The Freedom of the Human Person
Freedom is categorized into three kinds:
1. Physical Freedom
This is the first type of freedom that comes into mind when talking about freedom. It
refers to the absence of any physical restraint and the freedom of mobility to act and go
whatever, whenever and wherever he or she pleases.
2. Psychological Freedom
It is also called the freedom of choice. The person is free to perform actions that he
or she considers right and wise. A person is also free to act or not to act. Psychological
freedom is innate and cannot be denied a person. No outside force or influence can compel
a person to act against his or her will.
3. Moral Freedom
This refers to using freedom in a manner that upholds human dignity and goodness.
Freedom is not an object that a person may use in whatever way he or she pleases. A
person becomes freer when he or she uses freedom well but becomes less free when he
or she uses it in a bad way. Humans have a natural inclination for what is true and good
and when a person uses his or her freedom to do acts that violate human dignity and
goodness, he or she dehumanizes himself or herself and effectively negates human
freedom.
There are two elements that define freedom. Voluntariness refers to the ability of a
person to act out of his or her own free will and self-determination. This means that a
person may decide to act or not to act, and these decisions are made of his or her own
free will. The second element of freedom, responsibility, refers to the person being
accountable for his or her actions and their consequences.
Intersubjectivity
Intersubjectivity is a philosophical concept that explore the mutual recognition of each
other as persons. It cannot be denied that we interact with other beings in the world, but
some of these beings that we interact with are persons and must be recognized as
such. It refers to the characteristics of the human person to engage in a very intimate
and personal relationship with others who are different from him or her but who are also
like him or her.
Elements of Interpersonal Relationships
A dialogue is an interaction between two persons that happens through speech or
the use of words, expressions, and body language. Philosophers agree that this is
important for humans to pursue and achieve genuine relationships to attain development.
Human persons naturally seek and can achieve and maintain genuine, meaningful
relationship with each other. The human person is considered as a “being with others,”
which means that his or her identity and destiny are shaped by relating with others.
Human existence is a continual dialogue with the other, and that the self becomes whole
through interaction with other people and his or her surroundings.
Empathy, or the ability to share emotions, is an important aspect of intersubjectivity.
This emotion is driven by a person's awareness that the other is a person with thoughts
and feelings.
Another characteristic of a meaningful and genuine human relationship is availability,
or the willingness of a person to be present and be at the disposal of another.
Different forms of Society
1. Hunting and gathering society: is the earliest and simplest form of society and
is generally recognized by its small size, since it consists mainly of families. They
spend most of their time searching for food, thus, they are considered as nomadic;
no permanent territory. Its members are treated equally and decisions are usually
derived through consensus. As a result, the roles of its members and the
distribution of labor is not clearly defined.
2. Pastoral society: is characterized by the domestication of animals served as a
source for food supply. Compared to hunting and gathering society, this form of
society has a larger population and remains in one place. They also produce surplus
food and resources which they trade with other societies forming meaningful
bonds. This relative prosperity enables the people to engage in other activities apart
from those necessary forsurvival, such as handicrafts which eventually leads to the
emergence of specialized tasks in the community.
3. Horticultural society: engages in the small scale cultivation of plants, fruits, and
vegetables and the domestication of animals. Semi-nomadic, which means that
they travel to another place when there is shortageof the resources in one area.
4. Agrarian/agricultural society: involves in a large- scale and long-term cultivation
of crops and domestication of animals. Characterized by improved technology and
usage of tools to aid in farming which results in increased production giving rise
to a growing population in agricultural societies. Large population leads to a more
structured social system that helps manage resources and its member.
5. Feudal society: is based on the ownership of land. Its members are organized
based on status which consists of higher class/ruler (people who own a land),
vassal/follower (granted a right to manage a land), and peasants (workers who
cultivate the land and tend the animals in exchange of military protection). This
society is mindful of thehierarchy system. It arose during Medieval times in Western
part of Europe.
6. Industrial society: is based on the use of specialized machinery in the production
of goods and services. The emergence of new production and industrial methods
along withinnovations in transportation and communication are results from the
advances of science and technology in the late 18th century. In this era, improved
trade and commerce, public education and better life conditions are evident for
many people. However, an important factor in social relations within this form of
society is the workplace where people interact with individuals who do not come
from the same family, clan, or community, thus, cultural diversity and bureaucratic
forms of organization arises.
7. Post-industrial society: emerged by the establishment of societies based on
knowledge, information, and the sale of services. Virtual society arises where
people organize themselves through communication technology and Internet. This
society is composed of members with higher educational attainment, better
training, and specialized roles.
Happiness is a state of being, not just an emotional experience or a chosen mental
attitude.
● Noble good is one which is pursued for its own sake; it is
good in itself.For example: love and friendship.
● Useful good is considered good as long as it serves as a
means to an end; its goodness is found only from what it can
provide. For example, money.
● Pleasurable good provides some form of pleasure, though it
doesn’t have to be physical. For example a trip to favorite
places.
Suffering takes place when we patiently endure unpleasantness, discomfort, and pain. It
comes in the form of physical suffering (e.g. physical sensations such as discomfort,
hunger, distress, homelessness, and pain from an injury, disease, or even lack of basic
needs) and mental suffering (e.g. emotional and mental states such as depression,
anxiety, fear, loneliness, and grief). Disappointments and rejections in life may also be a
cause of suffering.
