Lesson 1

Freedom of
the Human
Person
(Part 1)
 ASSESS

1. What do you think make us free?

2. How do we know that we are
free?
3. Do you use your freedom
responsibly?
Expound your answer
 FREEDO
 The human M
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.
 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.

 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.
 Sartre emphasizes the importance of free
choose who we are
individual choice, regardless of the power
of other people to influence and coerce
our desires, beliefs, and decisions.
 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
Negative Freedom-
refers to the “absence of
interference”; absence
of coercion or
interference. The
Freedom whatever you
want. It’s considered
negative because you
failed to use freedom in
a responsible manner.
Positive Freedom- kind of
freedom that requires active
effort; has control or mastery of
his/ herself and has the strength
to do what is good.
This is doing the right thing and
exercising our freedom in a
responsible manner.
For example: you will finish first
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.
 Reca
p
Perspectives Types of
Freedom on Freedom Freedom

Negative vs.
Freedom is
Positive
not absolute
Freedom