How can I exercise

my freedom in a
responsible and
beneficial manner?
Human freedom should be
exercised with control and a
recognition of reasonable
limits.
 We set limits to our own freedom and learn to
moderate or control our thoughts, emotions,
and actions depending on the situation. A
person can even choose to limit his/her own
freedom or even surrender it entirely if it will
result in greater benefits.
Limiting our personal freedom
requires us to sacrifice certain
self-interests and accept certain
realities that are beyond our
control.
Our sense of right and wrong
guides us in recognizing and
deciding on the limitations to our
freedom.
Freedom should also be
exercised with regard for
knowledge and truth.
 Asrational beings, it is natural for us to
think before we act. We use our freedom
to act and acquire more knowledge, and
we use this knowledge in order to come
up with decisions and courses of actions
when confronted with difficult
situations.
 Determining the proper information needed
before we choose the best course of action
is not easy, but it is a necessary step to
ensure that our choices, decisions, and
actions are proper, reasonable, and just.
 Ifwe make a choice and act on false or
incomplete information, we may end up
making decisions which will bring harm to
our selves and others. It is therefore
necessary to cultivate the intellectual virtue
of PRUDENCE to be our guide in making
sound choices.
 Ashuman persons, our nature drives us
to uphold human dignity and goodness.
we should
In exercising our freedom,
recognize and uphold not only
our individual freedom but
also the freedom of others.
 Thisview has led to the assertion that
freedom is a recognized and guaranteed
right for all persons.
 Many societies identify certain freedoms
that should be enjoyed by all, as these
contribute to the quality of life of the
individual and the welfare of society.
❖Freedom to live and determine one’s
identity
❖Freedom from slavery
❖Freedom of speech
❖Freedom of thought
❖Freedom of conscience
❖Freedom of religion
Freedom should be exercised
with due regard for the
welfare of other persons and
one’s freedom should be
exercised not as a tool to
restrict the freedom of others,
but as a means to enable
others to fully enjoy their own
freedom.
The Given and The
Chosen
Choice is indeed an element of
freedom, but FREEDOM GOES
BEYOND MERE CHOOSING.
Freedom is not absolute, and
in our lives, there are a lot of
things that we could not
choose. These are the so called
“GIVENS”.
Many things in life are given.
The following are examples:
❖Life
❖Parents
❖Siblings
❖Some physical traits and
personal characteristics
On the contrary, there are instances
when we can exercise our freedom
because we are not determined by
these situations. These are the
“CHOSENS”.
 Difficult situations may not always be
avoidable, especially if we happen to
be victims of circumstances, but we
may take these difficult situations
positively or negatively.
The “GIVENS” do not negate
our freedom but give us
opportunities to exercise our
freedom (“CHOSENS”) when
we determine ourselves.
The key idea is that WE
SHOULD ALWAYS ACT WELL IN
ANY GIVEN SITUATION.
Asmuch 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 for the sake of others.