IPHP Q2

Basic Concepts of Freedom

Freedom of the Human Person

Freedom - humans have the capacity to choose, a fundamental aspect of our being

Jean Paul Sartre’s Concept of Freedom

  • “Man is condemned to be free”

  • Freedom is inherent (natural) to human nature

  • Freedom involves self determination and creating one’s essence

Self-determination

  • We don’t have a pre-defined purpose or nature. We become who we are through our actions and decisions.

  • we create our own identity through our choices

  • our actions defines who we are in the future

The Nature of Choice

  • every action is a choice

  • inaction is still a choice (you chose not to choose, it’s still a choice) (pinili mong di gawin kaya choice padin yon)

  • freedom cannot be escaped (it always come with a responsibility) (di natin matatakasan ang kalayaan)

Conscious vs. Unconscious Choices

  • Consciously - we make choices very deliberately/intentionally

  • Unconsciously - we may not even realize we’re making them

  • in both cases, we are still exercising our freedom

Influence and Personal Responsibility

  • “The only person responsible for your happiness is you”

  • even though you have influenced by others/peer pressure you cannot blame other people because YOU are the one who make the actions

Perception of Limitations

  • limitations to freedom - freedom is always limited because we need to consider other people

  • role of consciousness - we are able to be aware of what is happening around us. it gives us limit of what actions we’re going to make.

  • challenges as opportunities - gives us the drive to pursue the path we really wanted

  • alternative paths - rejections lead to redirection

Freedom and responsibility

  • Make ethical decisions that reflect accountability to oneself and others

  • freedom and responsibility are inseparable

Responsibility

  • true freedom is inseparable from responsibility

  • a person cannot escape their freedom; thus they cannot escape their responsibility

  • responsibility can be connected to as consciousness of being the incontestable author of an event or an object

  • Nature of Choice

    • we choose according to our preference (we always consider ourselves)

    • every choice affects not just an individual but also the collective human experience

  • Burden of Choice

    • desire to choose the good, indicating that ethical decision should benefit everyone

    • our actions or preference should also respect other persons preference

Authenticity

  • being honest with oneself and acknowledging one’s choices and their consequences

  • Bad Faith or Denial Freedom

    • self-deception that involves denying one’s freedom and responsibility

    • kapag mali na yung actions natin we tend to blame other people or people who influence us to do it

    • opposite of Burden of Choice

Basic Concepts of Freedom

Freedom of the Human Person

  • Freedom: The capacity to choose is essential to human existence; it is a fundamental aspect of our being.

Sartre’s Concept of Freedom

  • Sartre's Perspective: "Man is condemned to be free" suggests that freedom is an inescapable condition of human life. This perspective implies that freedom is not just a privilege but an inherent part of our nature.

  • Self-Determination: Freedom includes the power of self-determination, meaning individuals have the agency to shape their identities and essence through their choices and actions. We are not bound to any pre-defined purpose; rather, we define who we are based on the choices we make.

Nature of Choice

  • Every Action is a Choice: Each action represents a conscious choice, while inaction is also a type of choice, as opting not to act is still an active decision.

  • Responsibility of Freedom: Freedom comes with the weight of responsibility; one cannot escape the implications of their choices, as they affect not only themselves but also those around them.

Conscious vs. Unconscious Choices

  • Conscious Choices: These are decisions made with full awareness and intention, reflecting an active engagement with one's freedom.

  • Unconscious Choices: These may occur without deliberate awareness; however, even these choices reflect the exercise of freedom, emphasizing that all decisions, conscious or otherwise, contribute to our identity and experiences.

Influence and Personal Responsibility

  • Individual Accountability: The notion that “the only person responsible for your happiness is you” underscores the idea that, regardless of external influences or pressures from peers, individual actions remain the ultimate sources of one's experiences and feelings.

Perception of Limitations

  • Limits to Freedom: Freedom is not absolute; it is always limited by the need to consider the well-being and rights of others. Awareness of societal norms and individual circumstances helps establish those limits.

  • Role of Consciousness: Conscious awareness aids in understanding our environment and the implications of our actions, guiding us towards responsible choices.

  • Challenges as Opportunities: Obstacles faced can be seen as opportunities for growth, motivating individuals to pursue their true aspirations despite setbacks.

  • Alternative Paths: When confronted with rejection or failure, individuals can find new directions that better align with their choices and values.

Freedom and Responsibility

  • Inseparable Link: True freedom is intimately connected to responsibility; ethical decisions must reflect accountability to oneself and others. One's freedom cannot be exercised without acknowledging the consequences it bears on the collective experience.

Burden of Choice

  • Ethical Decision-Making: There exists a moral imperative to choose actions that benefit the greater good. Choices should not only reflect personal preferences but also respect the preferences of others, fostering a sense of community and empathy.

Authenticity

  • Self-Honesty: Authenticity involves acknowledging one’s own decisions and their outcomes. It is about facing the truth of one’s choices without delusion.

Bad Faith or Denial of Freedom

  • Self-Deception: This concept involves avoiding responsibility for one’s choices by blaming external factors. Denial of freedom is characterized by a refusal to acknowledge one's role in the outcomes of their actions, often leading to a cycle of unaccountability and misplaced blame.

Topic: Pan-Determinism: View of Freedom As An Illusion

Key Concepts:

  • Pan-Determinism

    • Biological Determinism

    • Psychological Determinism

  • Sigmund Freud

    • Three Levels of the Mind

    • The Iceberg Analogy

  • Burrhus Frederic Skinner

    • Key Concepts of Behaviorism

    • The Concept of Freedom

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Summary: The lecture on Pan-Determinism discusses how our choices are influenced by biological, psychological, and sociological factors, suggesting that true free will is an illusion. Key figures include Sigmund Freud, who emphasized the unconscious mind's role in behavior, and B.F. Skinner, who focused on behaviorism and conditioning. The concepts of operant conditioning and the impact of environmental factors on behavior are highlighted, raising questions about the nature of freedom in decision-making.

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Detailed Notes

Section 1: Pan-Determinism

Our choices and actions are completely determined by various factors beyond our control. Freedom as an illusion

Factors that determine the choices we make are:

  • Biology

    • genetic make-up

    • brain chemistry

    • physical healthy

  • if someone has a family history of biological condition, this might lead him to choose choices that someone without that condition wouldn’t choose.

  • Psychology

    • mental state

    • experiences

    • personality traits

  • someone with a psychological condition may choose a different path in life because they fear judgment, limiting their opportunities compared to someone who grew up in a supportive environment.

  • Sociological

    • relationships

    • social norms

    • pressures

  • our environments heavily influence our choices about career paths, demonstrating how society can dictate personal decisions.

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According to this view, we don’t have TRUE free will: instead, everything we do is a result of these influencing conditions.

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Biological Determinism

  • Biological determinism suggests that all human behavior is primarily influenced by biological factors, such as genetics, brain structure, and other innate characteristics. This perspective implies that our biology dictates how we think, feel, and act.

Psychological Determinism

  • Psychological determinism argues that human behavior is largely influenced by our mental states, many of which are outside our conscious awareness.

Section 2: Sigmund Freud

  • Austrian neurologist, founder of psychoanalysis, a method for treating mental illness and a theory of personal development.

  • best known groundbreaking ideas about the unconscious mind, human behavior, and the dynamics of personality.

Psychological Determinism According to Sigmund Freud

  • “Human actions are not free”
    he believed our decisions are actually influenced by underlying mental states-thoughts, feelings, and memories many of which we are not fully aware of.

Three Levels of Mind

  • Conscious Mind

    • thoughts

    • feelings

    • actions

  • This is the part of our mind that includes everything we are currently aware of.

  • Pre-conscious Mind

    • you remember something if someone mentioned it.

    • “it is just there”

  • This contains thoughts and memories that are not currently active but can easily be accessed.

  • Unconscious mind

    • buried aspects of the mind

    • “piniling kalimutan”

  • This is where we store feelings, thoughts , and urges that are hidden from our conscious awareness.

The Iceberg Analogy

  • The TIP of the iceberg represents the conscious mind.

  • The part just BELOW THE SURFACE represents the pre-conscious mind.

  • The vast UNDERWATER PORTION symbolizes the unconscious mind.

The human mind is like an iceberg.

By recognizing the influence of the conscious, pre-conscious, and unconscious levels of our mind, we can better understand the hidden reasons behind our behaviors.

Exploring our unconscious thoughts can lead to greater understanding and potentially healthier behavior patterns.

Section 3: Burrhus Frederic (B.F.) Skinner

  • influential American psychologist and social philosopher known for his work in behaviorism.

Key Concepts of Behaviorism According to BF Skinner

Behaviorism

  • A psychological perspective that focuses on observable behavior rather than internal mental states. According to this view, human behavior is conditioned by the environment, and there is no autonomous “inner self” driving our actions.

  • Conditioning
    train or accustom (someone or something) to behave in a certain way or to accept certain circumstances.

  • Skinner emphasized that behavior is shaped through conditioning which occurs in two main forms:

    • Operant Conditioning

      • learning process through which behaviors are modified based on their consequences

      • giving positive and negative reinforcements.

    • Reinforcement

      • process of increasing likelihood that a behavior will occur again by providing favorable outcomes after the behavior.

      • making someone repeat the same thing again and again because they are doing it right.

  • Punishment

    • an unpleasant consequence to reduce a behavior.

      • punishment can suppress undesirable behavior but it does not teach what to do instead.

The Concept of Freedom

If our behavior is mainly influenced by the environment and the consequences we face, claiming that someone is "free" to make their own choices becomes complicated. It suggests that instead of being independent agents making choices, we are more like products of our surroundings.

Important Definitions

Term 1: Pan-determinism - view of freedom as an illusion