Human Freedom: Exploring True Freedom and Moral Responsibility, Lecture notes of Philosophy

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• SY: 2024-
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Objective

* discern the essence of true

freedom;

* discuss moral responsibility and

accountability in the exercise of

freedom;

* realize that all actions have

consequences;

*evaluate and exercise prudence

in

FREEDOM Fill in the circles with words that you associate with freedom. Create a concept web based on the one shown below.

1. What do you think makes us free? 2.How do we know that we are free?
2. Do you use your freedom responsibly?

Inquire and Discover

 What is freedom?

 What is the essence of freedom?

Inquire and Discover

Lets compare how animals and human persons behave to get a better understanding of freedom. We see some animals behave like human beings because they seem to perform actions in responds to commands. A well-trained dog can perform certain tasks on command such as “stay” or “fetch” because it has been trained and conditioned to perform them. A person will not respond automatically to the command to “Fetch!” because he or she is not conditioned to obey like the dog.

Inquire and Discover

The human person does not experience the world in the same way that animals do. Animals act instinctively, meaning their actions are more like predetermined responses to certain stimuli. A person, on the other hand can choose the course of action to take when given a stimulus or faced with a certain situation. Our inherent freedom makes us very dynamic creatures and our actions do not necessarily follow a set pattern or a pre-determined course.

Inquire and Discover

A good act makes a person better while its opposite has a negative impact on him or her as a person. This is the nature of a self-determination: that a persons’ actions determine what kind of person he or she becomes. Example: Some one is carrying a heavy load of books along the hallway when suddenly loses his balance and drops all the books. Imagined that you are one who witnessed this. What is your reaction in this situation?

The essence of freedom is that it does not confine our actions to those set or expected by others. A person becomes more free when he or she exercises control over himself or herself. On the other hand, a person becomes less free when he or she is no longer in control of himself or herself and is instead controlled by other forces. Example:  (^) persons suffering from addiction are less free because they are overpowered by their addiction to certain substances and can barely control themselves when presented these things.

Kinds of freedom:

1. Physical freedom- refers to the absence of any physical restraint.
2. Psychological freedom- is also called freedom of choice. The person is free to perform actions that he or she considers right and wise.
3. Moral freedom- refers to using freedom in a manner that upholds human dignity and goodness.

1.How is freedom an expression of our humanity? 2.How is freedom related to self –determination? 3.How can the loss of freedom lead to dehumanization?

What makes us free? How does freedom shape our experience?

Two elements that define freedom:

1. Voluntariness refers to the

ability of a person to act out of his

or her own free will and self-

determination.This is also mean

that a person may act even if he

or she is not required or called to

take action.