FREEDOM OF

THE HUMAN
PERSON
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT:
 The learner is able to understand
that doing philosophy within the
context of the human person as free,
intersubjective, immersed in society,
and oriented towards their
impending death will lead to a
deeper understanding of the human
person.
 THE WILL: IT’S
EXISTENCE, NATURE
AND OBJECT
 The will, in philosophy and psychology, is a
term used to describe the faculty of mind that
is alleged to stimulate motivation of purposeful
activity.
 The concept has been variously interpreted by
philosopher, some accepting the will as a
personal faculty or function ( for example,
Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes and Kant)
 And other seeing it as the externalized result
of the interaction of conflicting elements( for
example, Spinoza, Leibniz, Huma).
THOMAS AQUINAS ‘ IDEAS ABOUT
THE WILL AND HUMAN FREEDOM
 Five Stages of a Human Act ( from
perception to action of the will)
Stage 1. Intellect- apprehends a situation
and determines that a particular end is
appropriates (good) for the given
circumstances.
Will- approves a simple volition for that
end ( or can reject, change the subject, etc.)
Stage 2. Intellect- determines that the end
can be achieved, is within the power of the
agent.
 Will – Intention: to achieve the end through some
means
Stage 3. Intellect- Counsel: determines various means to
achieve the end.
Will – accepts these means ( or can ask for more means)
Stage 4. Intellect- determines the best means for the
given circumstances.
Will- Election (choice): selects the means the intellect
proposes as best.
Stage 5. Intellect – Command: says “ Do the best
means!”
Will – Use: exercises control over the body or mind as
needed.
HUMAN ACTS AND
VOLUNTARINESS
 We have human dignity because we are
intelligent and free person, capable of
determining our own lives by our own free
choices.
 We give this dignity to ourselves by freely
choosing to shape our lives and actions in accord
with the truth; that is, by making good moral
choices. Such choices are in turn dependent upon
true moral judgments. These choices performed
as free persons are called human acts.
CITY OF ANGELS
 Theonly thing that separates us from
angels is…

freedom/ free will

 From Latin words

VOLUNTAS
 ACTION HAVE
CONSEQUENCES
• ACTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES
 All our action (spoken and physical)
have consequences. Some are good
(positive) and some bad (negative).
 Consequences are a result or an
effect.
 It is important to try to behave in a
way that has positive consequences.
FREEDOM OF THE
WILL
 Freedom in general means the absence of
resistant. There are different kinds of
restraint and freedom.
 Physical freedom is the absence of
physical restraint. When a prisoner is
released from prison, he is physically free,
since he no longer restrained by the prison
walls.
 Moral freedom is the absence of moral
restraint, of an obligation, of a law. Thus
in this country we are morally free to
criticize the government.
ARGUMENT FROM COMMON
CONSENT
 The great majority of men believe
that their will is free. This conviction
is of the utmost practical importance
for the whole of human life.
 Therefore, if there is order in the
world, the majority of mankind
cannot be wrong in the belief. Hence,
the will is free.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
ARGUMENT
 We have said that most people
naturally hold that the will is free.
 Men are directly and indirectly
aware of their freedom in the very
act of making a free decision; they
are indirectly aware of it because of
the many instances of the behavior
which can only be explained by
admitting the freedom of the will
ETHICAL ARGUMENT
 Ifthere is no freedom, there is no
moral responsibility no virtue, no
merit, no moral, obligation, no duty,
no morality.
 The necessary connection between
freedom and the spiritual realities is
quite obvious and is demonstrated in
Ethics
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING AND
GODBLESS!!!
GROUP 1
MEMBERS:
ROCHELLE M. VICTORIO
DAVE A. SANTIAGO
APRIL LYN PINEDA
JERIC AVILLA
IAN BAJACAN
ERNEST AUDAR
MIKE JUSTINE STA. MARIA