Intended Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this lecture, you should be able to:

• Define human freedom.

• Explain the four dimensions of human freedom.

• Discuss the limits and purpose of human freedom.

Definition of Freedom
• The capacity of every human being to
move themselves towards that which they
know to be good, because they want to.
– Move oneself [from within]
– Intellect: know the good- real or apparent
– Will: want to obtain the good
Dimensions of Human Freedom

1. CONSTITUTIVE 3. MORAL
FREEDOM FREEDOM

2. FREEDOM AS 4. SOCIO-POLITICAL
CHOICE FREEDOM
Constitutive Freedom
• Also known as Fundamental Freedom

• The human person is free by nature

– Capacity/potency to know and to want/love
– We are free because we have the powers of intellect
and free will

• One has this type of freedom by the mere fact of

being human
– Embryos, infants, mentally handicapped persons, a
person in a coma, etc.
Freedom to choose
• The human person can exercise his
constitutive freedom by wanting/tending
towards specific goods/ends/goals. E.g:
– I can decide to have lunch
– I can then decide what to eat for lunch
Moral freedom
• This is our capacity to make good choices

• If we use our freedom to choose morally

good acts, our moral freedom increases.
– Virtues

• If we use our freedom to choose morally

bad acts, our moral freedom decreases.
– Vices
Socio-political freedom
• The freedom of action, expression or movement,
etc. allowed in a place by a governing authority
e.g., the state, management, parents, etc. to
safeguard the common good and promote a
people’s moral freedom.

– Examples:
• The freedom of speech, association, etc. or curfews and
lockdowns in a country
• Codes of conduct for employees or students
• The dos and don'ts in a particular family home
Purpose of human freedom
• To make choices about our lives, the route
we want to take: to determine our destiny

• To voluntarily persevere on the chosen

route to reach a specific goal.

• To deliberately choose who we become as

we pursue our goals.
– Immanence
What is True Freedom?
• Freedom is well used when we chose to do
the right thing!

• True freedom is defined as the capacity to

chose the true good.

• Ultimately, our freedom is made to love

the greatest truth and the greatest good.