INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON Why we Need Philosophy?
Philosophy plays an important role in one’s life. Students who learn philosophy get a great many benefits from
Where did Philosophy originate?
Philosophy traces its roots in Ancient Greece in the 6th Century BCE. Traditions had it that the word Philosophy
was first coined by Pythagoras, a Greek mathematician. He used this term to classify three classes of people who
attended the ancient Olympic Games as lovers of gain, lovers of honor; and lovers of knowledge or wisdom (Caraan
2016, 2). He favored the third class for not being driven by profit nor honor. Instead, they sought ways to arrive at
the truth. He then called these people as philosophers. Among the ancient Greeks, philosophers became pioneers in
history, biology, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and even physics.
What is Philosophy?
Many philosophers could not agree on the exact definition of the word philosophy. Despite its varying definitions
and lack of general agreement to it, it does not mean that the term cannot be defined and characterized. Here are
some popular definition of philosophy:
a. Etymological definition
The word philosophy is derived from philosophia which is a combination of the Greek terms philos (love) and
Sophia (wisdom). Thus, philosophy means love of wisdom.” Philosophers, therefore, are the people who are “lovers
of wisdom” (Amanze, et. Al., 2010)
b. Technical definition
Philosophy can be best defined as the science of the first causes (Maritain, 2005). It seeks to know and clarify the
very source of which all the chain of causes ultimately all go back to it.
Philosophy is also a science since it utilizes reason and logic in an attempt to understand reality and answer
fundamental questions concerning knowledge, life, morality, and human nature.
What are the branches of Philosophy?
Metaphysics Study of existence What’s out there?
Epistemology Study of knowledge How do I know about it?
Ethics Study of action What should I do?
Politics Study of force What actions are permissible?
Aesthetic Study of art What can life be like?
Philosophy can be divided into four major branches namely:
a. Metaphysics
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that deals with the examination of existence (Landauer and Rowlands 2001,
para. 1). It answers queries like “What is the meaning of life? What is the purpose of life? Does God exist?”.
b. Epistemology
Epistemology studies the process of attaining knowledge. It answers the question, ‘How do we know?”. Among the
biggest concerns of epistemology are the origin and the verification or the confirmation of knowledge. It is also
concerned with how the human person’s mind is associated with reality; and whether these relationships are valid or
invalid (Landauer and Rowlands 2001, para. 1).
c. Ethics
Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with correct judgment. It answers the question, “What I ought to do?” It is
the study of right or wrong in human actions (Landauer and Rowlands 2001, para. 1). It is concerned about human
conduct. It deals with norms or standards of right and wrong applicable to human behavior.
d. Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that delves into art (Landauer and Rowlands 2001, para. 1). The study includes
what art is and the purpose behind it . The philosopher is concerned with the analysis of aesthetic experience and the
idea of what is beautiful. It attempts to answer questions like “is art subjective?”
How is holistic different from partial thinking?
In life, it is wise to adopt an all-inclusive perspective or view, which emphasizes on the idea that every part of a
system has a mutual relationship. The interrelationship among things was first conceived by Aristotle. It can be best
summarized by the line, “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” This means that all parts are all related to
each other and that it cannot be understood independently without considering the other factors (Gallinero and
Estaris 2017, 25). This view of taking all things as part of a system is espoused in the philosophical doctrine of
Holism.
Adhering to the doctrine of Holism, holistic thinking advocates looking at the “big picture” when analyzing s
situation or problem. This would require one to be open-minded to get the general sense or impression regarding
an event. In this regard, therefore, all aspects in a given situation must be considered. On the contrary, partial
thinking adheres focusing on one factor in analyzing a situation or a problem to understand it. This kind of
view is very limiting in nature.
Philosophy prefers holistic thinking to partial thinking. Developing a holistic perspective is essential to man
since his life is not influenced or governed by a single factor only . It allows him to see the totality of life while
putting him in a different vantage point when looking at things. It also teaches critical thinking and cultivates a sense
of understanding in dealing with others.
As changes are inevitable, one must cultivate open-mindedness to many possibilities. In the same light, one must
remember that every action one does create a ripple effect that will influence many aspects of his life.
Why does philosophy value questioning?
In philosophy, almost all questions are valid since they aim at understanding the world better. Any question that is
genuinely felt and allows further exploration can be a philosophical one. In a general sense, questions are more
important than the answers in the realm of philosophy.
For Plato, “Philosophy begins in wonder” (Abella 2016, 7). This means that one begins to embark on his
philosophical journey through a life of questioning and searching the truth. Thus, philosophy starts with a feeling of
curiosity and puzzlement. And it is man’s role to be in search of answers.
The habit of questioning can activate the mind to think and find solutions to different problems. Questions can help
improve the body of knowledge since they can either challenge existing information or refine it. This is the reason
why philosophy will endure because the act of questioning is eternal (Dy, 2005).
doing so. Here some practical uses that one can get if he ventures in this undertaking:
1. Philosophy enables a person to engage in critical analysis and interpretation of concepts definitions,
arguments, and problems.
2. Philosophy also improves problem-solving and decision making.
3. A philosopher is a wise communicator who can clear and adequately present his or her ideas.
4. Wisdom is one intended product of philosophizing, and this refers to a person’s ability to apply knowledge
to daily life, particularly in making sound choices and judgment.
5. Finally, knowledge of philosophy can contribute to self-development.
What Have I Learned?
- Philosophy traces its roots in Ancient Greece in the 6th Century BCE. The Greeks were among the first to study
philosophy systematically.
- The word philosophy is derived from Philosophia which is a combination of the Greek terms philos (love) and
sophia (wisdom). Thus, philosophy means love of wisdom.”
- Philosophy prefers holistic thinking to partial thinking. The former advocates looking at the “big picture” when
analyzing s situation or problem. This would require one to be open-minded in order to get the general sense or
impression regarding a situation.
What is reflective practice?
Human activities encompass all events, actions, or happening that people do or cause to happen. One activity is
philosophizing. It is man’s default to inquire beyond what can’t grasp. Since our childhood days, we have been
asking the “whys” to better understand our perception of the world.
Reflective practice refers to a man’s personal study to his rich human experiences in his quest of personal
development. As the famous line of
Terry Pratchett says,“We live and learn, or, perhaps more importantly we learn and live.”
Deliberate reflection paves the way for personal development and, in the professional aspect, allows for continuous
update of skills and knowledge (Schön, 1986; Bolton, 2010, Paterson & Chapman, 2013).
Proponents of reflective thinking believe that the provenance of such practice started with Buddhist teachings and
the meditations of Emperor Marcus Aurelius’, a stoic philosopher. The renowned American philosopher John
Dewey, also made notable contributions in reflective practice in his studies on experience, interaction, and
reflection.
The value of reflective practice can never be underestimated. It is very useful in various professions. Professionals
can use this
 to assess their own performance and to deeply weigh their emotions, responses, and actions.
 It also enhances better communication and helps in coming up with informed and balanced decisions.
Reflective practice is helpful in the fields of education, management, health care, and leadership.
It is important to remember that Socrates once said that “The unexamined life is not worth living.” He urged
people to examine and reflect upon their lives by breaking away from their daily routine. For him, reflection is
what produces great thoughts, ideas, and actions. Only when people become reflective, thoughtful, and
philosophical, that the true meaning of life can de idealized.
Why do we engage in reflection?
Reflection means our willingness to process our own thoughts, feelings, and actions in order to learn more
about our life and experiences (Abella 2016, 11). We can reflect upon any particular subject from the moment we
wake-up until the rest of the day. There are endless opportunities to reflect in our day-to-day life.
A simple act of buying a new cellphone can put us in a reflective mood if we are consciously allowing ourselves to
reflect before making a purchase. For example, when buying a new unit, our initial queries would include: “Is this
the latest model?” Do I look fashionable in this color? However if we apply reflective practice, we can re-consider
our purchase by asking some deeper questions like: ‘Is there a need to buy a new cellphone? “Is this a good and
practical buy?” “Will it make my life more convenient?”
The example above illustrates that any mundane undertaking will be transformed into a meaningful act if you
incorporate reflection. Buying a new cellphone is much easier when confronted with simple questions only. But
reflecting first before making a purchase will allow us to consider our motivation as well as its possible
consequences. Making wiser decisions and improving our spending habits are just few of the practical advantages
when aided by reflection.
Abella (2016, 11-12) shared several benefits if one makes reflection as an integral part of his life. Making it a habit
to self-reflect on a daily basis will:
1. Enable us to set our goals and put us in the path of thinking of ways to achieve them.
2. Ensure that our actions and decisions are well thought out and done in consideration of how it affects ourselves,
others, and our surroundings.
3. Help us understand a better self-concept or self-image.
4. Allow us to exercise a good judgment in practical matters.
5. Provide us positive ways to cope with life challenges.
Summary
From this module you have learned the Greeks were among the first to practice and make study philosophy a
discipline. Lovers of philosophy consider the art questioning and reflecting at heart of the philosophy. In order to
understand life fully, philosophers advocate holistic thinking than partial thinking. It allows man to see the big
picture of the situation. And lastly, the advent philosophy had impacted the world. It is considered as essential to
man’s existence for it nourishes his mind and soul.
Modified True or False
1. The etymological definition of the word Philosophy means the love of wisdom. True
2. One must study Metaphysics if one wants to study about the concept of beauty and arts. False/ Aesthetics
3. According to ancient records, India is considered to be the birthplace of philosophy. False/ Greece
4. Partial thinking requires one to open-minded in order to be able to see the big picture in order to understand the
entire situation. False/ Holistic Thinking
5. Doing reflection is essential because it makes our actions and decisions well thought out and done in
consideration of how it affects ourselves, others, and our surroundings. True
6. Some of the benefits of reflection are good judgment in practical matters and having a positive attitude in life.
True
7. Socrates is credited as the first person to coin the word philosophy. False/ Pythagoras
8. Ethics is a branch of philosophy which studies principles of concepts of right and wrong behavior. True
9. In phenomenology, we are encouraged to study our lived experience or conscious experience from a subjective
(first person) point of view. True
10. Epistemology is essential to man’s existence for it nourishes his mind and soul in as much as what food does to
the body. False/ Philosophy
Matching Type
1. Metaphysics d. It focuses on the nature of reality and its existence
2. Epistemology c. It studies about the process of attaining knowledge
3. Ethics a. The study of correct judgment
4. Aesthetics b. It concerns about the appreciation of art and beauty
5. Phenomenology e. It involves studying the lived or conscious experience of man
1. Why is Greece considered as the birthplace of philosophy?
c. It advocated for the life of reason and rational thought.
2. How important is Pythagoras to philosophy?
a. He coined the word philosophy first
3. Which of the following supports the idea that philosophy aims at developing good judgment? d. love of wisdom
4. Tony is interested in the nature of reality and existence. Which branch of philosophy should he be reading about?
c. Metaphysics
5. Aristotle’s line “the whole is more than the sum of its parts” suggests
a. Parts are all interrelated
6. Ethics is a branch of philosophy which deals with correct judgment. Which scenario depicts this? b. A boy
returned lost wallet
7. What is the meaning of the ancient Greek word Sophia? b. Wisdom
8. When Filipinos celebrate fiestas for the sake of religion, this is an example of a. Partial Thinking
9. Why philosophy is considered the science of first causes?
d. It seeks to know the very source
10. Which type of thinking advocates looking at the “big picture” when analyzing s situation or a circumstance? c.
Holistic thinking
11. Which of the following is not a benefit of reflective practice?
c. It helps in making informed decisions
12. Who was the renowned American philosopher who made notable contributions in his studies on experience,
interaction, and reflection?
a. John Dewey
13. What is the message of Socrates’ line “the unexamined life is not worth living?” a. We should analyse our
actions
14. Who does the Greek word philo mean? a. Love
15. The line “beauty is skin deep” belongs to which branch of philosophy?
a. Aesthetics
M2- Value of Doing Philosophy
Let us buckle up these important concepts:
1. Philosophy enables reflective thinking which greatly influences a person view
of life, challenges, and relationships.
2. In the process of valuing philosophy, it is critical to have holistic point of view –
the perception of looking at all aspects of a situation before making a
conclusion. There are skills involved in doing philosophy such as critical, logical,
and analytical thinking, observation, and communication.
3. The value of doing philosophy is applicable in day to day activities and life
perspectives.
Let us buckle up these important concepts:
1. Philosophy enables reflective thinking which greatly influences a person view
of life, challenges, and relationships.
2. In the process of valuing philosophy, it is critical to have holistic point of view –
the perception of looking at all aspects of a situation before making a
conclusion. There are skills involved in doing philosophy such as critical, logical,
and analytical thinking, observation, and communication.
3. The value of doing philosophy is applicable in day to day activities and life
perspectives.
Let us buckle up these important concepts:
1. Philosophy enables reflective thinking which greatly influences a person view
of life, challenges, and relationships.
2. In the process of valuing philosophy, it is critical to have holistic point of view –
the perception of looking at all aspects of a situation before making a
conclusion. There are skills involved in doing philosophy such as critical, logical,
and analytical thinking, observation, and communication.
3. The value of doing philosophy is applicable in day to day activities and life
perspectives.
Let us buckle up these important concepts:
1. Philosophy enables reflective thinking which greatly influences a person view
of life, challenges, and relationships.
2. In the process of valuing philosophy, it is critical to have holistic point of view –
the perception of looking at all aspects of a situation before making a
conclusion. There are skills involved in doing philosophy such as critical, logical,
and analytical thinking, observation, and communication.
3. The value of doing philosophy is applicable in day to day activities and life
perspectives.
Let us buckle up these important concepts:
1. Philosophy enables reflective thinking which greatly influences a person view
of life, challenges, and relationships.
2. In the process of valuing philosophy, it is critical to have holistic point of view –
the perception of looking at all aspects of a situation before making a
conclusion. There are skills involved in doing philosophy such as critical, logical,
and analytical thinking, observation, and communication.
3. The value of doing philosophy is applicable in day to day activities and life
perspectives.
Let us buckle up these important concepts:
1. Philosophy enables reflective thinking which greatly influences a person view of life, challenges, and
relationships.
2. In the process of valuing philosophy, it is critical to have holistic point of view – the perception of looking at all
aspects of a situation before making a conclusion. There are skills involved in doing philosophy such as critical,
logical, and analytical thinking, observation, and communication.
3. The value of doing philosophy is applicable in day to day activities and life perspectives.
This activity shows the different common activities and can be the reasons for the need to philosophize.
Robert Abella, author of Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person, says that “We all have the potential to
philosophize since we have the tendency to wonder and doubt”.
When you search for meaning of life, you will encounter chain of related questions and there will be always an
available answer. Yet, there is the feeling of lacking or emptiness. Undeniably, there is the presence of unending
desire to satisfy such wants and longing for something. The more you want to know, the further it entices you ahead.
As you grapple, additional knowledge brings on a wider scope of information. This state makes you more
knowledgeable from others. Hence, the value of doing philosophy allows you to gather information on what
influences person’s view of life, challenges, and relationships.
As a field of study, Philosophy is a distinct area of knowledge with its own goals, concerns, and ways of doing
things. It contains several branches of study. Each branch of study partakes an aspect of life or phenomena.
 The Philosophy that study the notion of beauty and what makes things “beautiful” is called
Aesthetics.
 The branch of Philosophy that deals with correct thinking and reasoning is Logic.
 Philosophy that discusses the nature of knowledge and the process of knowing is Epistemology.
 The Philosophy that deals with moral questions of human actions and dilemmas is Ethics..
 The Philosophy that studies governments and deals with questions of justice, power, rights and
obligation of citizens is Political Philosophy.
 The branch of Philosophy which deals with questions regarding reality and existence is
Metaphysics .
 The branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and notion of human being is Philosophy of
Man (Human Person).
Philosophy of the Human Person deals with the complexity and dynamism of human person.
Furthermore, it considers human person as he/she interrelates with oneself, others, the community, the
environment and the reality of mortal being.
You relate it with your Self, Others, Nature, and God. Together with them, you treasures things and experiences in
the past. It makes who you are today.
Clueless, individuals engage themselves in philosophizing when they think of the possible effects of a particular
action.
Robert Abella said “when one imagines certain alternatives and possible outcomes, one already engages
in philosophy”. Thus, doing
Philosophy or philosophizing is a mental activity of searching for all possible choices of actions and weighing
the positive and negative effects/results of an action. This is the value of doing Philosophy. Through the gathered
available data and information affecting the circumstance, things and persons involved, you can make a holistic and
integral critical analysis and rightful judgment of an issue or concern. A number of notable Philosophers mentioned
reasons for the need to do philosophical activity.
Reasons to Engage in Doing Philosophy
1. Sense of Wonder
The Greek philosopher Plato traced man’s need to philosophize in his sense of wonder. We ask questions to try
and make sense of our world and experiences.
Philosophical wonder allows the thinking person to consider two opposing ideas and attempt to make a new
knowledge out of them.
Man by nature is inquisitive on things. What is this?”
Such as asking “What does this bring off?”
“Why are trees tall?”
“Why is the sky so far away?”
2. Doubt
Rene Descartes says, “When we doubt, We cannot doubt, that we doubt.”
This means Doubting is Thinking.
Rene Descartes (1596-1650), a French philosopher, rejected or questioned established ideas during his time. More
so, he doubted his own ideas. Yet for him while doing critical thinking and analysis, doubt makes a person thinks,
examines ideas and perspectives as correct or true.
3. Experience
“Man is constantly confronted with experiences and it limits his situations. As a result , man feels helpless,
anxiety or dread.”
Karl Jaspers, 20th-century Swiss German Philosopher, saw the need to philosophize because of experience. For
him philosophy provides us a means to understand challenging situations, to rise above them and gain new
knowledge and perspectives. Thus, experience directly affects person’s ideas, reasons and judgment.
4. Love of Wisdom
‘The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
-Socrates
According to Socrates “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Also, he is known in his statement “I know that
I do not know…”. This statement implies to acknowledge one’s limitations or absence of knowledge and considers
such state as a step to know and eagerness to ask more questions to probe a topic.
M3- Human Person and Society
Men --by their nature – are political animals. This ancient saying of Aristotle has never lose its appeal. Perhaps the
reason is that despite the long course it traversed in the history, it still capsulizes one of the essential elements of
human nature – human’s endowed innateness to gather themselves and create a community where they share their
commonalities and fix differences.
A. Pre-Industrial Societies
a. Tribal Society -the term “tribe” denotes a group of peoples living in a primitive setting under a leader or chief.
The term ‘tribal society’ associates it to other meaning such as “primitive society” or “preliterate society.” The word
‘tribe’ has become an important technical term which pertains to a political unit in a certain territory. The term’s use
is rooted from Latin which is associated to the political divisions or orders of the Roman empire. Tribal societies are
small in scale; bound to their spatial and temporal range of relations in terms of society, law, and politics; and
possess a moral code, cult, and wide range of belief system. The language systems of tribes are unwritten which
provides a narrow extent of communication. At the same time, tribal societies show a self-sustaining structure which
is absent in the modern society. This is achieved by the close connections that exist between tribal organizations, and
by the focusing of a leader or person to multiple roles. Unity and coherence exist in tribal values that are closely
related to social groups and are provided with an intensity characteristic of all “closed” systems of thought.
b. Feudal Society -Feudalism refers to the economic, political, and social system that prevailed in Europe from
about the ninth to the fifteenth century. Due to the lack of effective centralized government during this period, kings
and lords granted land and provided protection to lesser nobles known as vassals. In return, these vassals swore
oaths of loyalty and military service to their lords. Peasants known as serfs were bound to the land and were subject
to the will of their lords. One social class system or economic form was not realized for Europe over the whole
Middle Ages. A new economy after medieval period known as capitalism is still in progress. Medieval world is
known for its traditional land economy and military service, and an urban society. These led to a feudal-based
social-class system and trade & commerce based on money or capital. For the urban or town environment,
merchants, artisans, and customers formed the core of the society. They saw manufacture as the most important
business to produce goods for sale and buy in the local market economy. Local products was to have an impact in
other areas, such as regional fairs, port cities, and far trade destinations.
 B. Industrial society is the one which uses advance technology to drive a masssive production industry that will
support a large population. For example, the United States is an industrial society because a huge portion of its
economy is tied to jobs that involve machine work, like factory farming or auto-assembly plants, that has a
combination of machine and human employees to produce goods. The objective of an industrial economy is the fast
and efficient manufacturing of standardized products. The same goes if one avails a car, there is a chance that the car
was mass produced because it operates similarly to other models, and its parts can be replaced with other parts
because they are identical.
 C. Post Industrial Society -is marked by a progress from a manufacturing-based to a service-based economy. Post
industrialization is most evident in countries and regions that were among the first to experience the Industrial
Revolution, such as the United States, western Europe, and Japan. Daniel Bell, an American sociologist, first coined
the term ‘post-industrial’ in 1973 in his book “The Coming of Post-Industrial Society: A Venture in Social
Forecasting,” which describes several features of this kind of society. Post-industrial societies are characterized by:
a. a shift from the production of goods to the production of services;
b. the replacement of manual laborers with technical and professional workers (computer engineers, doctors, and
bankers) as the direct production of goods is moved elsewhere;
c. the replacement of practical knowledge with theoretical knowledge;
d. focusing to the theoretical and ethical implications of new technologies, which helps society avoid some of the
negative features of introducing new technologies, concerning environment and energy;
e. the development of recent scientific disciplines—that involve new forms of information technology, cybernetics,
or artificial intelligence—to evaluate the theoretical and ethical implications of new technologies;
f. an emphasis on the university and polytechnic institutes which produce graduates who innovate and lead the new
technologies contributing to a postindustrial society; and
g. the changing values and norms which reflects the influences on the society. In an instance, outsourcing of
manufactured goods changes how members of a society see and treat foreigners and immigrants. Also, those
individuals previously occupied in the manufacturing sector find themselves with no clearly defined social role.
DIGITAL SOCIETY AND THE INFORMATION AGE
Digital technologies have wildly affected our interactions and activity in the 21st century. They have significantly
changed our way of learning, working and socializing. In this modern world we rely with the use of modern
technology which has led to considering the possible outcome for the society, concerning how we would take part in
interaction, and how we can use these digital tools and communication channels.
embodied human interaction. Everyone is glued to their devices – cellphones, tablets, laptops, or any device and
they are all probably interacting with their virtual societies. One is busy with other things other than the persons
within the room or in the closest proximity. The kind of human interaction, which was still present just two decades
ago, is obviously altered now. And however much we try and remind ourselves to refrain from being alone with our
devices while being with others, we always fall back into interacting with our gadgets. We prefer to interact with our
phones with the unfinished game that we are playing, with the new music and movies we downloaded, or with our
friends who are probably in the situation – with other people as well, but alone with their devices too. Interacting
with actual embodied subjects, face-to-face, is becoming more and more difficult today. It is indeed more difficult to
relate to other embodied subjects than to relate with things.
The practice of selfie is another move towards disembodied human relations. People used to approach other people
to take their photos. But the regained popularity of selfie gave people the idea that they do not need the other to take
photos. And the invention of the monopod aggravates the condition. The monopod allows us to take group selfies
without missing a member of our group. It has solidified the person to take our photos. Maybe we will just disturb
the person by asking him to take our photo. But maybe we are more afraid of being rejected than by the idea of
bothering the other. The virtual society and the technological devices today are starting to reshape the human person
and human interactions and relationships. More and more interactions are done in the virtual world than in the actual
world. People are more thrilled to see their virtual selves than their actual selves. They are more themselves online
than offline. And this leads one to ask, “Who am I?” in a more complex manner. People seem to start manipulating
personalities as they exhibit different behaviors in different worlds. People fall in love in virtual worlds. Someone
breaks up with a partner through a text message. Human relations seem to start losing an important element in living
– commitment. Virtual worlds and disembodied relations lack commitment. We can always step back and retreat in
a virtual world. We can always create a new self when our avatars die or when it has become undesirable. We can
always ignore message. Virtual realities remove risks; and because we do not want to risk, we patronize the virtual
world. Commitment is hard. To commit is to risk. In the virtual world, one’s anonymity lessens, if not completely
removes risks. When we are confronted with real social problems like war and famine, discrimination harassment
and corruption; we let the world know that we condemn these evils and express participation in the abolition of these
problems. How? By a futile click to like. People in the modern technological society ultimately make no real
commitments. (Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person: Senior High School. (2020) Quezon City: Vibal
Group Inc.)
MODULE 5: FREEDOM OF THE HUMAN PERSON
Essence of freedom – a human person is made in the image and likeness of God gifted with intellect and free-will
which be the reflection of the spirit.
Reason - a divine characteristic
If there were no intellect there would be no will
Will - an instrument of free choice
Volition - faculty or power of using one's will.
Moral acts – our responsibilities as a human person

Having our heads of digital society in our minds, we first have to think of the information society; which are 3 KINDS OF FREEDOM
correlated with the progress and development of digital information and communication technologies to the internet Physical Freedom- absence of physical restraints, allows the person to move or act in a determined
at least. Information society plays a vital role with regards to the circulation and control of made-up ideas which manner
affects political, economic, social and cultural aspects. So, what does this mean for the everyday citizen? Psychological Freedom - freedom of choice, free to perform actions that is right and wise.
Moral freedom - using freedom in a manner that upholds human dignity and goodness.
These informative societies have paved many opportunities reaching bigger audiences like never before. With a
wider scale of the world’s demography, primarily Westerners, have access to sources and technologies which 2 TYPES OF FREEDOM
enables them to connect with enough activities whether economic, social, political, or educational. We can Inner Freedom
manipulate the phasing of learning (e.g. free sources) or businesses (e.g. online selling) without a large sum of - freedom to be all we can possibly be.
money used as a capital and we can share our ideas and perspectives to the international audiences as we connect - It is a state of being fulfilled rather than a way of acting
beyond.
External Freedom
What do we mean by digital citizenship? - the freedom to do all we can possibly do.
Now, one of the main terms in the modern world is the ‘digital citizen’. What does this actually mean? A digital
citizen is a person who is knowledgeable and responsible enough to effectively use different social platforms in 3 Inner threats to Freedom: 3 External Threats to Freedom
the internet.  Ignorance  Oppression
 They often engage in useful topics and issues that will help build a better society, politics and  Passions  Injustice
government.  Habits  Prejudice
If we will dig deeper, digital citizenship might look simple. We might think that it is just about using the internet
safely. However, we also need to consider and understand that this citizenship can get complicated, especially if we Synthesis - to be a free individual
are going to criticize and show interest in sensitive topics as we start to become a digital citizen, using digital media - to be responsible not only for oneself but also, for all.
to actively participate in society and politics. - to grow intellectually is a responsibility of an individual.
If we look a little closer at the field of ‘citizenship studies’ this will lead us to a better understanding of what digital - individual should be disciplined from within rather than fear from authority figure.
society really means. - freedom carries with it responsibility
- Doing good is one sure way towards the fulfillment to be happy which is the pursuit of our inner
A citizen is defined as an individual character who is viewed as a member of a society while citizenship freedom
considers an individual’s behavior in terms of rights, obligations and functions of said citizen.

Being a citizen of a state requires tons of obligations and duties such as work, taxation and obedience of laws.
On the other hand, citizens also have their rights, it includes civil rights such as freedom of speech and expression,
to stand for what we believe in, and rights to a private life; political rights, or the right to vote and social rights to
health care and welfare. In this course we will tackle these rights as we look at real definition of what it means to be
a citizen in the modern society and how legislation and the government shape our ability to be democratic citizens
who can stand for the truth.

What does this all mean then in the digital age?

We have said that being a digital citizen requires active participation online, not just access and use. In their book
“Being Digital Citizens” (2015) Isin and Ruppert suggest that if we constitute ourselves as digital citizens, we have
become subjects of power in cyberspace. We are enacting ourselves on the internet, considering and understanding
the opportunities presented by this medium, such as anonymity, communication, and influence. In short, we can use
digital technologies to engage and participate on many levels in society and political life.

The virtual society and the technological devices today are starting to reshape the human person and human
interactions and relationships. More and more interactions are done in the virtual world than in the actual world.
People are more thrilled to see their virtual selves than their actual selves. They are more themselves online than
offline. And this leads one to ask, “Who am I?” in a more complex manner. People seem to start manipulating
personalities as they exhibit different behaviors in different worlds. People fall in love in virtual worlds. Someone
breaks up with a partner through a text message. Human relations seem to start losing an important element in living
– commitment. Virtual worlds and disembodied relations lack commitment. We can always step back and retreat in
a virtual world. We can always create a new self when our avatars die or when it has become undesirable. We can
always ignore message. Virtual realities remove risks; and because we do not want to risk, we patronize the virtual
world. Commitment is hard. To commit is to risk.

In the virtual world, one’s anonymity lessens, if not completely removes risks. When we are confronted with real
social problems like war and famine, discrimination harassment and corruption; we let the world know that we
condemn these evils and express participation in the abolition of these problems. How? By a futile click to like.
People in the modern technological society ultimately make no real commitments

THE DISEMBODIED SUBJECT

The dissatisfaction and frustration of the human person with bodily limitations drive the person to prefer a
disembodied human relation. At the outset, it must be clarified that the term disembodied subject does not mean that
in the technological society, human persons are no longer living with their bodies. However, in a manner of
speaking, people are slowly putting aside their bodies in relating with others because the technological society offers
an alternative which apparently resolves human of an embodied subject. Face-to-face interaction is too stressful and
difficult while virtual interactions are relatively easier. Consequently, we find many cases where people prefer
communicating using virtual world, even if the person involved is someone seen on a regular basis. Moreover, the
disembodied interaction among people is aggravated by modern technological devices. The different gadgets that are
produced today support disembodied human relations. The scene which the technological society creates is very
familiar to us: we see a family, or friends, gathered around a table or in a room, but with very minimal actual