21st Century Literature: Freedom of the Human Person PDF

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FREEDOM OF THE HUMAN PERSON person’s freedom. In any situation Freedom where a person is forced to do an  an intrinsic and essential property action against his or her will. of the person.  also understood as the po...

21ST CENTURY LITERATURE FREEDOM OF THE HUMAN PERSON person’s freedom. In any situation Freedom where a person is forced to do an  an intrinsic and essential property action against his or her will. of the person.  also understood as the power to Human freedom should be be what you want to be and the exercised with control and a ability to decide and create recognition of reasonable limits. yourself. As a human person, our nature  rooted in the human person’s drives us to uphold human dignity self-determination and the and goodness. exercise of intellect and free will. In exercising our freedom, we  also requires a degree of control should also recognize and uphold not from the person who exercises it. only our individual freedom but also  experienced through the act of the freedom of others. making choices.  should also be exercised with INTERSUBJECTIVITY regards for knowledge and truth. Humans have the natural and universal tendency to relate, to Kinds of Freedom establish attachments, and seek 1. Physical Freedom refers to the relationships with other people. Our absence of any physical restraint. The human nature drives us to reach out person has the freedom of mobility to to other people and interact with go where he or she wants to go. them in meaningful ways. 2. Psychological Freedom is also called freedom of choice. The person How do we as human persons relate is free to perform actions that he or with others? she considers right and wise. Our ability to engage in meaningful 3. Moral Freedom refers to using interactions with other people, our freedom in a manner that upholds surroundings, and everything around human dignity and goodness. us is rooted in our capacity for self- Freedom is not an object that a awareness and transcendence. person may use in whatever way he or she pleases. Interpersonal relations are made possible when the self becomes Elements of Freedom aware of the other, which includes  VOLUNTARINESS - refers to the everyone and everything outside the ability of a person to act of his or self. her own free will and self- determination. What drives human persons to  RESPONSIBILITY – refers to the interact with their fellow humans in a person being accountable for his more meaningful way? or her actions and their Recognizing the self in the other how consequences. philosophers define interpersonal Voluntariness and responsibility go relations. hand-in-hand in determining a 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE Intersubjectivity  This is made possible when the  The interaction between the self self realizes that the other is a and the other. genuine and unique individual.  Mutual recognition of each other  An interaction between person as persons that happens through speech or  “ a unique relationship between the use of words, expressions, and distinct subjects”- refers to the body language. characteristic of the human  The conversation you have with person to engage in a very casual acquaintances are intimate and personal different from those with people relationship with others who are who are closest to you. different from him or her but who  A dialogue occurs when two are also like him or her. people “open up” to each other and give and receive one Level of self-other interaction another in their encounter.  Awareness of the existence of the  Genuine dialogue occurs when other persons are willing to share  Awareness of the self as being themselves with one another. The seen by others. awareness of each other’s presence as a true person is Self-consciousness defined by the acceptance of  Defining characteristic of the self- each other’s uniqueness and other relationship differences. When each  The unique phenomenon of the individual enters into a dialogue human gaze is considered a with this mindset, then it is truly a defining characteristic which sets dialogue between equals. apart human interaction from the interaction of other species. Intersubjectivity that define our interaction with others Seeming  Empathy – ability to share  Where an individual presents emotions, is an important aspect himself or herself in a certain way of intersubjectivity. when dealing with others.  Empathy enables us to  Most human interactions, experience another person’s however are not based on emotions such as happiness, deception. Since our human anger, and sadness. nature drives us to uphold dignity  Sympathy is “feeling with” and and goodness, our interactions empathy is “feeling in” with others are also geared  Availability – the willingness of a toward what is good and person to be present and be at beneficial. the disposal of another  Ethics of care – is an ethical Dialogue theory that emphasizes the moral  Deeper and more genuine dimension of relationships and interaction interactions. This moral 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE perspective encourages deaf-blind person to earn a individuals to help other people, bachelor’s degree. most especially the vulnerable.  Anne Sullivan a teacher who was  Proponents of the ethics of care herself visually impaired believe that people have a moral  She published an autobiography obligation to respond to the “ The story of my life” which needs of other people; and one describe her life and struggles cannot turn a blind eye on the growing up. The book became problems of others. the basis of a popular play titled  Not all human interactions, The Miracle Worker however are positive, there are 2. Nicholas James “Nick” Vujicic those who view other people  Is an Australian evangelist and negatively and consider human motivational speaker who was actions as being influenced by born with phocomelia, a selfish interest. condition in which a person is  Alienation – this arises when a born with no arms and legs. person ceases to view the other  He was bullied due to his as a distinct and authentic condition but it did not stop him person and merely considers the from pursuing his dreams. other person as a mere object or  He founded Life Without Limbs, a a means to satisfy personal non-profit organization and interest. ministry. 3. Roselle Ambubuyog How can philosophy help you  Is the first visually-impaired Filipino evaluate your relationships with to graduate summa cum laude others? from Ateneo de Manila University  Important values related to in 2001. intersubjectivity include  She was consistent academic acceptance of differences and honoree in her school embracing diversity.  She studied Mathematics and the  The recognition of our shared university supported her by humanity and dignity is what purchasing software and drives us to extend assistance equipment that made braille and act with concern towards copies of exams, lecture notes, others, especially toward and other classroom materials. individuals or groups that  She initiated “Project Roselle” experience hardships and together with Rotary Club of discrimination. Makati-Ayala and provided schools with software and Examples of people with disabilities equipment such as computer who have successfully risen above and printer that will aid blind their physical limitations students in their studies. 1. Hellen Keller  She is also motivational speaker  Was an American author, and has given several talks and political activist, and the first 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE seminars to students, teachers and in their discussion, several and professionals. philosophers put forth their theories regarding the formation of societies. Reflecting on our interactions can better inform us of the capacity for To fully understand the true character intersubjectivity and the opportunities of society, philosophers imagined it provides for fostering personal human as living in a so-called growth and welfare will enable us to “natural state” make better choices and decisions as we continue to relate with others “natural state” – an effort to try and and uphold positive relationships in understand what humans would be our lives. like without any government or society and considers why we let THE HUMAN PERSON IN SOCIETY ourselves be governed. Thomas Hobbes  persons in their natural states are governed by their desires and these often lead to conflict with their fellowmen. It means by which people seek to control their natural tendencies and impose order. What is Society?  Social Contract- an agreement Society- an organized group of where individuals sacrifice an people whose members interact amount of their freedom and frequently and have a common submit to a higher authority. territory and culture. John Locke  Consent of the Governed- What drives human being to establish persons in their natural states as societies? more cooperative and  Society makes possible the reasonable, and that society is emergence of certain formed through the consent of individualities. the individuals that organized it.  Society and its various aspects Jean Jacques Rousseau’s provide support that ensures the  Jean Jacques Rousseau’s idea development of the human on the social contract led him to person. advocate the concept of the  Society also provides you “great will”. opportunities to further your  Rousseau believed that even if growth in the coming years. the people are the ones who organized society and The Social Contract Theory established an authority or During the Enlightenment, social government, in extreme cases, philosophers pondered the natural laws that govern human societies, 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE the government is able to impose 4. Agrarian or Agricultural Society its will on the people. This type of society is a further John Rawls evolution of the pastoral and  John Rawls redefined the social horticultural societies. contract and explained that 5. Feudal Society human beings approach social A feudal society is based on the cooperation in a rational manner ownership of land. Feudal societies in order to meet their individual arose out of developments in Western self-interest. He introduced a Europe during Medieval times, when version of the natural state which rival kingdoms were engaged in he called the “original position” conflict over resources, particularly to explain social formation. land. David Gauthier 6. Industrial Society  David Gauthier described An industrial society is based on the people’s self-interest as a use of specialized machinery in the significant factor in building and production of goods and services. maintaining societies. The advances in science and technology in the late 18th century Common Good resulted in the industrial revolution.  Refers to the social conditions 7. Post-Industrial Society which enable persons and The post-industrial society is marked groups to fulfill their goals and by the establishment of societies achieve well-being. based on knowledge, information,  Ex. Peace in the community, and the sale of services. clean and safe public spaces, Virtual Society- where people and efficient transport system organize themselves through and efficient public services. communication technology and the internet. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF SOCIETIES How does society influence our 1. Hunting and Gathering Society development as persons? This is recognized as the earliest and  The person and the society have simplest form of society. It is generally a very dynamic relationship in characterized by its small size and is which one cannot exist without composed mainly of families. the other. 2. Pastoral Society  Society influences our This type of society is characterized development as persons in by the “domestication of animals for various ways. food for a more stable and  Society influences the predictable food supply.” interactions of its member 3. Horticultural Society through the establishment of A horticultural society primarily norms laws, and folkways. engages in the small-scale cultivation of plants, fruits, and vegetables and Norms are a set of traits and the domestication of animals. behavior that society considers 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE acceptable and are thus organization in pursuit of a common encouraged and passed on to other goal to bring about change. members. Laws are more formal and HUMAN PERSONS AS ORIENTED stringent norms that establish and TOWARDS THEIR IMPENDING DEATHS define acceptable behavior of HOW DOES THE REALITY OF DEATH citizen. DEFINE OUR LIVES Folkways are less formal norms  Death is the end of bodily that arise from tradition and do not functions which signals the end of result in punishment when violated. a person’s life. It also refers to the separation of the body and the How does society influence our soul. development as persons?  Human person is an embodied Social System- an organized or spirit which means “the unity of patterned set of relationships among the body and the spirit”. The body individuals and groups that compose grows and dies, while the soul a society. continues to exist even after the Social Role- the actions and body has passed. behaviors expected of a certain  This makes a person’s life limited individual. in time but no one really knows Social groups or social classes – who when life will end. This gave rise to shares similar backgrounds or perform various expression such as #YOLO. similar roles are grouped together Social Institutions- certain group that HOW SHOULD I LIVE MY LIFE BEFORE IT perform vital functions in society. FINALLY ENDS Society also transforms human  Self-determination is the capacity relations, which leads to the to choose and act for oneself. transformation of its member.  The person is the author and Social Values- which are actions or protagonist who determines the ideals that are considered important development and conclusion of by societies. his or her life story. Generation Gap- disparity in  The temporal existence of a experience and views. person means that his or her life is temporary; he or she is not a How does society enable me to being who exists permanently or become a better person? eternity.  Society recognizes the capability  Given all the considerations that of the person to develop, and was presented: What is the end provides its members with of this life? opportunities to better themselves.  Terminus- full stop or end of  Persons can also undertake to line. contribute to society through their  Telos- “goal, purpose, or decisions and actions. fulfillment.” Social Movement- a large-scale action done by various groups and 21ST CENTURY LITERATURE HAPPINESS HOW DO HAPPINESS, SUFFERING AND  A state of being, not just an DEATH GIVE MEANING TO YOUR LIFE. emotional experience or chosen As we approach our death, mental attitude. we experience both happiness and Sources of Happiness suffering. Although these are distinct  Noble Good- is one which experiences, the two are not really pursued for its own sake; it is meant to be complete opposites , for good in itself. there may be instances when they  Useful Good- is considered good enrich one another. The pursuit of so long as it serves as a means to happiness requires that we go an end; its goodness is found only through the effort to achieve it. Our from what it can provide. efforts are often marked by difficulties  Pleasurable Good- is good so and discouragement. long as it provides some form of pleasure, though it doesn’t have to be physical. Why do we suffer? Suffering takes place when we patiently endure unpleasantness, discomfort and pain. Forms of Suffering  Physical Suffering  when we experience physical sensations such as discomfort, hunger, distress, pain.  Often caused by injury, disease, and lack of basic needs.  Mental Suffering  Involves emotional and mental states such as depression, anxiety, fear, loneliness, and grief.  These may be caused by unexpected situations in life such as sudden changes in lifestyle, loss of employment, stressful situations, and grief cause by the death of a loved one.