What is freedom?

Elements that define freedom thoughts, emotions, and actions

Freedom is an intrinsic and essential
property of the person. 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.
Freedom is rooted in the human
person's self-determination and the
exercise of intellect and free will.
The nature of self-determination: that a which can be assigned a corresponding
person's actions determine what kind of moral value.
person he or she become
Kinds of Freedom
•PHYSICAL FREEDOM
•PSYCHOLOGICAL FREEDOM
•MORAL FREEDOM
Physical Freedom
Physical freedom refers to the absence
of any physical restraint. The person has
the freedom of mobility to go where he
or she wants to go. He or she is not
impeded in his or her actions by any
physical force.
Psychological Freedom
Psychological freedom is also called
freedom of choice. The person is free to
perform actions that he or she considers
right and wise. A person is also free to
act or not to act.
Moral Freedom
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.
- Voluntariness
- Responsibility
Voluntariness
refers to the ability of a person to act
out of his or her own free will and self-
determination. Voluntariness also
means that a person may act even if he
or she is not required or called to take
action. Voluntary acts are free acts
Responsibility
Refers to the person being accountable
for his or her actions and their
consequences. Taking responsibility can
either mean a person voluntarily taking
responsibility for his or her own actions,
or being held responsible by other
people.
Voluntariness and responsibility go
hand-in-hand in determining a person's of the individual and the welfare of the
freedom. Without these two elements, society.
human freedom is diminished, and the
person makes imperfect actions and
unwise decisions which may have
negative effects on the self and others.
Freedom is experienced through the
act of making choices.
Human freedom gives us the ability to
think of countless decisions and possible
actions, we only get to choose to enact
one of these actions or possible actions.
Self-reflection is vital in the proper
exercise of human freedom. As free and
rational beings, we must recognize the
importance of exercising freedom
responsibly.
Human freedom should be exercised
with control and a recognition of
reasonable limits.
depending on the situation. Limiting
our personal freedom requires us to
sacrifice certain self-interests and
accept certain realities that are beyond
our control.
Freedom should also be experienced
with regard for knowledge and truth
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 action when
confronted with difficult situations.
As human persons, our nature drives
us to uphold human dignity and
goodness. In exercising our freedom, we
should also recognize and uphold not
only our individual freedom but also
the freedom of others.
Many societies identify certain
freedoms that should be enjoyed by all,
as these contribute to the quality of life
• FREEDOM to live and
determine one's
identity
• FREEDOM from slavery
and other constraints
• FREEDOM of speech
• FREEDOM of thought,
conscience, & religion
• The 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.

We set limits to our own freedom and

learn to moderate or control our
•INTERSUBJECTIVITY- a unique of their freedom and submit to a higher Horticultural Society
relationship between distinct subjects. authority
-small cultivation of plants, fruits, and
•AVAILABILITY- refers to the willingness John Locke vegetables
of a person to be present and be at the -domestication of animals
consent of the governed - persons in
disposal of another. -semi-nomadic
their natural state is more
-roles and responsibilities are more
•SEEMING- where an individual cooperative and reasonable, and that
clearly defined according to gender
presents himself or herself in a certain society is formed through the consent
-women: domestic; men: hunting and
way when dealing with others. of the individuals that organized it
farming
•EMPATHY- an important aspect of Jean Jacques Rousseau
Agrarian or Agricultural Society
intersubjectivity and the ability to share
general will - the government is able to
emotions. Sympathy “feeling with” -evolution of pastoral and horticultural
impose its will on the people
Empathy “feeling in” -large-scale and long-term cultivation of
John Rawls crops and domestication of animals
•DIALOGUE- deeper and more genuine
-improved technology; use of tools in
interaction with other people. veil of ignorance - humans would farming
naturally seen a just and fair society in -increased population
•ETHICS OF CARE- an ethical theory that
an effort to look out for their own -structured social system
emphasizes the moral dimension of
interests
relationships and interactions.
Feudal Society
David Gauthier
•ALIENATION-the feeling that you have
-based on ownership of land
no connection with the people around people's self-interest is a significant -rulers grant vassals the right to manage
you or that you are not part of a group factor in building and maintaining parcels of land
societies -vassals are served by peasant workers
•HELEN KELLER- was an american
author, political activist, and the first Common Good who cultivate the land
deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor's -own land = powerful
degree. social conditions which enable persons
and groups to fulfill their goals and Industrial Society
•NICK VUJICIC- an australian evangelist achieve well-being -use of specialized machinery in the
and motivational speaker who was born
Hunting and Gathering Society production of goods and services
with phocomelia.
-improved trade and commerce
•ROSELLE AMBUBUYOG- is the first -the earliest and simplest form of -work = factories
visually-impaired Filipino to graduate society -public education is prevalent
summa cum laude from Ateneo de -small size and is composed of families -capitalists = MOST INFLUENTIAL
Manila University in 2001. -nomadic -the significant departure from agrarian
-members are treated equally society
---------------------------------- -roles and division of labor is not clearly
defined Post-Industrial Society
Society
Pastoral Society -establishment of societies based
organized group of on knowledge, information, and the
people whose members interact -domesticated animals for food sale of services
frequently and have a common territory -larger population compared to hunting -led by human mind
and culture and gathering -information influences the behaviour of
-remain longer in one place people
Thomas Hobbes
-other activities: handicraft
social contract - an agreement -the emergence of specialized tasks
where individuals sacrifice an amount
Virtual Society
where people organize themselves
through communication
technology and the internet
Norms
set of traits and behavior that society
considers acceptable
Laws more formal and stringent
more formal and stringent norms that
establish and define acceptable
behavior of citizens
Folkways
less formal norms that arise from
tradition and do not result in
punishment when violated
Social System
an organized or patterned set of
relationships among individuals and
groups that compose a society
Social Role
actions and behaviors expected of a
certain individual
Social groups or Social Classes
individuals who share similar
backgrounds or perform similar roles
Social Institutions
certain groups that perform vital
functions in society
Social Values
actions or ideals that are
considered important by society
-----------------------------------------------
temporal beings physical suffering
beings oriented towards death when we experience physical injury,
disease and lack of basic needs
death
mental suffering
end of bodily functions which signals the
end of a person's life emotional and mental states like
depression, anxiety, fear, loneliness and
separation of body and spirit grief
terminus
end of life that means full stop or end of
a line
telos
end of life which means goal, purpose,
or fulfillment
happiness and suffering
two experiences which make us reflect
on the meaning of life
happiness
state of being and not merely an
emotional experience or a chosem
mental attitude
noble good
source of happiness that is pursued for
its own sake; it is good in itself (love and
friendship)
useful good
considered good so long as it serves as a
means to an end; goodness is found
only on what it can provide
pleasurable good
good so long as it provide some form of
pleasure though it does not have to be
physical
suffering
takes place when we patiently endure
unpleasantness, discomfort and pain