LU Introduction to Philosophy Module 5: Freedom of the Human Person - Flashcards

30 flashcards covering core concepts, philosophers, and values related to the Freedom of the Human Person as discussed in Module 5.

What defines freedom in Sartre's existentialism?

Freedom is the capacity to choose and to be responsible; existence precedes essence; the person creates and defines themselves through choices and is responsible for their consequences.

Aristotle – Power of Volition

Reason can legislate, but only through the will can its legislation be translated into action; the will is the instrument of free choice.

Moral acts are in our power (Aristotle)

We are responsible for our moral acts; character or habit is not an excuse for immoral conduct.

Aristotle – Intellectual Freedom

Reason is a divine characteristic; there is no will without intellect.

St. Thomas Aquinas – Love is Freedom

Love is freedom; the human being is a moral agent with spiritual and bodily unity; conscience guides freedom.

St. Thomas Aquinas – Fourfold classification of law

Eternal law, natural law, human law, and divine law.

Natural Law (Aquinas)

Good is to be sought and evil avoided; it applies to humans and includes the inclination toward self-preservation.

Divine Law (Aquinas)

Divine law orders interior dispositions and external acts; old Mosaic law and new Christian law; higher order than natural law.

Aristotle on happiness

The purpose of a human being is to be happy by living a virtuous life and developing rational, moral, social, emotional, and physical powers.

St. Thomas on happiness

The perfect happiness everyone seeks is found in God alone.

Love as guiding principle (Aquinas)

Love is the guiding principle of humanity; God is Love and love leads toward self-perception and happiness.

Jean-Paul Sartre – Individual Freedom

The person exists first, then defines themselves; they are the creator of their destiny; free choices carry responsibility.

Hobbes – Law of Nature and social contract

The Law of Nature seeks peace but requires coercive power to enforce; Hobbes advocates for an absolute monarchy.

Rousseau – Social contract

Man is born free and good; society corrupts; a common power is needed to protect freedom through free mutual agreement.

Bad faith (Sartre)

To act in bad faith is to allow others to choose for you or to let chance lead your actions.

Fatalism

The view that one is powerless to do anything beyond what nature dictates, reducing personal responsibility.

Consciousness of freedom

Awareness that humans act freely and are responsible for their choices.

Nozick – Weighing reasons in making a choice

Decision making involves evaluating and weighting reasons; some reasons carry more weight than others.

Intrinsic value (Nozick)

Value that exists in itself, valuable in its own right regardless of consequences.

Instrumental value (Nozick)

Value from the function or consequences that follow from intrinsic value; used to weigh options.

Originative value (Nozick)

Introduces new values to the world; may be newly intrinsic or instrumental and can drive change.

Contributory value (Nozick)

Value focused on the contribution of an action to the world, beyond private gains.

Rand on freedom and capitalism

Individual freedom should be aligned with economic freedom; highlights self-reliance and inner dignity (kalooban) within social harmony.

Filipino concepts: kasarinlan and utang na loob

Kasarinlan = self-sufficiency; utang na loob = debt of gratitude; both relate to social reciprocity and dignity.

Sakop

Filipino concept of harmony and social integration; leadership that engages and uplifts the community.

Kalooban

Inner self; one's core moral worth and disposition.

Magandang kalooban

Good inner disposition of a leader; active, responsible, and engaged in economic development.

Utang na loob

Debt of gratitude; obligation to repay kindness or assistance received.

Weighing reasons: example

Choosing between studying and going out; the option with greater weight given to reasons is selected.

Freedom requires responsibility

Freedom includes responsibility for the consequences of one’s choices; prudent decision-making is essential.

The act of making a choice involves evaluating alternatives

Deliberate choice requires weighing reasons and selecting the alternative with the most weight.

The module’s core aim

Understand freedom from intellectual, political, spiritual, and economic perspectives and exercise prudent, responsible freedom.