Topic 5: Freedom of the Human Person Fear: External pressure; may reduce voluntariness.

Violence: External force reducing freedom.

Understanding Freedom Habit: Repeated actions.
-Voluntary: Initially chosen, still controllable.
-Freedom is essential to human authenticity and allows -Involuntary: Habitually ingrained, diminishing voluntariness
transcendence beyond physical or economic limitations.
-Critical thinking is key to achieving freedom and seeking Topic 7: Intersubjectivity
truth. Subjectivity
Jean-Paul Sartre's Notions of Freedom -Refers to individual experiences based on personal feelings
N1Freedom is Existence: Freedom is inherent; by choosing, a or opinions.
person asserts existence and freedom. What is Intersubjectivity?
N2Existence Precedes Essence: People exist first, then define -A shared understanding or experience between individuals,
themselves by choices. key in transcendental phenomenology.
N3Freedom is Absolute: Constraints only limit freedom if -Philosopher Husserl emphasized intersubjectivity as
accepted as such; freedom includes responsibility. essential to how we understand both ourselves and others in
Freedom ACCORDING TO PHILOSOPHERS the world.
*Aristotle: Humans are rational; will (volition) is guided by Self & Other
reason, a divine characteristic. -Intersubjectivity involves shared awareness and
*St. Thomas Aquinas: Humans are moral agents with a understanding, shaping our sense of self through interaction
supernatural destiny. Freedom is aligned with love and with others.
spiritual growth. "Seeming" is how one presents oneself in social contexts:
Fourfold Classification of Law: -Positive Seeming: Pleasant behaviors in respected company.
-Eternal Law: God’s purpose for all things. -Negative Seeming: Manipulative behaviors for self-interest.
-Natural Law: Humans use reason to understand the world. "I-Thou" vs. "I-It" Relations (Martin Buber)
-Human Law: Government laws for common good. -I-Thou: A genuine, mutual relationship with shared reality
-Divine Law: Eternal law revealed through God’s will. and respect; person-to-person connection.
Thomas Hobbes: Social contract; individuals give up some -I-It: A detached, functional relationship where the other is
freedom to a sovereign for societal peace. seen as an object for utility.
Jean Jacques Rousseau: Humans form civil societies to Thou becomes It: Relationships shift to “I-It” when they lose
protect each other. personal connection, becoming more transactional.
Consequentialism
Morality is judged by outcomes: REALIZE THAT INTERSUBJECTIVITY REQUIRES ACCEPTING
-The rightness of an act is based on its results. DIFFERENCES AND NOT IMPOSING ON OTHERS
-More ‘good’ outcomes mean more morality.
EVALUATE AND EXERCISE PRUDENCE IN CHOICES Embracing intersubjectivity means recognizing each person’s
-Prudence: The virtue of making wise choices after careful uniqueness and avoiding labels or stereotypes. This
assessment of good. strengthens relationships with family and friends.
FREEDOM ACCORDING TO PHILOSOPHERS
*Aristotle: Right reason applied to action. Topic 8: Intersubjectivity as Ontology: The Social
*St. Augustine: Knowing what to seek and avoid. Dimensions of the Self
*Confucius: Striving to become an ideal human through
learned prudence. Ontology
-The study of being; explores what it means to exist as a
Topic 6: Acts of Human & Human Acts person.
Human Acts: Done with awareness, voluntariness, and Intersubjectivity as Ontology
freedom; these are moral acts where the individual -Human existence is interconnected with others, meaning
consciously chooses. our identity and values emerge through relationships.
Social Dimensions of the Self
Characteristics OF HUMAN ACTS -Relationships and society shape our identity by reflecting
-Voluntariness: Consent to act. others' perceptions, cultural norms, and shared experiences.
-Knowledge: Awareness of the action. Buber and Wojtyla on Social Relationships
-Freedom: The choice to act or not. -Buber: Emphasized the I-Thou relationship as a true,
accepting subject-to-subject interaction.
Acts of Man: Performed without full awareness or -Wojtyla: Saw human identity as shaped through social bonds,
voluntariness, often instinctive. referred to as “we-relation.”
Sympathy vs. Empathy
Modifiers of Human Acts -Sympathy: Feeling pity for someone without fully engaging
-Ignorance: Lack of knowledge. in their experience.
-Invincible: Unavoidable; less accountability. -Empathy: Sharing and understanding another’s feelings,
-Vincible: Avoidable; partial responsibility. fostering deeper connections and a stronger sense of self.
Passion: Strong emotions. Persons with Disabilities (PWD)
-Antecedent: Before decision, lessens responsibility. UNCRPD (United Nations Convention on the Rights of
-Consequent: After deliberation, increases responsibility. Persons with Disabilities): Promotes dignity, autonomy, and
participation for PWD, shifting the view of disability from a Topic 11: Human Beings and Their Orientation Towards
medical issue to a social and human rights perspective. Death
TYPES Underprivileged Sectors of Society 1. Death
-Groups facing economic, social, or political disadvantages, Death is the end of life, marking the cessation of all physical
including: functions.
-Economically disadvantaged, marginalized ethnic groups, 2. Life
PWD, LGBTQ+ communities, women and children in Life can be seen as a series of events or a property unique to
vulnerable situations, and Indigenous peoples. living beings.
-It’s important to recognize and respect the talents and 3. Life & Death
contributions of PWD and those in underprivileged sectors. Life involves vital activities, and death is the loss of this ability.
4. Certainty of Death
Topic 9: The Human Person in Society Death is inevitable for everyone, regardless of status or
Human Society: Society is essential for a person’s wealth.
development. Aristotle stated that humans are social by 5. Uncertainty of Death
nature, and Marx emphasized that social relations define Death’s timing is unpredictable; it can happen to anyone at
"human nature." any time.
Self-Creativity: Humans can define their roles and identities 6. HAPPINESS
through social relationships, creating a shared existence. Reflecting on life helps us prepare for its end and gives it
purpose.
FORMATION OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
-Exchange Relationships: Based on mutual benefits or Philosophers on Life and Death
compensation (e.g., employer-employee). A. Socrates
-Communal Relationships: Based on concern and care Emphasized self-knowledge and virtue as keys to happiness.
without expecting reciprocity (e.g., parent-child). His Socratic Method involves questioning to reach deeper
Theories understanding.
-Social Exchange Theory: People weigh costs and benefits in B. Plato
relationships. Believed in contemplation and the soul’s quest to understand
-Attachment Theory: Attachment forms a foundation for eternal truths. His Theory of Immortality sees the soul as
security, growth, and social connections. separate and eternal, distinct from the body.
-Uncertainty Reduction Theory: Getting to know others C. Aristotle
reduces uncertainty. Focused on fulfilling one’s potential (entelechy) and realizing
-Equity Theory: Emphasizes fairness in relationships. one’s purpose through self-knowledge and action.
-Minding Relationship Theory: Five components for D. Nietzsche
relationship satisfaction include self-disclosure, respect, Encouraged transcending limits and creating personal values
positive thinking, reciprocity, and continuity. for self-realization (Übermensch).
Topic 10: Types of Societies & Social Institutions E. Heidegger
Keyword: Evolution of Societies Defined Dasein (being-in-the-world), where life is purposeful
-Hunting and Gathering: Small, family-based. and interconnected with the world.
-Pastoral: Domestication of animals for food. F. Sartre
-Horticultural & Agricultural: Small-scale and large-scale Advocated for existential freedom, where life’s meaning is
farming. created by personal choice (pour-soi: “for itself”).
-Feudal: Land-based, seen in Medieval Europe. G. Schopenhauer
-Industrial: Mass production, technology-driven. Stressed responsibility for self and breaking away from
-Post-Industrial: Service-oriented, focused on innovation. societal norms for personal growth.
-Virtual Society: Online communities transcending geography. H. Jaspers
Keyword: Social Institutions Described authentic existence through “limit situations” (like
-Family: Responsible for nurturing and stability. facing sickness or death), leading to self-awareness and faith.
-Education: Teaches values, roles, and knowledge. I. Marcel
-Religion: Provides purpose and moral guidance. Proposed two levels of reflection: primary (objective) and
--Economy: Manages goods and services. secondary (personal and reflective).
Government: Enforces order and safety.
THEORIES ON HOW SOCIETY TRANSFORMS A PERSON Primary Reflection
-Situationism: Personality and behavior are shaped by society.
-Looking-Glass Self: Self-concept develops through This reflection views the world objectively, treating things as
interactions and perceptions. detached "problems." It analyzes things as fragmented pieces,
-Social Development Theory: Learning occurs within social separated from the self.
contexts (Vygotsky's ZPD)
Secondary Reflection

This reflection is more personal and holistic, focused on

"presence." Instead of seeing things as detached objects, it
engages with them fully, considering personal experiences
and connections. It is open, heuristic, and seeks deeper
understanding of the whole.

Temporality
Understanding Temporality: Recognizing that life is
temporary and that we don’t exist forever.
Life Planning: This realization helps us plan our lives
thoughtfully, make meaningful decisions, and shape how we
want our life story to unfold.
Living in the Moment: Since we have bodies, we are always
“here and now,” experiencing life as it unfolds, which
challenges us to make choices that benefit both ourselves
and those around us.