Freedom of the Human Person

Lesson Objectives:


) To realize the consequences and responsibilities of
1

one’s actions.
2) To show situations that demonstrate freedom of choice.
3) To evaluate and exercise prudence in one’s choices.
Picture Message:


1)
Reflect on the following pictures
2) What is the message that each picture tell you?
3) How are they related to the concept of
“Freedom”?
Freedom of the Human Person

To be free is a part humanity’s authenticity.

Understanding freedom is part of our transcendence.
Freedom consists of going beyond situations such as
physical or economic.
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) German Philosopher. One of the
central Enlightenment thinkers. A controversial figure in Modern
Western Philosophy.
 *Doing whatever you want to do is not the real image of freedom.
 *Freedom is found in being able to do the right thing which is the act or
choice dictated by moral reasoning.
 *Freedom is liberation from being a slave of passions and if we can act
according to our reason, despite these desires for vicious things then that is
when we are truly free.
Jean Paul Sartre (1905-1980) French Philosopher playwright novelist screen
writer, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. One of the key figures
in existentialism.
 *Existence precedes essence.
 *The essence or the purpose of a person is not pre-determined and there is no universal
essence or nature of the person.
 *Our existence is how we live our lives defines our essence and meaning in this world..
 *We are the ones who give meaning, value,and essence to our existence.
 *Man is nothing other than what he makes of himself.
All actions have consequences
Aristotle:
“Moral acts are in our power and we are responsible for
them.”
“All moral acts are specific actions done at a particular
time in a particular situation with people.
A human being is rational.
 All actions have consequences

God created humans to reason and are inclined to reason.

Humans are made according to the characteristics of God.
Without intellect, there is no will.
Though reason rules over will, our will is an instrument of
“Free Choice” turning into action.
 Love is Freedom

 St.Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) Italian Dominican Priest,

Philosopher, and Doctor of the Church.
 Of all creatures of God, human beings have the power to change
themselves and the things around them for the better.
 All other creatures merely follow their natural instinct and
maintain their natural place in the world.
 Human beings can rise above his ordinary being or self to a highest
being or self.
 St. Thomas Aquinas

To achieve the highest level of fulfillment and happiness,

humans must aspire to go beyond their basic needs, to
live, eat, and sleep, to Love.
Aquinas emphasized the freedom of humanity but chose
love in in governing humanity’s life.
 St.Thomas Aquinas

Love is in consonance with humanity’s free nature, for

law commands and completes. Love only calls and
invites.
Since God is love , then love is the guiding principle of
humanity toward his self-perception and happiness-his
ultimate destiny.
 Freedom and Responsibility cannot be
separated.

The act of choosing or the ability to choose is valuable

because it gives the human person the reason to make
deliberate actions coming from motives that reveal his
autonomy as an agent or as an individual. Having the
capacity to choose implies that one can be responsible of
the consequences of his actions.
 Freedom and Responsibility cannot be separated.

Acting without responsibility is abuse of freedom.

True freedom protects the common good.
 Sean Paul Sartre(1905-1980) French Philosopher, Playwright,
Novelist, Screen Writer, Political Activist,Biographer,and Literary
Critic.
 The person, first , exists and encounters himself and surges up in
the world, then defines himself afterward. The person is nothing
else but that what he makes of himself.
 The person is provided with opportunity to give meaning to one’s
life. In the course of giving meaning to one’s life, he fills the world
with meaning.
Sean Paul Sartre

Freedom is, therefore, the very core and the door to

authentic existence.
Authentic existence is realized only in deeds that are
committed alone in absolute freedom and responsibility
and which is, therefore, the character of true creation.
 Sean Paul Sartre

The human person who tries to escape obligations (“ I was

born this way” or “I grew up in a bad environment” is acting
on bad faith.
To be human, to be conscious, is to be free to imagine, free
to choose, and be responsible for one’s life.
The human person builds the road to the destiny of his
choosing, he is the creator.
The virtue that protects Freedom.
Can there be freedom even if there are laws?

 1) Answer this question in your notebook.

 2) Answer your insights thoroughly and give two concrete
life situations that could support your claim.