INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY

OF THE HUMAN PERSON

4th Quarter
Week 1

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Division of Surigao del Sur
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 Competency: Evaluate and exercise prudence in choices. PPT11/12-IIa-5.2

Objectives: At the end of the week, you shall have:

o defined the concept of freedom in relation to prudence;
o showed situations that emphasize prudence in making choices in life; and
o reflected the significance of exercising prudence in making decisions in
life.

Learner’s Tasks

Lesson Overview
Freedom is an intrinsic and essential
property of the person. This means that the
human person by nature is a free being and
that it is in his or her nature to seek freedom.
An important indication of human freedom
is the ability to make choices and perform
actions. Our freedom to act sets us apart
from other beings.

The human person does not

https://singlehumanity.com/2016/10/21/freedom-church-social-teaching/
experience that world in the same way that
animals do. Animals act instinctively,
meaning, their actions are more like predetermined responses to certain stimuli. On the
other hand, a person can choose the course of action to take when given a stimulus or
faced with a certain situation.

Freedom is also understood as the power to be what you want to be and the
ability to decide and create something for yourself. As humans, we have some things
that we don’t want, and yet we have. For example, we have those physical qualities that
we inherited from our parents. Despite these inherited qualities, there are still a lot of
characteristics that define our personality which are the product of our choices. Our
talents, for instance, are developed to their fullest only if we choose to dedicate time
and effort to improve them.

Meanwhile, freedom gives you the ability to strive to achieve that goal. It is rooted
in the human person’s self-determination and their exercise of intellect and free will. This
means that we can freely choose to be a good person and to act in a good way. A
good act makes a person better while its opposite has a negative impact on him or her
as a person. This is the nature of self-determination: that a person’s actions determine
what kind of person he or she becomes.

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There are Three Types of Freedom:

1. Physical Freedom – refers to the absence of any restraint. This means that a person has
the freedom to go anywhere he or she wanted to do. On the other hand, we cannot go
to two places at a time yet we have the ability to go to wherever we want to go.

2. Psychological Freedom – is also called freedom of choice. This means that a person
has the will power whether to act or not to act on what he or she considers to be right
and wise.

3. Moral Freedom – refers to using freedom in a manner that upholds human dignity and
goodness. Freedom is not an object that a person may use in whatever way he or she
pleases. A person must use his or her freedom to grow as a person. A person becomes
freer when he or she uses freedom well, but he/she becomes less free when he or she
uses it in a bad way.

We learned that being human in nature means that we are free physically,
mentally and morally. It means that we are free to do or think whatever we want to in a
good manner. On the other hand, we may think that some things are also determined
which means if we act in a good way we will be considered as a good person, But, if we
act in a wrong manner we will be considered as a bad person.

There are two elements that define freedom:

1. Voluntariness – refers to the ability of a person to act out of his or her own free will and
self-determination. This means that a person may decide to act or not to act, and these
decisions are made out of his or her own free will. It also means that a person may act
even if he or she is not required or called to act. These are acts which can be assigned a
corresponding moral value.

2. Responsibility – refers to the person being accountable for his or her actions and their
consequences. This means that in everything that we do, there are consequences.
Taking responsibility can either mean a person voluntarily taking responsibility for his or her
own actions, or being held responsible by other people. Responsibility can also have a
positive and negative meaning, and it goes hand-in-hand with voluntariness in
determining the morality of an action.

There are significant factors to consider in the exercise of freedom. These are Prudence
and Self-reflection:

• Self-reflection allows each person to analyze his life both in small and big details in terms
of the decisions, actions and choices he make Browning, G (2009). It is a deeper form of
learning where if practiced with higher sense of wise judgement and keen perception,
the experiences he makes are more meaningful and serve as guide for improved and
informed decisions, actions and choices.

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• Prudence is the ability to govern and
discipline oneself with the use of reason; it
is having caution and giving good
judgments in making decisions. Making
hard choices is an exercise of freedom.
But freedom should also be based on
truthful knowledge and wise reasoning.
Hence, we should practice self-reflection
on every decision we make.

People often think the fullness of

freedom is found in one’s ability to make
decisions about one’s life. Choice, is
indeed, an element of freedom, but
freedom goes beyond mere choosing.
https://www.idisciple.org/post/6-important-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-making-decisions

Freedom is not absolute, and in our lives, there are a lot of things that we could not
choose from. We are not in total control of everything around us. Many things in life are
given. Although some things are given, it does not mean that we do not really have
freedom.

On the contrary, there are instances when we can exercise our freedom because
we are not determined by these forces or situations. Difficult situations may not always
be avoided, especially if we happen to be victims of circumstances. But, we may take
these difficult situations positively or negatively. We may not always have the best family,
but it does not mean that our future family will turn out the same way as our current one.

A person with an indifferent attitude may find it hard to be motivated and excited
about things in general, but it doesn’t mean that he or she is incapable of being
interested and inspired to act passionately. These “givens” or predetermined things do
not negate our freedom but give us opportunities to exercise our freedom when we
determine it ourselves. The key is that we should always act well in any given situation
because the self is determined by the self. We have given tendencies or inclinations, and
the world also exerts some forces over us, but we can transcend all of these and
determine our choices in the manner we want because we are free to do it. As much as
possible, we must use our freedom in a good way so that we may become better people
and better versions of ourselves for our own sake and the sake of others.

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Activity 1.

Direction: Match the terms in Column A with the definitions in Column B. Write the letter
of your answer in a separate sheet of paper.

Column A Column B
a. The ability of a person to act out of his or her
_____ 1. Moral Freedom own free will and self-determination. This means
that a person may decide to act or not to act,
and these decisions are made out of his or her
own free will.
b. The ability to make choices and perform
_____ 2. Prudence actions. Our freedom to act sets us apart from
other beings.

c. It is referred to using freedom in a manner that

_____ 3. Freedom upholds human dignity and goodness.
Freedom is not an object that a person may use
in whatever way he or she pleases.
d. The ability to govern and discipline oneself with
_____ 4. Self-reflection the use of reason; it is having caution and
giving good judgments in making decisions.
e. It is a deeper form of learning where if
_____ 5. Voluntariness practiced with higher sense of wise judgement
and keen perception, the experiences he
makes are more meaningful and serve as guide
for improved and informed decisions, actions
and choices.

Activity 2.
Direction: Create a poster showing how people exercise prudence in making choices in
life. Use your creativity to do this task.

MATERIALS TO BE USED:
¼ size Illustration board;
Pencil; and
Coloring materials

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 RUBRICS FOR POSTER MAKING
5 4 3 2
Elements of The poster consists Only 4 elements Only 2 elements
Only 3 elements
Creativity and of 5 elements and are present but of creativity are
are present
Design very informative less of information of minimal
The poster is
The poster is slightly
exceptionally The poster is slightly The poster is not
attractive, messy
Attractiveness attractive in attractive but attractive in
or poorly designed
design and very messy design and neat
neat
Good use of new No use of new
Exceptional use of Average use of
ideas and ideas and
Originality new ideas and new ideas and
originality. originality.
originality. originality.
All subjects in the
All subjects in the All subjects in the
poster are related Some subjects in
poster are related poster do not
to the topic but the poster do not
Relevance with the topic and relate with the
hard to relate with the
very easy to topic
understand topic
understand

Activity 3.
Direction: Make a refection about the topic provided below and follow the indicated
instructions:

1. Listen to or view the message of Ruth Chang via Ted Talk on making hard choices
through https://www.ted.com/talks/ruth_chang.
2. Then, make either a two-minute talk video about your own difficulty in choosing
career path, relationships, studies, etc.
3. But if you don’t have any gadget available at home you may read the transcript
indicated below and write a 5 paragraph (300 word) essay with your own title.
4. The idea here is whether you made a good or bad decision and its
effect/significance on you as a person. Finally, you may send your output to a
group chat/email provided by your teacher or submit the hardcopy of your essay
in a clean bond paper instead.

Ruth [Chang-]: How to Make Hard Choices (transcript)

According to her, rational individuals are not merely discoverers of reasons but
creators of them through the activity of commitment and by owning full responsibilities of
your choice or decision. She is a philosopher, lawyer and researcher.

Summary

People definitely say that they have some hard choices. They think that hard
choices are big and hard, it matters to them but they can't choose one because they
are stupid. However, the speaker who studies hard choices and is a philosopher, tells us
that we shouldn't choose one because there is no best option. It means that we
misunderstand hard choices but we have to choose one.

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1) If you start with two things that are equally good, and you improve one of them, it now
must be better than the other. This is not the case with options in hard choices.

2) You assume that the choice has a good answer that is greater or lesser or equal.
However, the value of the choices can't be measured by something. She calls this "on a
par."

3) In fact, the alternatives are in the same area and at the same level. It's very different
in kind of value but you don't realize.

4) The choice means to create reasons for yourself and make yourself into the kind of
person who you want to be. It's not dictated by reasons given to you. The reasons create
to you like you became the authors of your own life.

In other words, how to make hard choices doesn't have the failure, because you
can make yourself in the space of hard choices where you get to exercise your normative
power. The power creates reasons for yourself and makes yourself fit the reasons. You can
decide your life by yourself. This is the answer on how to make hard choices. You can
enjoy it.

Rubrics for Video

Criteria 5 4 3 2
Content It covers all the It includes basic It includes essential The content
topics in depth with knowledge about information about includes minor
details and the topic. The the topic, but it has details and it has
examples. The content seems to 1-2 mistakes in the several mistakes in
knowledge of the be good. facts. the facts.
topic is excellent.
Originality The presentation The presentation Th uses ideas from He/ She uses ideas
shows great shows certain other people from other people
originality. The ideas originality. It shows (quoting them), but without quoting
are creative and the use of new there is little them.
witty. ideas and of evidence of original
shrewdness. ideas.
Use of There are not any Three or fewer Four spelling or More than four
language mistakes in spelling or spelling mistakes or grammar mistakes. spelling or grammar
grammar. punctuation mistakes.
mistakes.
Videography- The overall quality of Most of the quality The quality of the The quality of the
Clarity the video and the of the video and video is not very video and the
focus were excellent. the focus were good but the focus are not very
excellent. overall focus was good.
excellent.

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Rubrics for Essay
Criteria 5 3 2 1
Title Grabs reader's Grabs the reader's No special quality No title
attention. Is attention to grab the reader's
creative and attention.
appropriate.
Content and Content is Content is Content is not Content is
Development comprehensive and complete and comprehensive. incomplete. Was
accurate. Was able accurate. Was Was able to give 2 able to give 1
to give 5 able to give 3 significance in significance in
significance in significance in doing a choice in doing a choice in
doing a choice in doing a choice in life. life.
life.. life.
Organization Structure of the Structure of the Structure of the Organization and
and structure paragraph is clear paragraph is paragraph is not structure of the
and easy to follow. mostly clear and easy to follow. paragraph detract
easy to follow. from the message.
Grammar and Rules of grammar, Rules of grammar, The paragraph The paragraph
mechanics usage, and usage, and contains few contains numerous
punctuations are punctuations are grammatical, grammatical,
followed; spelling of followed with punctuation and punctuation, and
the words is correct. minor errors; spelling errors. spelling errors.
spelling of the
words is correct.

Formative Test

Direction: Select the letter of the correct answer from among the given choices.

1. This refers to your ability to make decisions and express it in actions. It is your inherent
and significant asset.
A. Freedom
B. Free Will
C. Psychological freedom
D. Voluntariness
2. This word means that a person is accountable for his or her actions and their
consequences.
A. Prudence
B. Responsibility
C. Irresponsibleness
D. Voluntariness
3. Your grandmother, due to old age, is forgetful and has a difficulty in hearing. She often
tells you to keep on repeating instructions and also scolds you if your voice is too soft.
How will you act accordingly to your grandmother’s situation?
A. I will yell at my grandmother when she asks me to repeat something that I
already told her so she can hear clearly and won’t have to ask me again.
B. I will ignore her and pretend that I did not hear her asking me to repeat what I
just said.
C. I will immediately write it down on a piece of paper instead of repeating it to
my grandmother.

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 D. I will patiently repeat to my grandmother what I previously said in a clear and
moderate voice and ask her if she would like it if I wrote it down in case she
forgets it.
4. Two of your classmates were having a hard time deciding over the P500.00 they saw
on their way to the canteen. One wanted to buy it for their snacks because he said that
there is no way that the real owner will know about it. While the other one wanted to
surrender it to the Lost and Found Section of the school. If you were one of the friends,
what are you going to do?
A. I will decide to split the money with my friend and use it to buy for the needed
supplies for my class project.
B. I will shout and announce in the canteen if there is someone who happens to
have lost his money and if there is no reply, I and my classmate will buy some
snacks.
C. I will assure myself and my friend that this is God’s plan and that He gave it to
both of us to buy some food because we are both hungry.
D. I will immediately report to the Lost and Found Section personnel and surrender
the money so that the real owner may claim it.
5. You caught your friend cheating during your Math exam but you just ignored him.
When the results came, he topped the test and everyone cheered on him. What should
you do as a concerned friend?
A. I will report this incident and allow him to explain his side to our Math teacher.
B. I will confide to my classmates about what my top-notched friend did so that the
news will spread of his cheating in the Math test.
C. I will just let it pass by and just keep it as a secret.
D. I will advise him that it would be meaningful and rewarding if things are done with
honesty and encourage him to study diligently instead.

Answer Key

Activity 1.

1. C
2. D
3. B
4. E
5. A

Activity 2.

Answers may vary.

Activity 3.

Answers may vary.

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 References

Book

Ramos, Christine Carmela R., Ph.D. Introduction to the Philosophy if Human Person. REX
Bookstore, 856 Nicanor Reyes, Sampaloc, Manila, First Edition (2016)

Toro, Noriel R. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Quarter 2 – Module 1
(ADM), Department of Education – Region VII Schools Division of Negros Oriental
Kagawasan, Ave., Daro, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, First Edition (2020)

Baylon, Charlyn S. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person Quarter 2 – Module
1 (ADM), Department of Education – Region X- Division of Cagayan de Oro Masterson
Avenue, Upper Balulang, Zone 1, Cagayan de Oro City, First Edition (2020)

Internet

https://www.google.com/search?q=rubrics+in+making+video&safe=active&sxsrf=ALeK
k020U2eSYobNnL9t0gnZUVRNMuM7rg:1621310717042&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&v
ed=2ahUKEwj1_e-
KrdLwAhWLxosBHadZBDIQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=610#imgrc=3TuvXx7zACt
tvM