INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
LESSON 5: 2. Political;
3. Spiritual; and
4. Economic
FREEDOM OF THE HUMAN PERSON #To be free is part of humanity’s authenticity. In one way, understanding
freedom is part of our transcendence.
Objectives:
#Freedom consist of going beyond situations such as physical economic.
1. To realize the consequences of one’s action; Realize that “All Actions have Consequences”
2. To show situations that demonstrate freedom of choice; and
3. To evaluate and exercise prudence in one’s choice. A. Aristotle.
_________________________________________________________________
The Power of Volition
Activity: Individual
The imperative quality of a judgment of practical intellect is
A. Concept Mapping. Write your Concepts about freedom. meaningless, apart from will. Reason can legislate, but only through will can its
legislation be translated into action. The task of practical intellect is to guide will
B. Identify a (1) Foreign and (2) Local personality/hero that fought for freedom by enlightening it. Will, in fact, is to be understood wholly in terms of intellect.
of the majority. If there were no intellect, there would be no will. This is obvious from the way in
which will is rationally denominated.
C. Journal 1: In your view what consist free choice? Cite examples in the
current situation. 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 home out by:
Journal 2: Are you a slave to something (e.g. Technology)? Why or why not?
What makes you hooked on it?
Our inner awareness of an aptitude to do right or wrong;
The common testimony of all human beings;
Journal 3: Cite some situations or instances that your choice entails
consequences and situations that make you give up something to obtain The rewards and punishment of rules; and
something. Are you happy? Are you satisfied? The general employment of praise and blame.
Moral acts, which are always particular acts, are in our power and we
#In short coupon bond, usual format are responsible for them. Character or habit is no excuse for immoral
_________________________________________________________________ conduct. Attending class is a student’s responsibility. Should the student cut
class, then he/she is responsible for the consequences of his actions. As a
Introduction. result, he/she must held responsible for any accident or failure in grades that
will befall on him/her. The student may regret what he/she had done, but all
Lesson highlights freedom from; the regrets in the world will not call it back. The point is the student should
1. Intellectual; not have cut class in the first instance. When matter is sifted down, the
Page 1 of 3
INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
happiness of every human being’s soul is in his own hands, to preserve and are both spiritual and body elements; the spiritual and materials. The unity
develop, or to cast away. between both elements indeed helps us to understand our complexity as human
beings. Whether we choose to be “good” or “evil” becomes our responsibility.
A human being, therefore, has a supernatural, transcendental destiny.
This means that he can rise above his ordinary being or self to a highest being or
self. This is in line with the idea of St. Thomas that in the plan of God, a human
being has to develop and perfect himself by doing his daily tasks. Hence, if a
human being perseveringly lives a righteous and virtuous life, he transcend his
moral state of life and soars to an immoral state of life.
The power of change, however, cannot be done by human beings alone
but it is achieved through cooperation with God. Between humanity and God,
Action there is an infinite gap, which God alone can bridge through His power.
Perfection by participation here means that it is union of humanity with God.
Change should promote not just any purely private advantage, but the good of
the community.
Aquinas gives a fourfold classification of law: the internal law, natural
Will Reason
law, human law, and divine law. Human beings, as being rational, have laws that
should not only be obeyed but also obeyed voluntarily and with understanding
(for instance, in following the traffic rules). The natural law, then, in its ethical
sense, applies only to human beings. The first principle and precept of the natural
law is that good is to be sought after and evil avoided (this is the instruct of self-
For Aristotle, a human being is rational. Reason is a divine characteristic. preservation). There is inherent in every human being an inclination that he
Humans have the spark of the divine. If there were no intellect, there would shares with all other beings, namely, the desire to conserve human life and
be no will. Reason can legislate, but only trough will can its legislation be forbids the contrary. For instance, if there is fire, and its burning heat is felt,
turned into action. Our will is an instrument of free choice. As shown in then, it is but a human tendency to avoid it.
Figure 5.1, reason, will and action drives each other.
Since the law looks to the common as its end, it is then conceived
primarily with external acts and not with interior disposition. For example, If
B. St. Thomas Aquinas someone does not lie to his parents so they will increase hi allowance, then the
reason of his goodness stems not because he does not want to lie because it will
Love is Freedom hurt them but because he knows that there is reward for being so. The same goes
with government officials who use full media coverage when they help their
Of all creatures of God, human beings have the unique power to change constituents so that people would vote for them. A person, thus, should not be
themselves and the things around them for the better. St. Thomas Aquinas judged through his sincerity behind his acts.
considers the human being as a moral agent. As discussed in Chapter Three, we
Page 2 of 3
INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
Page 3 of 3
