FREEDOM OF THE
HUMAN PERSON
Views of Major Philosophers
This lesson highlights freedom
from the intellectual, political,
spiritual, spiritual, and economic
aspects. To be free is a part of
humanity’s authenticity
01
Philosophical
Foundations of Human
Freedom
ARISTOTLE
REALIZING THAT ‘ALL ACTIONS HAVE COSEQUENCES
The will of humanity is an instrument of free choice.
It is within the power of everyone to be good or
bad, worthy or worthless. This borne out by:
• Our inner awareness of an aptitude to do right or
wrong
• The common testimony of human beings
• The rewards and punishment of rulers
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For Aristotle, a human being is rational (based
on facts and reason and not by emotion)
Reason is a divine characteristic.
If there were no intellect, there would be no will.
Our will is an instrument of free choice
Reason, will, and action drives each other
ST. THOMAS
AQUINAS
LOVE IS FREEDOM
• Of all creatures of God, human beings have the
unique power to change themselves and the things
around them for the better
• St. Thomas emphasizes the freedom of humanity but
chooses love in governing humanity’s life.
• Since God is love, then love is the guiding principle of
humanity toward self-perception and happiness – his
ultimate destiny.
JEAN PAUL
SARTRE
INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM
• The human person builds the road to the destiny of
his/her choosing. He/she is the creator.
• Sartre emphasizes the importance of free individual
choice , regardless the power of other people to
influence and coerce our desire, beliefs, and
decisions.
• To be human, is to be conscious, is to be free to
imagine, free to choose, and be responsible to
02
Social and Political
Perspectives on
Freedom
THOMAS HOBBES
&
JEAN-JACQUES
ROUSSEAU
SOCIAL CONTRACT
• Human beings have to form a community or civil
community to protect themselves from one
another, because the nature of human beings is
to wage war against one another.
• Hobbes believes that human beings is born free
and good. Now he is in chains and has become
bad due to the evil influence of society,
civilization, learning and progress.
Because of this, human beings lost his
original goodness, his primitive tranquility of
spirit.
In order to restore peace, bring his freedom
back, he saw the necessity and came to
form the state through the social contract
whereby everyone grants his individual right
to the general will.
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