FREEDOM AND

RESPONSIBILITY
 FREEDOM
 The human capacity to act (or not to act) as we choose
or prefer without any external compulsion or restraint.
 It is an intrinsic and essential property of a person.
 Important indication of human freedom is the ability to
MAKE CHOICES and PERFORM ACTIONS. Our
freedom to act sets us apart from other beings.

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 FREEDOM TO ACT

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Philosophers’
Perspectives
Regarding
Freedom
 Aristotle (The Power of Volition)
 Volition in this sense is the faculty or power to
use or discharge one’s will.
 If there were no intellect, there would be no
will. The will of humanity is an instrument of
free choice. It is within the power of everyone
to be good or bad, or worthy or worthless.
 The happiness of every human being is in his
own hands, to preserve and develop, or to cast
away.
 For Aristotle, a human being is rational.
Reason is a divine characteristic. If there were
no intellect, there would be no will.
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 St. Thomas Aquinas
(Freedom is spirituality and love)
 Freedom, for St. Thomas, is the manner
intellectual beings seek universal goodness. It
is a condition of the will arising from our
nature being in the kind of world that we
inhabit.
 St. Thomas considers the human being as a
moral agent.
 Our spirituality separates us from animals; it
delineates moral dimension of our fulfillment
in an action. Through our spirituality, we have
a conscience. Whether we choose to be
“good” or “evil” becomes our responsibility.

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 St. Thomas Aquinas
(Freedom is spirituality and love)
 St. Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica)
establishes the existence of God as a first
cause. And as God’s creations, human
beings have the unique power to change
themselves and things around them for the
better.
 We have a conscience because of our
spirituality.

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 Jean Paul Sartre
(Individual Freedom)
 Existentialism is a philosophical movement
known for its inquiry on human existence,
which means “to exist”.
 For Sartre, the human person builds the road
to the destiny of his/her choosing; he/she is
the creator.
Human being is  Sartre’s Existentialism stems from this
solely principle: existence precedes essences
responsible for their  Sartre emphasizes the importance of free
actions because we individual choice , regardless of the power of
choose who we are. other people to influence and coerce our
desires, beliefs, and decisions.
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 Jean Paul Sartre
(Individual Freedom)
 Freedom means exercising our
capacity to make decisions, change
our life path and direct the course of
our lives through our own steering.
 Freedom is something that is
exercised through our CHOICES.

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 Thomas Hobbes, Jean Jacques
Rousseau and John Locke
(Theory of Social Contract)
 Hobbes, Rousseau and Locke define the
freedom of an individual in the context of having
a government to rule them (contract), which is the
basis of notion of moral obligation and duty.
 Social Contract - an agreement where
individuals sacrifice an amount of their freedom
and submit to a higher authority.
 It is a necessity that we must assure for the
government and people to work as one. From this
understanding also arises certainty that we have
freedom.

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 Is the mandatory use of face mask and
face shield a violation of our freedom?

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 Was political freedom and freedom of speech
appropriately exercised on the following images?

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 “
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Kinds of
Freedom
1. Physical Freedom
Refers to the absence of any PHYSICAL RESTRAINT. The
person has the freedom of mobility to go where he/she wants to go.

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2. Psychological Freedom
Also called as “freedom of choice”.
The person is free to perform actions that he/ she considers
right and wise. A person is also free to act or not to act.
Psychological freedom is INNATE and CANOT BE DENIED AS A
PERSON.
Examples:
1. Freedom to choose your friends
2. Freedom to choose your partner
3. Freedom to choose your course in college
4. Freedom to be what you want to be
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3. Moral Freedom
Using freedom in a manner that
upholds human dignity and goodness.
Examples:
1. Doing charitable works
2. Participating on outreach activities
3. Being sensitive to the needs of other
4. Being prudent on the use of social media
5. Participating volunteer works.

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 Positive and Negative Freedom
Negative Freedom Positive Freedom
-refers to the “absence of -kind of freedom that requires
interference”; absence of active effort; has control or
coercion or interference. mastery of his/ herself and has the
strength to do what is good.
The Freedom to do This is doing the right thing and
whatever you want. It’s exercising our freedom in a
considered negative responsible manner.
because you failed to use For example: you will finish first
freedom in a responsible the school requirements before
manner. hanging out with friends.
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 Absolute Freedom
Absolute freedom-no form of hindrance that
would prevent from doing what you want.
Should freedom be absolute?
Definitely NO- freedom always had its
limitations. Freedom is always coupled with
RESPONSIBILITY.

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 Identify which kind of freedom is being
referred or violated on the following items.

PHYSICAL FREEDOM
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 Identify which kind of freedom is being
referred or violated on the following items.

PSYCHOLOGICAL
FREEDOM
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 Identify which kind of freedom is being
referred or violated on the following items.

MORAL FREEDOM
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 Identify which kind of freedom is being
referred or violated on the following items.

PHYSICAL FREEDOM
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 Identify which kind of freedom is being
referred or violated on the following items.

MORAL FREEDOM
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What makes us
free?
How does
freedom shape
our
experiences?
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How can I
exercise
my freedom in a
responsible and
beneficial
manner?
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  Freedom should also be exercised with regard for
knowledge and truth.
 It is necessary to cultivate the intellectual virtue of
PRUDENCE in making sound choice.
 In exercising our freedom, we should also
recognize and uphold not only our individual
freedom but also the freedom of others
 Freedom should be exercised with due regard for
the welfare of other persons.

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Thank you