Freedom is the ability to do what you want to do. It originated from the Danish term “friheden,” which was originally meant to mean “dear” or “beloved.” Determinism The idea of fate is an essential point of discussion in the concept of freedom – because fate assumes there is no freedom at all. Determinism has three distinctions: 1. 2. 3. Biological Determinism - is the theory that certain predispositions in our actions are already rooted in our DNA. Therefore, this states that actions done by humans are dictated not by choice but by “genes.” Psychological Determinism - is the theory that tells us that humans are a sum of all his past experiences, and as such, these experiences predetermines our reaction to similar situations. Thus, the “choice” had already been made thanks to his past experiences. Sociological Determinism - is the theory that tells us our responses in situations are made primarily by what society accepts. If it is not accepted, the theory states that that person will be pressured not to make that choice and go with what society accepts. Accountability is being liable to the actions you do. Autonomy is being free and understanding that freedom is also given to others. Responsibility is similar to being accountable. A person must understand that before making a choice, there are effects that he has to be prepared for. Intersubjectivity presupposes human being’s connectivity with other human beings. It means that we share thesame situations wherein we can create shared meanings. Martin Buber A preeminent philosopher in the concept of the “I-It” and the “I-Thou.” “I-It” suggests that in a conversation, one side serves as a being while the other seen as an object. “I-Thou,” the conversation exists between two mutual identities capable of treating each other as equals. This is most commonly seen in the concept of monologue vs. dialogue: *Monologue, the conversation gears towards one person to another, and there is no response back. *Dialogue, both persons in a conversation may give each other responses as equals. Edmund Husserl He significantly contributed to the philosophy that understands the minds of the people. He believes that the self is more outward and bound towards the world. Edith Stein Her work is greatly influenced by Edmund Husserl being his student. She published her dissertation entitled “On the Problem of Empathy,” which focuses on putting the self into someone else’s context to understand that person’s situation. Karol Wojtyla (Bl. John Paul II) • He presented two views on how a human person is understood. The first is the cosmological way wherein the human person realizes that he is a part of something much larger than he is. There are several challenges to the dialogue process that one must be aware of. The challenges are listed in detail below: 1. In seeming vs. Way of being In this challenge, the main issue here is whether or not the person seems to tell the truth or is genuine. The idea behind ‘In seeming’ is there is a mask that prevents the dialogue from occurring because what is being presented may be simply half-truths, embellished conversations, to suitthe needs of the speaker For ‘Way of Being,’ this is the uncensored, natural, and genuine way of communicating and thus allows a natural interaction between persons without the barriers presented in ‘In seeming.’ 2. Speechifying vs. Personal making present In this challenge, this is a matter for the receiving end – whether or not you are genuinely listening to the entirety of the conversation. For ‘Personal making present,’ this is the complete reverse wherein you understand the whole of the situation first by completely taking in the context of the person involved and thus can wholly understand the facets of the interaction. 3. Imposition vs. Unfolding For ‘Imposition,’ as the term suggests, beliefs of the speaker are imposed upon the receiver, and thus, interaction is a oneway street. The speaker does not agree with the views of the person and therefore considers it invalid. For ‘Unfolding,’ the speaker considers the other person’s way of thinking but does not necessarily accept it. He may or may not assimilate the idea, but there is the suggestion that these ideas may be ways to view the topic at hand from a different angle. One of the effects of authentic dialogue is catharsis. Catharsis is the release of emotions to achieve freedom from stress or negative feelings Love is one of the most essential aspects of human existence, and many feel it in a variety of ways such as familial, brotherly, friendly, and of course, romantic love. Four Characteristics of Love 1. Love is historical It does not re-shape a person to become your ideal person but instead loves you for what youare. one 2. Love is total Love between two people is indivisible. 3. Love is eternal Love is forever as it is not time-bound. 4. Love is sacred Love is sacred because persons are valuable in themselves, and thus, the relationship itself has deep meaning to both parties. The Human Person in Society Theories on “The Ideal Society” Karl Marx “Das Kapital” One of the primary thinkers that led to the creation of the concept of “communism.” Communism, in its strictest sense, eliminates private ownership from the people and is led only by the state whose thinking must satisfy the entire community as a whole. Plato “The Republic” Plato suggests in his work, ‘The Republic,’ that an ideal state can only be led by only a great philosopher who has outstanding values and education to lead the city itself. Emile Durkheim “The Division of Labour in Society” Emile Durkheim was a French Social Scientist who was greatly influenced by the sufferings of France and, from his view, the mistakes of capitalism and the advent of technology Social Structures Hunting- gatheringsocieties • People were scavengers and hunters. • Nomads who fished and swam the seas and rivers to look for food. • Humans were the apex predator. PastoralSocieties • People learned domestication and stayed in an area. • People began using animals as a means to make their work easier. They also learned how to breed them andmake raising them easier. Horticultural societies • Humans learned to cultivate lands and to grow plants. • Fruits and vegetables were grown to feed families and the community. Agricultural societies • Through conquest, more territories meant the rise of empires. Foodbecame an important component. • Systematized planting of crops, irrigation, farming techniques, and others were implemented. • Surplus food was traded to other parts of the world. Industrial societies • Factories became common with the advent of reliable energy sources. • Labor now became the primary resource to satisfy the production of the ongoing demand for technology. Post-industrial societies • Also known as the Information Age, wherein more people became connected via the internet. Most gadgets now can connect to the world wide web. Five (5) Basic Social Institutions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Religion The primary purpose of religion is to provide structure to the spiritual/supernatural beliefs of thesociety Government The main goal of the government in a society is to regulate the behavior of the citizens by providing laws that address the community. Education Knowledge, in all its forms, must be transferred to preserve our cultural identity – and that is the mainpurpose of education Economics Economics’ main goal is to distribute resources within the community. Family Family is the basic unit of society. The Human Person and Imminent Mortality 1. Death is the end of the biological functions, physical systems, and mental activity in a human being. 2. Carpe diem, most commonly known as ‘seize the day,’ is a concept wherein one must live his life to the fullest by creating a legacy that goes beyond one’s physical stay here in the material world. Seizing the day is not living life by however means you desire Seizing the day is not achieved by collecting material things and riches Seizing the day is not about yourself – it is about making a lifethat is worth emulating.
