OF THE HUMAN
PERSON
CONTENT STANDARD:
The learner understands the human person’s freedom
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
The learners show situations that demonstrate
freedom of choice and the consequences of choices.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Realize that “all actions have consequences”
a. distinguish human acts from acts of man
b. carefully classify personal humane gesture
c. cite specific examples of human acts.
2. Evaluate and exercise prudence in choices
3. Realize that: a. Choices have consequences. b. Some things are
given up while others are obtained in making choices
4. Show situations that demonstrate freedom of choice and the
consequences of their choices
In our discussion of Human Person in the environment in the
last lesson, we discussed the relationship of human person
and the environment and we said that humans are the
steward of nature. We significantly affect our environment in
the same way that changes in our environment affect us. One
reason in support of this is the ability and capacity of human
beings to make choices or decisions in altering nature or
preserving it. That gift is freedom which when exercised will
result to either good or bad to environment, to self and to
fellow individual or humanity in general.
Do you agree that you are gifted with
freedom? Why?
For you, is freedom a gift or a burden? Why?
Is an intrinsic and
essential property of the
person
This means that the
human person by nature
is a free being and that it
is in his or her nature to
seek freedom.
The power to be and
what you want to be,
and the ability to decide
and create yourself.
Freedom is rooted in the
human person’s selfdetermination and the exercise
of intellect and free will.
It means that a person’s every
action is freely determined, and
these actions define him or her.
How is freedom related to selfdetermination?
Freedom does not confine
our actions to those set or
expected by others, we
can imagine new actions
and decide to undertake
them.
PEER DISCUSSION: Choose a partner and discuss about
the following:
1.To be free, individual is to be responsible not only ones
self but also for all.
2.To grow intellectually is a responsible of an individual.
3.The individual should be disciplined from with in rather
than fear from authority figure.
Michael invited Ken to a party club. At the club,
Ken was very
surprised to see his former
classmates and some acquaintances. It was very
lively, people were dancing, singing and others
were drinking and smoking. But, there is
something that caught Ken’s attention, a group of
people in the corner doing something unusual.
And to his surprise, Michael was one of them. He
came near to them and Michael immediately offer
him a methamphetamine (shabu). At first, he
refused knowing that the use of it is illegal.
However, with the persistent effort of Michael,
Ken tried it. Unexpectedly, police officers came to
raid the club. Ken was abducted.
Mira wanted to earn extra income to support her studies.
That is why she joined an online business that offer to sell
beauty products and vitamins. At first, Mira was making
money enough to support her school needs like fare and
food for one week. Her demands grew better, so, she
wanted to earn more by recruiting members to join her
company she knew nothing of its origin. Later, she found
out that this company was a hoax and several classmates
she enlisted and even teachers she enticed to buy
warned that her products have harmful effects to a
person’s kidney and liver. Still she continued selling
because she needed the money badly without
considering the health of her customers. One day, Mira
was apprehended by the authorities for selling counterfeit
products.
1. What can you say about the video?
2. What characteristic have you observes about Derek?
3. If you were Derek, what choices would you rather take? would you do
the same thing?
4. What message that the movie project
ACTS OF MAN
these are things that a man does involuntarily and without using his free will.
Essential qualities of acts of man
1. Done without knowledge
2. Without consent
3. Involuntary
EXAMPLE: BREATHING, BLINKING, SNEEZING, YAWNING, eating
Acts of man can become human acts when he employs his intellect and
will in performing the act.
Human act
are actions done with “will” and “knowledge.”
Acts which are conscious and under our control and for which we are responsible
for the consequences.
Action or activities that emanate from the rationality of man
Example: to vote a candidate, to decide to teach, to study
Essential qualities of human act
1. Knowledge of the act – knowing what your doing
2. Freedom – you choose to do it
3. Voluntarism – no one force you to do it
Sample of human act
decision making on material things, like choosing what perfume to wear
doing things with reason, like putting make up to impress
human act is either morally good or morally evil.
How do we know whether a given human act is good or evil?
Over the centuries moral theologians agreed that there are two
determinants of the moral quality of our actions.
1. Circumstances/consequences
2. Purpose/intention
Lets analyze the following scenario and figure out if the action undertaken is a human act or acts of man
Mang Lito was walking down the street when he
suddenly saw a boy crossing the busy road. The
boy was chasing after a basketball that had
bounced off into the road. The boy had his eye on
his ball and did not realize that there was
oncoming traffic on the road. At the same time, a
taxi was passing along the road. Its driver saw
the boy suddenly crossing and he quickly applied
his break to stop the car. The taxi was about to hit
the boy when mang Lito decided to take action,
ran across the road and grabbed the boy to
safety.
1. Juan, a young man who grew in the province went to the city for the first time. He
crosses the street without a second thought and almost got hit by a car.
It is an act of man, because of IGNORANCE.
Since Juan grew up in the province, he has no idea about traffic rules.
2. Bea is a college student. Her mother works as a vegetable vendor while her father is a
waiter. Their earnings are barely enough to send their child to school. Before the final exam,
Bea’s parent failed to send her money for her tuition fee. One of bea’s friend, michelle offered
her to work as a prostitute for her to earn. Michelle told her about the work. Without
hesitation, Bea signed up for the job.
It is a human act There is knowledge, freedom and voluntariness.
Bea was at the right age with the right mind to decide whether to work as a prostitute or no
What is the difference between human acts and acts of man
ACTS OF MAN
-actions with the absence of
either “will” or “knowledge.”
- Instinctive
- involuntary
HUMAN ACTS
- Actions done with will and
knowledge
Actions done consciously and
freely
voluntary
SITUATIONAL ACTIVITY: Tell whether the ff. situations are Human Acts or Acts
of Man and give explanation.
1. An elderly brother who puts hot sauce on a cake before giving it to a begging
younger brother, so that the younger brother will not ask for more, and the elder
brother can have the cake all of him self.
2. A teenager who is yawning a lot, showing how uninterested she is to listen in
her professor.
3. A high school student who was engage in premarital sex got pregnant and
undergo abortion.
4. A crying baby.
5. A two year old boy urinating on walls with signage of no urinating.
Write possible consequences to the actions mentioned
Action
1. I stayed out later than my mother said I could…………….
2. I ran across the road without thinking………….
3. I bullied my classmate……….
4. i am always absent in class……….
5. I hit my classmate very hard………….
Consequence
Refers to the absence of any physical restraint.
There are significant factors to consider in the exercise of freedom. These are
Prudence and Self-reflection.
• Prudence is the ability to govern and discipline oneself with the use of reason;
it is having caution and giving good judgments in making decisions. Making hard
choices is an exercise of freedom. But freedom should also be based on truthful
knowledge and wise reasoning. Hence, we should practice self-reflection on
every decision we make.
• Self-reflection allows each person to analyze his life both in small and big
details in terms of the decisions, actions and choices he make Browning, G
(2009). It is a deeper form of learning where if practiced with higher sense of
wise judgement and keen perception, the experiences he makes are more
meaningful and serve as guide for improved and informed decisions, actions and
choices.
On your filler Finish the Sentence
• I do my best when . . .
• I struggle when . . .
• I am comfortable when . . .
• I feel stress when . . .
• I am courageous when . . .
• One of the most important things I learned was . . .
• I missed a great opportunity when . . .
• One of my favorite memories is . . .
• My toughest decisions involve . . .
• Being myself is hard because . . .
• I can be myself when . . .
• I wish I were more . . .
• I wish I could . . .
• I wish I would regularly . . .
• I wish I had . . .
• I wish I knew . . .
• I wish I felt . . .
• I wish I saw . . .
• I wish I thought . . .
• Life should be about . . .
• I am going to make my life about . . .