Lesson 11 Freedom of The Human Person Part 1 Hand Outs

Lesson 11
Freedom of the
Human Person
(Part 1)
Mr. Edward B. Noda Jr.
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.
Our freedom to act sets us apart
from other beings.
Aristotle (The Power of Volition)
❑ Volition in this sense is the faculty or power to

use or discharge one’s will.
❑ 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.
❑ The happiness of every human being is in his own
hands, to preserve and develop, or to cast away.

❑ 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)
❑ Freedom, for St. Thomas, is the manner intellectual
beings seek universal goodness. It is a condition of the
will arising from our nature being in the kind of world
that we inhabit.
❑ St. Thomas 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
(Freedom is spirituality and love)
❑ St. Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica)

establishes the existence of God as a first cause.
And as God’s creations, human beings have the
unique power to change themselves and things
around them for the better.
❑ We have a conscience because of our spirituality
Jean Paul Sartre
(Individual Freedom)
❑ Existentialism is a philosophical movement
known for its inquiry on human existence,
which means “to exist”.
❑ For Sartre, the human person builds the
road to the destiny of his/her choosing;
he/she is the creator.
Human being is solely
❑ Sartre’s Existentialism stems from this
responsible for their
actions because we principle: existence precedes essences.
choose who we are ❑ Sartre emphasizes the importance of free
individual choice, regardless of the power
of other people to influence and coerce
our desires, beliefs, and decisions.
Jean Paul Sartre
(Individual Freedom)
❑ Freedom means exercising our capacity to

make decisions, change our life path and
direct the course of our lives through our own
steering.
❑ Freedom is something that is exercised

through our CHOICES
Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and
John Locke (Theory of Social Contract)
❑ Hobbes, Rousseau and Locke 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.
Kinds of Freedom
1. Physical Freedom
Refers to the absence of any PHYSICAL RESTRAINT. The

person has the freedom of mobility to go where he/ she wants to
go.
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 CANOT BE
DENIED AS A PERSON.
Example:
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.
Example:
1. Doing charitable works
2. Participating on outreach activities
3. Being sensitive to the needs of other
4. Being prudent on the use of social
media
5. Participating volunteer works.
Positive and Negative Freedom
Positive Freedom- kind of
Negative Freedom- freedom that requires active
refers to the “absence of effort; has control or mastery of
interference”; absence of his/ herself and has the strength
coercion or interference. to do what is good.
The Freedom whatever This is doing the right thing and
you want. It’s considered exercising our freedom in a
negative because you responsible manner.
failed to use freedom in For example: you will finish first
a responsible manner. the school requirements before
hanging out with friends.
Absolute Freedom
Absolute freedom- no form of

hindrance that would prevent from
doing what you want.
Should freedom be absolute?

Definitely NO- freedom always had
its limitations. Freedom is always
coupled with RESPONSIBILITY.
Recap
Perspectives Types of
Freedom
on Freedom Freedom
Negative vs.
Freedom is
Positive
not absolute
Freedom

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Lesson 11

❑ Volition in this sense is the faculty or power to

The will of humanity is an instrument of free

hands, to preserve and develop, or to cast away.

is a divine characteristic. If there were no

❑ St. Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica)

❑ Freedom means exercising our capacity to

❑ Freedom is something that is exercised

Refers to the absence of any PHYSICAL RESTRAINT. The

3. Freedom to choose your course in college

4. Freedom to be what you want to be

3. Being sensitive to the needs of other

4. Being prudent on the use of social

Absolute freedom- no form of

Should freedom be absolute?

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