FREEDOM
would be no will.
1. identify the different concepts
related to understanding of human
freedom;
2. explain the relationship between
Human freedom and Obligation;
3. distinguish Human actions from Acts
of Man;
4. distinguish intellectual choice from
practical choice;
5. apply the concepts to hypothetical
situations.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
FREEDOM OF THE HUMAN
PERSON
The human capacity to act (or not to
act) as we choose or prefer without any
external compulsion or restraint.
Important indication of human freedom
is the ability to MAKE CHOICES and
PERFORM ACTIONS. Our freedom to
act sets us apart from other beings.
ANIMALS
JEAN PAUL SARTRE
-Respond to commands
-Trained and conditioned to perform
-Act instinctively (actions are
predetermined responses to certain
stimuli)
HUMAN PERSON
-Can choose the course of action to
take when given a stimulus or faced with
a certain situation.
ARISTOTLE
(The Power of Volition)
 VOLITION is the ability or
power to use or discharge one’s
will.
 If there were no intellect, there
 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.
(Freedom is Spirituality and Love)
 Freedom, for St. Thomas, is the
manner intellectual being seek
UNIVERSAL GOODNESS.
 St. Thomas considers the human
being as a MORAL AGENT.
 Whether we choose to be “good”
or “evil” becomes our
responsibility.
(Individual Freedom)
 For Sartre, the human person
build the road to the destiny of
his/her choosing: he/she is the
creator.
 Sartre’s Existentialism stems
from this principle: EXISTENCE
comes before ESSENCES.
 Sartre emphasizes the
importance of FREE
INDIVIDUAL CHOICE,
regardless of the power of other
people to influence and coerce
our desires, beliefs, and
decisions.
 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
Social Contract- an agreement where
individuals sacrifice their freedom and
submit to a higher authority.
 Hobbes, Rousseau and Locke
define 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.
 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.
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 CANNOT BE
DENIED AS A PERSON.
-
Example:
Freedom to choose friends
Freedom to choose your partner
Freedom to choose your course in
college
Freedom to be what you want to be
3. MORAL FREEDOM
- Using freedom in a manner that
upholds human dignity and
goodness.
Example:
- Doing charitable works
- Participating on outreach
activities
- Being sensitive to the needs of
others
- Being prudent on the use of
social media
- Participating on volunteer works