INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

INSTRUCTOR: KENNETH L. CRISOSTOMO

True 5. A human being both possesses Freedom and

Free will.
ANSWER SHEET FOR

MODULE 1 “FIRST MOVE”

“WHAT I KNOW” Are we really free? Or is freedom an illusion?

For me yes and the real freedom can be attained as long as you are willing to
DIRECTION: write true if the statement is true and write false if it is false. understand and comply with the societal definition of freedom. This then
means, complying with the rules that the society has adopted to ensure that
HERE’S A PRE-ASSESSMENT freedom is freely available! So, in a counter-intuitive sense it is the props that
YOU HAVE TO TAKE BEFORE
come with real freedom rules, laws etc. that makes it real.
THE LESSONS IN THIS MODULE

ACTIVITY #1

True 1. Freedom is essential to man’s existence.

ESSAY: write your answer on the space provided.
False 2. Free will is the power or right to act, speak as 1. Is freedom absolute or limited? You may use your own experience as an
one wants without any restraint. example.

Freedom is limited due to that reality is a result of a continuous chains of

True 3. Freedom is the ability to choose between
possible courses of action. reasons and conclusion. The present cannot exist without precursor events
which lead to the present day. The future, too, cannot exist without the
True 4. Free will is linked to the concept of moral
responsibility. present, because the present day designs possible events and outcomes later
on. One cannot exist outside of these chronological and historical chains

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INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
INSTRUCTOR: KENNETH L. CRISOSTOMO

there is always dependency, whether that dependency is necessary or a illuminated. Thus with that change in path, a change in desire, and a change
mere luxury. We humans cannot exist in outer space for long without a in what freedom entails. Hence true freedom depends on how your mind
sustainable amount of air, cannot exist for long in a desert dune without food thinks something can be obtained, and true freedom is not the same as
and water, cannot protect ourselves from dangers without planning and complete freedom. As previously said, complete freedom can never be
without tools of protection and intimidation everywhere we exist there are achieved, as restrictions always exists.
circumstances we should or need to consider in the sake of our survival.
ACTIVITY #2
There are things which are out of our control which could dictate our lives
ESSAY: write your answer on the space provided.
whether by consent or by lack of it. If the local government raises its demand 1. In your own understanding, do you think freedom and free will are two
different concepts? If they are the same, why? if they are not, what makes
for taxes and it’s efficient in enforcement, we better obey its command or
them different?
else we might suffer from punishment that could limit our lives even more,
Free will and freedom are two different concept because Free will comes
such as a sentence is prison.
from life, power to act in the environment, limited by the laws of nature,
2. Explain in your own words, “we are free to do anything, but every action assumes the 'will to act', and many definitions require consciousness, but this
has consequences that we must be responsible enough to face.”
is an artificial constraint. In short, free will is every person's natural birthright
We are free to do anything, but every action has consequences that we must to make their own decisions and choose their own path. While on the other
be responsible enough to face Freedom is a manifestation of restriction. The hand, Freedom comes from community. Communities create and enforce
desire to be free, stems from the frustration of not achieving something. If limits on community members, on their freedom to act by rules or laws.
one can do anything without any form of restriction, there would be no Rules or laws are generally negative, placing limits on freedom. Some, like a
meaning to the concept of freedom. But of course in reality, restrictions will Bill of Rights, or the Constitution of the Philippines,, are designed to protect
always exists, either due to physical laws or societal constructs. The freedom freedoms to act within a community. Freedom is the political, social, cultural
desired to obtain a particular goal, may not be important if a different path is climate where your "free will" may or may not be actualized.

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INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
INSTRUCTOR: KENNETH L. CRISOSTOMO

Bruce Waller 8. According to him, people can have

Page 2 of 4 responsibility for fulfilling their roles and for acting
DRIVE ON well or poorly.
DIRECTION: Identify the following. Write your answer on the space
provided. Free Will Defense 9. According to this, the exercise of free
will by human individuals is of such value that God is
Freedom 1. The absence of constraints and the willing to allow the existence of evil which comes
ability to follow one’s own desire. from the misuse of free will.

St. Thomas Aquinas 2. He claimed that freedom is a means Freedom . It is given by the society or
of attaining perfection, true happiness, and the community through laws.
fulfillment of human destiny.
REFLECTION
Jean Paul-Satre 3. He states that freedom is not
freedom to act but freedom to choose. What did I Learn?

St. Anselm 4. Freedom is the preservation on one’s There is still freedom, with the biggest freedom being our choice of
righteousness or goodness.
perspective. No matter where we are and what is our state of being in the
Jean Paul-Satre 5. Freedom is absolute and existence is present, we as individuals can still alter our state of mind and choose
freedom.
different perspectives and different thoughts in every time we wish too.
Freewill 6. Ability to choose between different Thus, the freedom of thought is probably the biggest freedom that is close
courses of action.
to absolution, with its sole limiter being death.
Freewill 7. It counteracts natural tendencies
such as selfishness.

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FUTURE WHEEL ACTIVITY

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INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
INSTRUCTOR: KENNETH L. CRISOSTOMO

DIRECTION: write “true” is the statement is true and write “false” is the We are all people of the same globe and if one thing happens to one person,
statement is false.
it ultimately affects the others around him. For example, a common man
True 1. Every human being needs companionship in might not have any attachment to his current ruler but the death or
order to survive.
resignation of that ruler will somehow affect his life. A new ruler will come,
True 2. Human beings are basically social animals. he will change the policies and rules, and directly and indirectly, as a citizen,
the man will have to respond to the new commands. Maybe we are living in
False 3. Communication is not important to
relationship. one of the busiest eras where people do not take out much time for each
other but, not to forget, this is the era where diseases like depression are
False 4. Respect, care, and love are not integral to
human relations. common and at its peak. Now, why in the century, where we have almost
every luxury, people face a mental health issue. No person is born without a
False 5. Human beings can exist alone.
purpose. Being global citizens or believers of God, all people have some
duties toward their society or state. For instance, a doctor has his own
ESSAY: write your answer on the space provided.
1. on your own words explain, “No man is an island”. duties, a ruler has his own, a teacher has his own, etc. and not a ruler can
perform the duties of a doctor, nor can a doctor behave like a teacher and
A person as a child depends on his parents, as a student on his teacher, as a
vice versa.
friend on his friends to share his sorrows and joys with, as a believer on his
faith, as a patient on a doctor, as a driver on transport, as an athlete on his
coach and as a worker on his boss. Even countries survive through
interdependency let alone a man. It is possible to live without the internet, in
this world, but not without humans. Communication is one of the biggest 2. What do you think is the most important aspect that we have to consider
in establishing “Real” relationship?
assets a person holds, no matter how happy a person feels he will never feel
content at heart unless and until he communicates and shares his happiness.

SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY #mysecondhome 471-2930

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
INSTRUCTOR: KENNETH L. CRISOSTOMO

Trust is an important and tender aspect of all relationships because it

requires us to choose to be vulnerable and courageous. When we have
learned to distrust someone, it’s usually because we’ve come to understand
that what we share with them or what’s important to us is not safe with that
person. Trust is one of the cornerstones of any real relationship without it,
two people cannot be comfortable with each other and the relationship will
lack stability.

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