Chapter IV - The Freedom of the Children of God

Question 1

Freedom

Answer 1

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

Question 2

The two axises along which the free act can be considered

Answer 2

Horizontal: communication between men, the world, and God
Vertical: the integration of a collection of processes, contents, and states of the psyche

Question 3

5 elements of the free conduct of man:

Answer 3

1. Inclinations and Tendencies: arise spontaneously in man; prior to the act of the will; the passions are part of these.
2. Perception: perceived presence or absence of the goods
3. The 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 virtues

Question 4

Three types of Freedom:

Answer 4

(a) Freedom from coercion: Being unimpeded by external factors.
(b) Freedom of choice: The absence of interior necessity to make one decision or another; sometimes called “psychological freedom”.
(c) 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.

Question 5

Self-determination

Intentionality

Answer 5

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

Question 6

St. Thomas’s distinction of levels of freedom:

Answer 6

1. level of exercise (to choose or not to choose)

2. level of specification (to choose either this or that)

Question 7

References for Freedom as a Gift:

Answer 7

Scripture
Dt. 30:15-59, Sir. 15:14-17 - existential reflection on liberty. Man is made a sinner, freed in Christ, and called to collaborate with grace to become truly good and holy.
Freedom of choice: see Dt. and Sir.
Freedom is presented as a gift from God, always attached to his salvific work.
Church docs.
GS 14, 17. “True liberty is the highest sign of the divine image in man”. Through freedom man transcends the physical world.

Question 8

In the statement “Therefore, as on account of one man sin entered the world and with sin came death, so also death reached all men because all have sinned” (Rm 5:12) Paul wishes to:

Answer 8

Affirm:
a. Reign of sin entered the world with Adam
b. Under this reign all sin freely
Deny:
a. Fatalism. Sin should not be seen as a necessity.
b. That the act of sin is a merely individual action.

Question 9

In general the idea of fundamental option was meant to:

Answer 9

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 10

The issue with fundamental option is: it is founded on a Kantian understanding of the human person.

Answer 10

Exaggerated distinction between:
Person (~= spirit) - the ability to choose
Nature (~= body) - all the other things and actions of a human being

Question 11

deal with fundamental option (aka. “transcendental freedom”).

Answer 11

VS 65-70