Freedom and Responsibility Study Guide

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on freedom, responsibility, and morality.

Freedom

The power rooted in reason and will to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility.

Purpose of Freedom

The purpose of freedom is love; to will the good of another person.

Just Law

Law that is rooted in eternal/divine law and guides our freedom to what is good.

External Freedom

Freedom from factors outside ourselves that threaten or destroy our ability to exercise choice.

Threats to External Freedom

Discrimination, violence, corruption, poverty, tyranny, and slavery.

Internal Freedom

Freedom from interior factors that threaten or destroy our ability to exercise choice.

Threats to Internal Freedom

Mental illness, fear, sickness, and ignorance.

Ignorance

Not knowing what we should or should not do.

Inadvertence

Not paying attention or being distracted while acting.

Duress

Being forced to do something against one's will.

Fear

A feeling of apprehension that can hinder freedom.

Inordinate Attachments

Being enslaved by money or other possessions.

Habit

Being enslaved by vices or bad habits.

Invincible Ignorance

Ignorance that cannot be overcome by ordinary effort.

Vincible Ignorance

Ignorance that can be overcome by ordinary diligence.

Responsibility

The state of being accountable for actions that are freely chosen.

Sin

A deliberate bad action in violation of God's law.

Personal Sin

Deliberate actions, words, desires, or thoughts that separate us from God.

Original Sin

The fallen state every person is born into due to Adam and Eve's personal sin.

Sins of Commission

Bad things we do, either external or internal.

Sins of Omission

Choosing not to do a good deed even when we ought to.

Mortal Sin

Grave sin that leads to spiritual death and separation from God.

Conditions for Mortal Sin

Grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent.

Venial Sin

A lesser sin that does not destroy the relationship with God but weakens it.

License

Unbridled and excessive freedom that abuses true liberty.

True Freedom

The ability to choose good and will the good of others, limited by morality.

Difference Between True Freedom and License

True freedom is fulfilling the gift of freedom with love; license is abusing that gift.

Freedom for Love

True freedom is enabled by the ability to respond to God's invitation to love.

Habit Formation

The more one chooses to do good, the easier it becomes to exercise freedom for love.

Passions and Morality

Natural feelings that can lead to good or evil based on our actions.

Freedom and Happiness

True freedom aligns with deeper levels of happiness through unselfishness.

Exercise of Freedom

More good choices lead to greater freedom in acting justly.

Consequences of Bad Choices

Using freedom irresponsibly leads to the loss of true freedom.

Moral Responsibility

Responsibility decreases when actions are not freely chosen.