Chapter 4: The Freedom of the Sons of God Flashcards
Freedom
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)]
FREE ACT: Horizontal Axis
communication between men, the world, and God
FREE ACT: Vertical Axis
the INTEGRATION of a collection of processes, contents, and states of the psyche
5 Elements: FREE CONDUCT of MAN
1) INCLINATIONS and TENDENCIES
2) PERCEPTION
3) AFFECTIVE REACTIONS
4) HUMAN ACTS/FREE ACTS
5) HABITS
5b) Infused Habits
1) INCLINATIONS and TENDENCIES
arise spontaneously in man; prior to the act of the will; passions are part of these
2) PERCEPTION
perceived presence or absence of the goods
3) AFFECTIVE REACTIONS
sentiments, passions, emotions, that follow perception
4) HUMAN ACTS/FREE ACTS
Governed by the Intellect and Will. Through these acts man decides what type of life he will lead
5) HABITS
principle expression of the freedom of the person
5b) Infused Habits
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.]
3 Types of Freedom
1) Freedom from COERCION
2) Freedom of CHOICE
3) Freedom as ETHICAL VALUE and MORAL DUTY
Freedom from Coercion
being unimpeded by external factors
Freedom of Choice
the absence of interiority necessity to make one decision or another; sometimes call PSYCHOLOGICAL FREEDOM
Freedom as Ethical Value and Moral Duty
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.
Self-Determination
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)]
Intentionality
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)]
Levels of Freedom (Aquinas)
1) Level of EXERCISE (to choose or not to choose)
2) Level of SPECIFICATION (to choose either this of that)
Freedom as a Gift
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
General Idea of FUNDAMENTAL OPTION
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
Romans 5:12 - What is St. Paul doing here?
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
Issue with Fundamental Option
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
VS 65-70
deal with Fundamental Option (aka. Transcendental Freedom)
Romans 5:12
“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—”
