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
• Reason

  Can legislate, but only through will can its legislation be translated into action
• Happiness

  Of every human being is in his own hands, to preserve and develop, or to cast away
• 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
• 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


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


  Refers to 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
• Essence of freedom


  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
• Ren


  One of the main ideas of Confucianism, meaning "human-heartedness"