Philosophy

• Freedom


  A social and political concept that has great significance in how people participate in society
• Freedom emerged as an important philosophical issue during the Age of Enlightenment


  18th-century Europe
• Aristotle: 'Reason can legislate, but only through will can its legislation be translated into action. The happiness of every human being is in his own hands, to preserve and develop, or to cast away. A human being is rational; reason is a divine characteristic.'
• Intellect


  The ultimate guide in understanding the very nature of one's acts
• Conscience


  Related to morality and becomes a basis before and after every act
• St. Thomas Aquinas


  A Catholic priest and one of the most important Medieval philosophers and theologians who considers the human being as a moral agent
• Moral Acts of Man


  • Our inner view awareness of an aptitude to do right or wrong
  • The common testimony of all human beings
  • The general employment of praise and blame
• Fourfold Classification of Law by Aquinas

  • Eternal law
  • Natural Law
  • Human Law
  • Divine Law
• Eternal law


  The decree of God that governs all creation
• Natural Law


  Based on "first principles" which states that nothing exists without a sufficient reason for its being and existence
• Human Law


  Man-made law that should not only be obeyed but also obeyed voluntarily and with understanding
• Divine Law


  Deals with interior disposition as well as external acts and ensures the final punishment of all evildoings
• Three Types of Freedom

  • Physical Freedom
  • Psychological Freedom
  • Moral Freedom
• Physical Freedom


  The absence of any physical restraint and the freedom of mobility to act and go whatever, whenever, and wherever he or she pleases
• Psychological Freedom


  Also called freedom of choice
• Moral Freedom


  Using freedom in a manner that upholds dignity and goodness
• Certain Rights

  • Natural Rights
  • Legal Rights
  • Theological Views
• Natural Rights


  Rights that are innate in the person such as the right to life
• Legal Rights


  Rights that are based on society's customs and laws and are enacted by legislation and enforced by a government
• Theological Views


  Freedom as freedom from sin and living a life of righteousness
• Voluntariness


  The ability of a person to act out of his or her own free will and self-determination
• Responsibility


  The person being accountable for his or her actions and their consequences
• Jean Paul Sartre


  A foremost existentialist, novelist and playwright whose works emphasize freedom and responsibility
• Habit


  Every repeated choice that we make in the same scenario and it becomes one of our character traits
• Voluntariness


  Related to Responsibility
• Every day we take responsibility and voluntarily do the things we need to do to live a happy life or build a better society
• It is important to be responsible because every human act delivers responsibility
• We must be accountable so that others see us as someone they can rely on
• We must be responsible so that we do not leave a trail of destruct so that others do not have to bear the burden of our actions
• The realization of voluntariness and responsibility in the exercise of our freedom gives our actions and experiences a whole new meaning
• We can reflect on our actions to better understand them and guide us toward making the best possible decision
• It is very important that when confronted with choices, we exercise caution and prudence and reflect on our possible courses of action
• Advantage of having freedom

  Freedom gives us the choice to undertake one of these possible actions. Freedom requires a degree of control from the person who exercises it. The essence of freedom is that it does not confine our actions to those set expected by others.
• Existentialism and Phenomenology


  Major philosophical branches that devote much discussion to the concept of interpersonal relations
• Edmund Husserl


  Coined the term intersubjectivity
• Intersubjectivity


  Refers to the shared perception of reality among two or more individuals
• Confucius: '"Do not do unto others what you would not others to do to you", is one of the main teachings of this famous Chinese philosopher regarding intersubjectivity. One of the main ideas of Confucianism is Ren or "human-heartedness."'
• Human being is a social being


  Live in companionship with others or a community, rather than isolation. Communicate and establish relations with the environment and with other human beings. It is a relationship that creates a communion of beings through which human beings establish community.
• Martin Buber


  Jewish philosopher who introduced the "I-Thou" and "I-It" relationships to embody his philosophy of intersubjectivity. Persons are not inanimate objects to be used.
• Self


  Pertains to the awareness of individuality