Chapter 4: The Freedom of the Sons of God

Question 1

Freedom

Answer 1

the condition that makes a Christian a subject that is capable of collaborating freely with God

[Hardon: Immunity from determination or compulsion; hence the absence of all antecedent necessity, whether internal (person’s will) or external (outside source)]

Question 2

FREE ACT: Horizontal Axis

Answer 2

communication between men, the world, and God

Question 3

FREE ACT: Vertical Axis

Answer 3

the INTEGRATION of a collection of processes, contents, and states of the psyche

Question 4

5 Elements: FREE CONDUCT of MAN

Answer 4

1) INCLINATIONS and TENDENCIES
2) PERCEPTION
3) AFFECTIVE REACTIONS
4) HUMAN ACTS/FREE ACTS
5) HABITS
5b) Infused Habits

Question 5

1) INCLINATIONS and TENDENCIES

Answer 5

arise spontaneously in man; prior to the act of the will; passions are part of these

Question 6

2) PERCEPTION

Answer 6

perceived presence or absence of the goods

Question 7

3) AFFECTIVE REACTIONS

Answer 7

sentiments, passions, emotions, that follow perception

Question 8

4) HUMAN ACTS/FREE ACTS

Answer 8

Governed by the Intellect and Will. Through these acts man decides what type of life he will lead

Question 9

5) HABITS

Answer 9

principle expression of the freedom of the person

Question 10

5b) Infused Habits

Answer 10

through which the Christian is guided by the Holy Spirit toward the life of the children of God in Christ.

(Infused Moral Virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit)

[Hardon: A good habit of the mind or will given to the soul by God, and not acquired by the action of a human being.]

Question 11

3 Types of Freedom

Answer 11

1) Freedom from COERCION
2) Freedom of CHOICE
3) Freedom as ETHICAL VALUE and MORAL DUTY

Question 12

Freedom from Coercion

Answer 12

being unimpeded by external factors

Question 13

Freedom of Choice

Answer 13

the absence of interiority necessity to make one decision or another; sometimes call PSYCHOLOGICAL FREEDOM

Question 14

Freedom as Ethical Value and Moral Duty

Answer 14

Speaking POSITIVELY: the freedom to do what you ought, the freedom for love, the freedom from sin, from disordered impulses.

Speaking NEGATIVELY: the freedom from disordered impulses, freedom from sin and from moral poverty.

Question 15

Self-Determination

Answer 15

in every free act “it is I” that decides of determines

[SELF-DETERMINATION is the fundamental dimension of FREEDOM, while intentionality in the sphere of objects, is a derived dimension (pg. 123)]

Question 16

Intentionality

Answer 16

the Openness of the Will towards its object

[Self-determination is the fundamental dimension of freedom, while INTENTIONALITY in the sphere of objects, is a derived dimension (pg. 123)]

Question 17

Levels of Freedom (Aquinas)

Answer 17

1) Level of EXERCISE (to choose or not to choose)

2) Level of SPECIFICATION (to choose either this of that)

Question 18

Freedom as a Gift

Answer 18

due to man’s fallen state of sin, we can only be truly free in light of God’s free gift of Salvation and freedom through Christ

Question 19

General Idea of FUNDAMENTAL OPTION

Answer 19

1) overcome the atomistic conception of human acts
2) investigate the relation between the person and his singular acts
3) reach a more adequate understanding of the nature of sin

Question 20

Romans 5:12 - What is St. Paul doing here?

Answer 20

Affirm:

1) Reign of sin entered the world with Adam
2) Under this reign all sin freely

Deny:

1) Fatalism. Sin should not be seen as a necessity
2) That the act of sin is a merely individual action

Question 21

Issue with Fundamental Option

Answer 21

Founded on KANTIAN understanding of Human Person

Exaggerated distinction between:

1) Person (~= spirit) - ability to choose
2) Nature (~= body) - all other things and actions of a human being

Question 22

VS 65-70

Answer 22

deal with Fundamental Option (aka. Transcendental Freedom)

Question 23

Romans 5:12

Answer 23

“Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned—”