENTIALISM Sartre: existentialism stems from this principle: existence precedes essence The person first exists, encounters himself and surges up in the world then defines himself afterward. The person is nothing else but that what he makes of himself.  FREEDOM AND EXISTENTIALISM The person is provided with a supreme opportunity to give meaning to his life, as he gives meaning to his life, he fills the world with meaning.  FREEDOM AND EXISTENTIALISM Freedom is therefore, the very core and the door to authentic existence. Authentic existence is realized only in deeds that are committed alone, in absolute freedom and responsibility and which, therefore, the character of true creation. The person is what one has done and is doing.  FREEDOM AND EXISTENTIALISM The human person tries to escape obligations and strives to be en soi (excuses: “I was born this way”, “I grew up in a bad environment”) is acting on bad faith (mauvais foi).  FREEDOM AND EXISTENTIALISM Sartre emphasizes the importance of free individual choice, regardless of the power of the other people to influence and coerce our desires, beliefs, and decisions. To be human, to be conscious, is to be free to imagine free to choose, and be responsible for one’s life. IV. THOMAS HOBBES The Theory of Social Contract  LAW OF NATURE A law of nature (lex naturalis) is a precept or general rule established by reason by which a person is forbidden to do that which is destructive of his life or takes away the means of preserving the same, and to omit that by which he thinks might be best preserved.  LAW OF NATURE With our desire to get out of the state of nature and thus preserve our lives, we should seek peace (Hobbes). This becomes the first law of nature. Seeking peace means there is a second law of nature: we divest ourselves of certain rights to achieve peace.  LAW OF NATURE When persons are willing to give up this right to all things and be contented with so much liberty against other people, as he would allow other people against himself (Garvey).  LAW OF NATURE The mutual transferring of these rights is a contract and the basic notion of obligation and duty. If one gives up the right to punch you, then you also give up the right to punch him. Rights are transferred and you become obligated not to hurt each other. This is a bit selfish but in the end will end the dreaded state of war. Certain contracts are indeed valid. Self- defense and self-preservation must not be given up.  LAW OF NATURE The rational pursuit of self-preservation leads us to form commonwealths or states, the laws of nature give the conditions for the establishment of society and government.  LAW OF NATURE The third law of nature is that human beings perform their covenant made or else, these are only empty words and are in vain. Law is the foundation of justice. When there has been no covenant, no action can be unjust. When a covenant has been made, to break it is unjust.  LAW OF NATURE Laws are contrary to humanity’s natural passions. Therefore, it is necessary that there should be a common power or government backed by force and is able to punish. There must be an appointed person or group of persons to bear their person. V. JEAN-JACQUES ROSSEAU The Theory of Social Contract  SOCIAL CONTRACT AND THE STATE The state owes its origin to a social contract freely into by its members. Hobbes and Rosseau promoted social contract. Hobbes interpreted it in an absolute monarchy while Rosseau developed the idea in terms of absolute democracy and individualism. Both have this idea in common: individuals have to form a civil community to protect themselves from one another.  HOBBES AND ROSSEAU Hobbes: to end the continuous and self-destructive condition of warfare, humanity formed the state and its sovereign power of control by mutual consent. Rosseau: a human being is born free and good, He has become evil because of the influence of society, civilization, learning, and progress. The human being has lost his original goodness, his tranquil spirit.  THE STATE AND FREEDOM To restore peace and bring freedom back, as he returned to his true self, he realized the necessity to form the state through social contract whereby everyone grants his individual rights to the general will. There must be a common power or government which the plurality of individuals should confer all their powers and strength into (freedom). EVALUATE AND EXERCISE PRUDENCE IN CHOICES Since we are accountable in our actions which we do because of our freedom, it is best to be always prudent with the choices we take. B.F. SKINNER’S OPERANT CONDITIONING The behavior that is followed by pleasant consequences is likely to be repeated, and behavior followed by unpleasant consequences is less likely to be repeated. Skinner introduced a new term into the Law of Effect – Reinforcement.  FREEDOM Yelon: Behavioral psychology is at fault for having overemphasized reward and punishment. We have miscalculated the role of the environment on an individual. There must be a balance of our relationship with others and the environment. As human beings we have a tendency to blame the environment if it does not conform to our expectations.  CAN AN INDIVIDUAL BE TRULY FREE? Skinner: freedom becomes an unreliable guide as soon as would-be controllers turn to non-aversive measures. Control becomes necessary in the issue of freedom. John Stuart Mill: Liberty consist in doing what one desires.  CAN AN INDIVIDUAL BE TRULY FREE? Our lives should not be merely controlled by rewards and punishments. As human beings we can transcend. Punishment is an educative task. We are concerned with rewards/incentives.  CAN AN INDIVIDUAL BE TRULY FREE? When does a person become responsible? When he feels that he is responsible. He must know that he did an act independently. The consciousness of freedom is knowledge of having acted by one’s own desires. CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES AND SOME THINGS ARE GIVEN UP WHILE OTHERS ARE OBTAINED BY MAKING CHOICES We have to give up some of the freedoms and rights while we work hard for some rights and freedoms.  AYN RAND: FREEDOM, THINKING, AND PROGRESS the individual mind is the tool for economic progress vis-a-vis laissez faire capitalism. Since the mind is important, the sector that controls it must not be controlled by the government. Thinking is volitional. A person is free to think or not. Human beings have rights but also responsibilities.  Kagandahang- busilak ang loob kalooban utang-na-loob kaloob-looban magaan ang kababaang- loob loob mabigat ang malakas ang loob loob mabuting-loob mahina ang masasamang loob loob bukas sa kalooban kalooban  THE FILIPINO CONCEPT OF “LOOB” In Philippine culture, loob or kalooban refers to one's inner self, or, more specifically, to the internal dimension of a person's identity. Its external counterpart is labas - the physical, outward appearance.  THE FILIPINO CONCEPT OF “LOOB” Filipino virtues are mostly compound words which say something about the kind of loób that a person has. and Christian at the same time. Kapwa has therefore been translated by local scholars as “shared self”, “shared identity”, or “self-in-the-other.”  THE FILIPINO CONCEPT OF “LOOB” Thus, Loob is a holistic concept that covers both emotion and reason, heart and mind – the totality of one's personal experiences, i.e. a person’s wholeness.  THE FILIPINO CONCEPT OF “LOOB” In terms of relationships and individualism, we Filipinos have a concept of Loob. The individual is captain of his own ship. Loob touches our daily lives. One does not fulfill only the reasons of the mind but also of the heart and personal involvement.  THE FILIPINO CONCEPT OF “LOOB” It is an interpersonal and social concept before it becomes a privately personal concept. While it is personal and individual, loob is a concept that goes out, reaches out to others. SHOW SITUATIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR CHOICES Since we enjoy freedom, we have to choose the actions that stem from our freedom. LOOKING AT FREEDOM EXTRENALLY AND INTERNALLY Externally: Individual freedom is not limited to oneself but it goes beyond it: to people, society, nation and its different aspects: economic, social, political, spiritual, etc. Internally: Personal worth and dignity is not exterior to ourselves. It is not physical but it is in the “kalooban”. LEADERSHIP Leaders must have “magandang kalooban”: not passive but plays an active role in the holistic development of those he serves. He must not be focused on quantitative progress alone but also qualitative progress. “KASARILIHAN” Filipinos must minimize dependence in government officials. They have an inferiority complex that looks up to others while not realizing their own potential for change. They must realize that change, progress, and success does not only come from political leaders but from within.