PHILOSOPHY
FREEDOM OF THE HUMAN PERSON
Our freedom to act sets us apart from other beings.An
important indication of human freedom is the ability to
make their own choices and perform action. Freedom is
also understood as the power to be what you want to b e
and the ability to decide and create yourself. A person’s
every action is freely determined and these actions define
him or her. Nature of self-determination, we can freely
choose to be a good person and to act in a good way.
Freedom gives us the choice to undertake one of these
possible actions. It also enables us to come up with new
choices. It requires a degree-of control from the person
who exercises it. Person who are denied their freedom by
other individuals, groups, and institutions are also
dehumanized.Freedom is experienced through the act of
making choices.
KIND OF FREEDOM
Physical Freedom, the absence of any physical restraint.
The person has the freedom of mobility to go where he or
she wants to go. He or she is not impeded in his or her
actions by any physical force. Granted that the person has
natural limitations, physical freedom allows him or her to
act and move in a determined manner. You cannot be
everywhere at once, but your freedom allows you to move
from one place to another and to go wherever you want to
go
.
Psychological Freedom, also called freedom of choice.
The person is free to perform actions that he or she
considers right and wise. A person is also free to act or not
to act. Psychological freedom is innate and cannot be
denied a person. No outside force or influence can compel
a person to take action against his or her will.
Moral Freedom, freedom in a manner that upholds human
dignity and goodness. Freedom is not an object that a
person may use in whatever way he or she pleases. A
person must use his or her freedom to grow as a person. A
person becomes more free when he or she uses freedom
well, but becomes less free when he or she uses it in a bad
way.
TWO ELEMENTS THAT DEFINE FREEDOM
Voluntariness a person may decide to act or not to act,
and these decisions are made out of his or her own free
will.Voluntary acts are free acts which can be assigned a
corresponding moral value. Responsibility, a person
being accountable for his or her actions and their
consequences. Taking responsibility can either mean a
person voluntarily taking responsibility for his or her
own actions, or being held responsible by other people.
Self-reflection is vital in the proper exercise of human
freedom.As free and rational beings, we must recognize
the importance of exercising freedom responsibility. We
should also recognize and uphold not only your
individual freedom but also the freedom of others.
INTERSUBJECTIVITY
Intersubjectivity refers to the mutual recognition
of individuals as persons, emphasizing the unique
relationship between distinct yet similar beings. It
highlights the human ability to form intimate and
personal connections through their inner life, which
allows them to give of themselves and receive
others. This relational nature enables shared
experiences, emotions, and cooperation in social
interactions, fostering empathy and understanding
among individuals.
Seeming, where an individual presents himself or
herself in a certain way when dealing with other.
When two individuals begin to view each other an
other that is truly acknowledging each other's
presence, then that is the beginning of an authentic
relationship and a dialogue. Interaction between
persons that happens through speech or the use of
words, expressions, and body language.
Empathy is an important aspect of intersubjectivity
and is driven by a person’s awareness of the
emotions and thoughts of other people.It enables a
person to place himself or herself in the shoes of
others and leads to a greater understanding and
appreciation of others.
THE HUMAN PERSON IN SOCIETY
Society is a structured group of individuals who
live together, sharing values, norms, and institutions
to enable cooperation and collective progress.
Humans establish societies to ensure survival
through shared resources and protection, foster
social connections and belonging, enhance
efficiency through specialization, preserve and
transmit knowledge, maintain order through
governance, and create meaning and shared identity.
Societies fulfill fundamental needs for security,
connection, and progress, allowing humans to
thrive collectively.
During the Enlightenment, philosophers like
Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau explored the origins
of human society by imagining humans in a
"natural state" separate from modern civilization.
By studying this natural state, they aimed to
understand the fundamental principles governing
society and connect them to concepts like human
nature and liberty, leading to diverse theories about
society's development.
Hobbes viewed individuals in their natural state as
driven by desires leading to conflict, thus requiring
a social contract where individuals sacrifice some
freedom for societal order under a higher authority.
Locke, conversely, saw individuals as more
cooperative, forming a social contract based on the
consent of the governed, with authority subject to
upholding societal ideals. Rousseau advocated for a
"general will," where the government acts in the
best interest of the people. More recent viewpoints,
like Rawls's "original position" and Gauthier's focus
on self-interest, emphasize individual decisionmaking and rational cooperation within the social
contract, highlighting the balance between
individual needs and the collective good to create a
just and humane society.
DIFFERENT FORMS OF SOCIETIES?
Hunting and Gathering Society - early hunting
and gathering societies were small, nomadic groups
with little social hierarchy and a consensus-based
decision-making process.
Pastoral Societies - based on animal domestication,
supported larger populations than hunter-gatherer
societies due to a more stable food supply. This
surplus enabled specialization of labor and trade
with other communities.
Horticultural Society - animal domestication in
pastoral societies led to larger populations, more
stable food supplies, and the development of
specialized labor and trade, unlike hunter-gatherer
societies.
Agrarian or agricultural societies - an evolution
of pastoral societies, involved large-scale farming,
crop cultivation, animal domestication, improved
technology, and tools, resulting in increased food
production and population growth.The shift to
agriculture resulted in larger, more complex
societies requiring structured social systems to
manage resources and populations. This often led to
conflicts over land and resources between
neighboring societies.
Feudal Society - a hierarchical system based on
land ownership, was marked by conflict and
dependence relationships.
Industrial Society - relies on technology and
factory production, leading to increased inequality
and impersonal social interactions.
Post-Industrial Society - characterized by a shift
from industry to knowledge, information, and
service-based economies, driven by advanced
technology. Information is a key commodity
influencing behavior. Members of this society tend
to have higher education, specialized roles, and
participate in a virtual society with fluid identities
and complex relationships, less bound by traditional
norms. The freedom of virtual worlds allows access
to diverse information and activities.
HUMAN PERSONS AS ORIENTED
TOWARDS THEIR IMPENDING DEATH
Death is the end of bodily functions which signals
the end of a person’s life. It also refers to the
separation of the body and the soul.
The kind of happiness that can be gained from a
good is also closely tied to its nature. Real
happiness can be found in more permanent and
meaningful things.
Suffering takes place when we patiently endure
unpleasantness, discomfort, and pain. It can be
experienced physically or mentally.