Lesson 5 - On Freedom and the Human Person PDF

ON FREEDOM AND THE HUMAN PERSON Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Malaya ka ba? ARE YOU FREE? Naaalala mo pa ba isang pagkakataon kung saan masasabi mong tunay kang naging malaya? Malaya ba sila? ARE THEY FREE? (1) ON THE DETERMINIST VIEW OF FREEDOM One's de...

ON FREEDOM AND THE HUMAN PERSON Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Malaya ka ba? ARE YOU FREE? Naaalala mo pa ba isang pagkakataon kung saan masasabi mong tunay kang naging malaya? Malaya ba sila? ARE THEY FREE? (1) ON THE DETERMINIST VIEW OF FREEDOM One's decisions and actions are necessary and inevitable. They are always predictable products of one's character, but even though they are determined, man is still not forced nor compelled to do the action. John Stuart Mill (1) ON THE DETERMINIST VIEW OF FREEDOM So people are responsible for their actions in so far as they do what they want to do. Therefore, one's freedom is not having the feeling of free will but rather the awareness of being under no compulsion to act as one does. (1) ON THE LIBERTARIAN VIEW OF FREEDOM Libertarianism believes that people have freedom. When people look forward to the future, there are many possibilities that could happen.. (1) ON THE LIBERTARIAN VIEW OF FREEDOM The universe is an unfolding system which cannot be completely predicted from past events. When people think of the future, they can still imagine many possibilities.. William James  Are we still capable of being surprised? ON THE LIBERTARIAN VIEW OF FREEDOM If the world and one's actions are determined, then one's feeling of regret and moral experience will not make sense. ON THE LIBERTARIAN VIEW OF FREEDOM Regret is a manifestation of our freedom to make decisions. “We could’ve done better.” ON THE LIBERTARIAN VIEW OF FREEDOM ON FREEDOM AND THE HUMAN PERSON Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Malaya ba sila? YES ARE THEY FREE? Totoo bang malaya sila? NO ARE THEY TRULY FREE? Malaya ba sila? YES ARE THEY FREE? Totoo bang malaya sila? YES ARE THEY TRULY FREE?  IN SHORT (1) True freedom is found only in goodness and truth. (2) Determinism sees freedom as an illusion. All human actions are products of antecedent or prior causes. (3) Libertarianism believes in human freedom. There are many possibilities in the future. (4) We must balance determinism and libertarianism. MY PERSONAL FREEDOM AND UNFREEDOM CHECKLIST  ON FREEDOM AND THE HUMAN PERSON (1) On the Nature of Human Freedom (2) On the Determinist and Libertarian View of Freedom (3) On the Existentialist Notion on Freedom (4) On Self Determination (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM According to the existentialists, we are free. We, on the basis of our freedom, create our own essence or our personality. Our natures as human persons is not fixed like objects. (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM The nature or essence of a knife is to CUT. (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM The nature or essence of a CHAIR is to be seated upon. (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM But according to existentialism, our nature or essence as humans is not fixed. We are the ones creating it. (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM Absolute Freedom means nothing is simply "given" and since nothing is "given", we decide whatever we make of ourselves. (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM Our own personality is our own future project or creation and therefore we are totally responsible for what we do to ourselves (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM Ikaw Ba(t)hala (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM We are what we make of ourselves. We possess our own self and we are the ones who determine what kind of person we will be. Jean-Paul Sartre (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM We are condemned to be free. We, at first, are nothing but free individuals. Jean-Paul Sartre (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM Freedom precedes one's individual subjectivity and through freedom we create our own individual essences. Jean-Paul Sartre (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM Are you defined by your past or are you the one who defines your past? Jean-Paul Sartre (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM If we consider our past experiences as obstacles, then we will be obstacles, and if we consider our past experiences as opportunities, then it will help us in the present and future. Jean-Paul Sartre (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM Sartre declares that we are condemned to be free and we carry the whole world on our shoulders; we are responsible for the world and for ourselves as our way of being. Jean-Paul Sartre (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM So with absolute freedom comes absolute responsibility. Jean-Paul Sartre (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM Sartre also warns us against falling into the trap of labelling ourselves. Jean-Paul Sartre This only denies us our freedom, because when we allow people to label us then we also allow them to define who we are. (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM The attempt to label other people only serves to deny other people of their freedom. Jean-Paul Sartre’s Bad Faith (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM People see themselves as products of their circumstances, or the attempt to identify themselves with their past choices while closing off future possibilities. Jean-Paul Sartre’s Bad Faith  (3) ON THE EXISTENTIALIST VIEW OF FREEDOM For Sartre, it happens when we exercise ourfreedom and take responsibility for the past and present and self- consciously choose our future. Jean-Paul Sartre’s Authentic Human Experience  ON FREEDOM AND THE HUMAN PERSON (1) On the Nature of Human Freedom (2) On the Determinist and Libertarian View of Freedom (3) On the Existentialist Notion on Freedom (4) On Self Determination (4) ON SELF DETERMINATION Freedom is the transition from the "I can" to the "I will." It is an act of freedom when one says, "I will do this." KAROL WOJTYLA (4) ON SELF DETERMINATION Self-determination is the ability of the self to decide these things and to choose for itself. One must not let others decide for them. KAROL WOJTYLA (4) ON SELF DETERMINATION Freedom as self-determination is based on two things: first, people are the doers of the act and; secondly, people are free because they are not compelled by external objects. KAROL WOJTYLA (4) ON SELF DETERMINATION This ability to determine one's actions also calls for two other qualities of freedom: SELF POSSESSION and SELF GOVERNANCE. KAROL WOJTYLA (4) ON SELF DETERMINATION SELF POSSESSION It is to determine, own and decide for oneself. One is not possessed or owned by others. KAROL WOJTYLA (4) ON SELF DETERMINATION SELF GOVERNANCE One cannot determine something which they do not have control or command over. One becomes the master of themselves. KAROL WOJTYLA (4) ON SELF DETERMINATION That is why for Karol Wojtyla, people are sui juris or the masters of themselves because of self- determination, self-possession, and self-governance. KAROL WOJTYLA