Human Freedom Flashcards
an individual
who can initiate and control his actions
rational being
is “rational and, therefore, like God.
Man
is created with free will and master over his acts”.
Man
is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and to perform deliberate actions anchored to one’s own responsibility.
Freedom
A force for growth
and maturity
in truth and
goodness
Human Freedom
condition for authentic freedom and
a warning against illusionary freedom
Truth
Authentic Human Freedom (3)
do the good
share freedom with others
found in truth
Aspects of Authentic Freedom
Freedom from
Freedom for
It is our longing to be free from things imposed on us which often results in following selfish inclinations or blind prejudices rather than seeking what is truly good.
Freedom from
It is liberation from everything that opposes our true self-becoming with others in community
Freedom from
ignorance, or our disordered passions, fears, personality defects, bad habits, prejudices or psychological disturbances
interior obstacles
as violent force or even the threat of violence
exterior forces
Sources of impediments to authentic freedom
Biological
Psychological
Social pressures
external defects caused by abusive use of substances like drugs
Biological
interior compulsions, including those originating from the unconscious
Psychological
various economic, political and cultural obstacles which impede the right to freedom
Social pressures
Greatest obstacle to authentic freedom is
sin
is directed towards a second freedom, the more important freedom
freedom from
It is the freedom for growing as full persons and children of God.
It is the freedom found in authentic love.
Freedom For
Two levels of the individual person’s “freedom for”
freedom of Choice
fundamental freedom
we have the freedom to choose to act in this or that way, to do good or evil
by consistently choosing to do the good, we gradually become free loving persons
freedom of Choice
through our free choices and striving to overcome the obstacles from within and without we gradually grow towards authentic, mature fundamental (self) freedom
fundamental freedom
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Gal 5:1)
Freedom in Christ
Christian life is a call to freedom. The freedom of God’s children is to respond to the Holy Spirit in us and to become more and more like Christ.
This freedom to do what God wills is not a coercive force that burdens, but a liberating experience which St. Paul calls the Law of the Spirit.
Freedom in Christ
The Holy Spirit which is the gift of God’s love in us empowers and energizes us to love in return and to do what God expects of us freely, out of love, not out of fear or because of external coercion.
(Genovesi, 56)
The Law of the Spirit
essentially the power to do good.
Freedom
thus involves a freedom from everything that opposes our true self-becoming with others in the community…
Authentic freedom
The temptations of Jesus in the desert symbolize the basic make-believe “freedoms”
Illusory Freedom
the basic make-believe “freedoms”: (3)
Pleasure for one’s own self
Prestige and success at any price
Wealth, power and glory
Two Forms of Freedom
Freedom of Choice
Basic Freedom or freedom of self-determination
Basic Freedom or freedom of self-determination:
ETHICS OF BEING
Freedom of Choice
ETHICS OF DOING
Humans decide about their concrete actions (the quantity of things done).
ETHICS OF DOING
is expressed in particular decisions or choices which concerns concrete, particular actions.
ETHICS OF DOING
Humans decide about “who” they want to be (the quality of being). It focuses on the formation of character, the right vision of life, the basic values and convictions which move a person to do what he/she believes to be right.
Ethics of Being
is expressed in an existential decision, wherein the person decides on the fundamental project of his or her life.
Ethics of Being
The more one does what is good, _______
the freer one becomes
the more docile we are to the promptings of grace,________-
the more we grow in inner freedom and confidence during trials
2 Levels of Freedom
Freedom of Choice
Fundamental Freedom
With
indefinite number of choices (levels of freedom)
Freedom of Choice
Focuses on DOING
levels of freedom
Freedom of Choice
Has only
one definitive choice: DOING THE GOOD (levels of freedom)
Fundamental Freedom
Focuses on BEING
levels of freedom
Fundamental Freedom
Restricted to self-determination (levels of freedom)
Freedom of Choice
See others restrict one’s freedom.
levels of freedom
Freedom of Choice
Open to others
levels of freedom
Fundamental Freedom
Others make possible one’s freedom
levels of freedom
Fundamental Freedom
Against moral obligation.
levels of freedom
Freedom of Choice
Not truly free.
levels of freedom
Freedom of Choice
Helped by moral obligation.
levels of freedom
Fundamental Freedom
Most FREE.
levels of freedom
Fundamental Freedom
gives direction to a person’s moral activity. It is the ground of all other commitments.
Fundamental Option
Fundamental Option (2)
Direction of salvation
Direction of damnation
a self-donating life
Direction of salvation
a self-absorbing life
Direction of damnation
is given to us to achieve the fullness of human life and is there in order for us to bring our life to this fulfillment
Freedom
