Senior High School

NOT

Introduction to the
Philosophy of the
Human Person
Quarter 1 - Module 5
Freedom of the Human Person

Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

 Senior
Senior High
High School
School

Table of Contents

What This Module is About ................................................................................................................... i

What I Need to Know .............................................................................................................................. i
How to Learn from this Module ........................................................................................................... ii
Icons of this Module ............................................................................................................................... ii

What I Know ........................................................................................................................................... iii

What I Need to Know .................................................................................... 1

What I know: Activity 1 Pre Test .................................................................. 1
What’s New: Activity 2 Let’s Ponder ............................................................ 2
What is it : Meaning of Freedom .................................................................. 3-4
What’s More: Activity3 Know the Consequences ......................................... 5
What Is It: Methods of Philosophizing ........................................................ 6
What I Can Do : Activity 4 Exercising Prudence .......................................... 7-8
What’s More: Activity 4 “Be Responsible” .................................................. 9
What is it : Given and Chosen ..................................................................... 10
What I Have Learned: ................................................................................... 5
What I Can Do: .............................................................................................. 6

Lesson 2:
What’s In........................................................................................................ 7
What I Need to Know .................................................................................... 7
What’s New: Blind Spot Activity ................................................................. 8
What Is It: Methods of Philosophizing ........................................................ 9
What’s More: oops, Something Fishy Activity ............................................ 12
What I Have Learned: (Example: Ethics…………………………………….. 13
What I Can Do: Online Research … .......................................................... 13

Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………. 14
Assessment: (Post-Test)…………………………………………………………………………15
Key to Answers / Grading Criteria and Rubrics ........................................................................... 16
References
How to Learn from this Module
To achieve the objectives cited above, you are to do the following:
• Take your time to read the lessons carefully.
• Follow the directions and instructions in the activities and exercises diligently.
• Answer all the given tests and exercises.

Icons of this Module

What I Need to This part contains learning objectives that

Know are set for you to learn as you go along the
Module.

What I know This is an assessment as to your level of

knowledge of the subject matter at hand,
meant specifically to gauge prior related
knowledge
This part connects the previous lesson with
What’s In that of the current one.

What’s New An introduction to the new lesson through

various activities, before it will be presented
to you

What is It These are discussions of the activities as a

way to deepen your discovery and
understanding of the concept.

These are follow-up activities that are

Intended for you to practice further to master
What’s More the competencies.

What I Have Activities designed to process what you

Learned have learned from the lesson

What I can do These are tasks that are designed to show-

case your skills and knowledge gained, and
can be applied to real-life concerns and
situations.

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 Lesson Freedom of the Human Person
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What I Need to Know?

In this module we will learn how a human person exercise his/her capacity for self-
determination in the exercise of free will. It has been said by many philosophers that we, as
humans, are born free. Freedom is largely interpreted as the capacity to do whatever one
wants without hindrance and limitations. It is misunderstood as doing anything “I want”.
However, genuine freedom is one that is always coupled with responsibility. This means that
in exercising our capacity to choose lies an equally important task of holding ourselves
responsible for the consequences of our choices.
At the end of this modules, learners are expected to:

1. Evaluate and exercise prudence in choices

2. Realize that: a. Choices have consequences. b. Some things are given up while
others are obtained in making choices
3. Show situations that demonstrate freedom of choice

What I Know?

Activity 1. Pre-Test

___________1. the power to create and define oneself. It is also rooted in the person's self-
determination and the exercise of intellect and free will.
___________2. Refers to the absence of physical restraint.
___________3. Actions that diminish freedom that makes a person becomes less free when
he or she does not exercise control over his or her actions.
___________4. Also referred to as freedom of choice.
___________5. Refers to the responsible use of freedom which upholds human dignity and
goodness. –
___________6. Refers to the person being accountable for his or her actions and their
consequences.-
___________7. In what manner should that freedom should be exercised?
___________8. A person becomes ___ when he or she exercises control over himself or
herself.
___________9. What a person becomes when he or she is no longer in control of himself or
herself and is instead controlled by other factors?
___________10. Refers to the ability of the person to act out of his or her own free will and
self-determination.

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TYPES OF FREEDOM
___________11. “ Choose what is good and avoid what is evil”
___________12. At home, we have no curfew hours, I can go out or go home anytime I
want.”
___________13. My father wants me to become an engineer but I choose to become a
teacher.
___________14. My classmate punched me in the chest, instead of fighting back I shook
hands with him and befriended him.
___________15. Despite his parents are against her, He still chose her to be his wife.

What’s New?

ACTIVITY 2: Let’s Ponder:

Fill in the 2nd column word or phrases that you can associate with freedom. Use RED COLOR
TEXTS for your answer.20 PTS

My Concept of Freedom is…..

WHAT IS FREEDOM? 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Guide Questions:

• What do you think makes us free?

• How do we know that we are free?
• How do you use your freedom responsibly?

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 What Is It?

“FREEDOM” : Meaning and Essence

• Freedom is an intrinsic and essential property of the person

- Human person by nature is a free being and that it is in his or her nature to seek
freedom
- An important indication of human freedom is the ability to make choices and
perform actions
- Our freedom to act sets us apart from other things.

• Let’s compare animals and human persons behavior:

Animals Human Persons

o Act instinctively : i.e its actions o Can choose the course of action
are more like predetermined to take when given a stimulus or
responses to certain stimuli faced with a certain situation.

o Our inherent freedom makes us

very dynamic creatures and our
actions do not necessarily follow
a set pattern or pre-determined
course.

Example :
Example:
o A well trained dog can perform
certain tasks on command such o Your mother may ask you to
as “stay” or “fetch” because it clean your room one day and
has been trained and you will follow her instruction,
conditioned to perform them. the next week may decide not to
clean, and the week after may
clean without being told.

• Freedom is also understood as the power to be what you want to be and the ability to
decide and create yourself.
- Though we have certain inherent traits such as physical attributes and
temperament, many of the characteristics that define our personality are often a
product of our choices.
- Example :
o Our talents are developed to their fullest only if we choose to dedicate
time and effort to improve them.
o We have the ability to become professional in the future, and our freedom
gives us the ability to strive to achieve that goal.
• Freedom is rooted in the human person’s self-determination and the exercise of
intellect and free will.

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 - That is, a person’s every action is freely determined and these actions define him
or her.
- We can freely choose to be a good person and to act in a good way.
- A good act makes a person better while its opposite has a negative impact on
him or her as a person.
• Nature of self-determination : A PERSON’S ACTIONS DETERMINE WHAT KIND
OF PERSON HE OR SHE BECOMES.

ILLUSTRATION

Look at the situation below, Samuel is carrying a heavy load of books along the hallway
when he suddenly loses his balance and drops all the books.

• The pictures present three (3) possible reactions:

1. You may choose not to help Samuel and just watch or ignore him while he picks
up his books
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 2. You may choose to help him pick up his books
3. You may laugh at him and refuse to help

What’s More?

ACTIVITY 3: Know the Consequences (30 pts)

Let us try to find out the possible outcome of each choice or reaction. Below is a
table where in column A the three (3) reactions are written. On column B, write the
possible outcome or result for each reaction/choice made.Answer also the guide
questions

REACTION / CHOICE OUTCOME / RESULT

1. You may choose not to help
Samuel and just watch or
ignore him while he picks up
his books

2. You may choose to help him

pick up his books

3. You may laugh at him and

refuse to help

Guide questions:
1. Which do you think is the best choice you will undertake among the three?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
2. Why do you choose to undertake that actions?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. Based on your answer in number 1, how can you describe the meaning of
freedom?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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 What Is It?

• The essence of freedom is that it does not confine our actions to those set or
expected by others
• Your actions will enable you to know yourself better as a person.
• Your actions also determine if you uphold human dignity.
• Freedom entails certain responsibilities.
• It is possible for a person to diminish or negate freedom through the choices and
actions that he or she makes.
• Freedom also requires a degree of control from the person who exercise it.
- A person becomes more free when he or she exercises control over himself
or herself.
- A person becomes less free when he or she is no longer in control of himself
or herself and is instead controlled by other factors.

Example:

• Persons suffering from addiction are less free because they are
overpowered by their addiction to certain substances and can barely
control themselves when presented with these things.

• People who act solely based on their emotions are less free they
allow themselves to be controlled by their feelings without any regard
for ethical considerations.

Dehumanization

• To lose control of oneself diminishes human freedom and dehumanizes the person
• Persons who are denied their freedom are also dehumanized.
Examples:
• Slavery is a dehumanizing act because a person is forced to work for life without
the possibility of ever leaving a life of bondage.
• A person who is imprisoned is also dehumanized because he or she is denied of
his or her freedom and is confined to prison life.

Kinds of Freedom

KINDS OF FREEDON Description

1. PHYSICAL FREEDOM • The absence of any physical

restraint
• Has freedom of mobility to go
anywhere
• Not impeded in his/her actions by
any physical force

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 Example. I am not in prison nor
restricted by my parents to go out of
our house anytime I want to

2. PSYCHOLOGICAL FREEDOM • Called freedom of choice and is

innate to us
• Free to perform actions that she
considers right and wise
• No outside force or influence can
compel a person to take action
against his or her will
Example: It’s my own choice to
select printed module as my
modality of learning.
3. MORAL FREEDOM • Refers to using freedom in a
manner that upholds human dignity
and goodness.
• A person becomes more free when
he/she uses freedom well, but
becomes less free when he/she
uses it in a bad way.
Example: Despite being hungry,
Junas chose not to steal food from
the canteen.

What Can I do?

ACTIVITY 4 : Exercising Prudence ( 30 pts)

SITUATION

One Monday morning, Angela was rushing towards her work so she won’t be late
since she was already given last warning by her supervisor the previous week that if
would incur another late for work, she would be suspended for 7 days without pay.
Along the way, she saw a very old woman who was about to cross the highway, a
situation which is really very dangerous for her age. Angela is faced with a dilemma
wether to assist the old woman to safely cross the street or not and continue rushing
so she won’t be late for work.

Questions:

1. If you are Angela, what choice will you make? Why? Expound your answer (5
pts)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

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2. What do you think is the consequence of making such choice? (5 pts)

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

3. Do you consider such choice a product of your freedom? In what sense? (5

pts)

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

4. Apply all 3 types of freedom in this situation: (Explain each type of freedom
based on the situation of Angela)
a. Physical Freedom: (5 pts)

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

b. Psychological Freedom (5 pts)

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

c. Moral Freedom (5 pts)

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

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 What’s More?

WHAT MAKES US FREE?

• There are two (2) elements that define freedom:

a. Voluntariness
b. Responsibility

• Voluntariness
✓ The ability of a person to act out of his or her own free will and self-
determination
✓ Meaning, a person may decide to act or not to act out of his/her own
free will
✓ A person may act even if he or she is not required or called to take
action.

Note:

Whenever we decide to take action, this results in a certain

consequence. All human actions have consequences, and these affect
not only the person who commits the action, but also other people and
our surroundings.

• Responsibility
✓ As a free being, the person must accept the consequences of his or
her action and take responsibility for them
✓ Refers to the person being accountable for his or her actions and their
consequences; it could have a positive or negative meaning.

ACTIVITY 5: “ Be Responsible” (30 pts)

Going back to the situation of Angela as stated above, she may exercise her freedom as
stated below:

1. Angela chose to help the old woman safely cross the highway but she arrived late in
her work resulting in her 7 days suspension without pay. For helping the old woman,
a lot of people praised her for what she did and she became an inspiration to others.
2. Angela chose not to help the old woman because she was rushing to work to avoid
being late for work which she did and would not be suspended and still continue to
receive her salary but she heard a news that the old woman got accidentally hit by a
car and died on the spot. With this, she felt guilty and blame herself for not helping
the old woman.

a. Using the matrix below fill in the voluntariness and responsibility based on the
actions made by Angela in the above situation (20 pts)
Voluntariness Responsibility
1.

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 2.

b. In which situation do you think Angela becomes more free and less free? Justify your
answer. (5 pts)
c. Based on the above choices made by Angel, how can you apply this statement :
“Some things are given up while others are obtained in making choices”? (5
pts)

What Is It?

The GIVEN and The CHOSEN

Analyze this:
Sir, if we are all born free, can
we choose our parents?our
Ok, let’s discuss brothers or sisters?our
the answer to your sexuality?our height, our color?.
Can we also choose when to
questions below.
rain? Or extend the night?

The Given and the Chosen

People often think that the fullness of freedom is found in one's ability to make
decisions about one's life. Choice is indeed an element of freedom, but
freedom goes beyond mere choosing. Freedom is not absolute, and in
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our lives, there are a lot of things that we could not choose. For example,
we were not given a choice if we wanted to be born; we were simply given
life. We also did not choose our parents, some of our physical
traits and personal characteristics were simply genetically handed down and
already form part of us. We are not in total control of everything around us,
and we sometimes find ourselves with very limited choices, such as being
stuck in traffic, getting mugged by someone on the street, and having strong
emotions for someone. Many things in life are given. Although some things
are given, it does not mean that we do not really have freedom. On the
contrary, there are instances when we can exercise our freedom because
we are not determined by these forces or situations. Difficult situations may
not always be avoidable, especially if we happen to be victims of
circumstance, but we may take these difficult situations positively or
negatively. We may not always have the best family but it does not mean that
our future family will turn out the same way as our current one.
A person with an indifferent attitude may find it hard to be motivated and
excited about things in general, but it doesn't mean that he or she is incapable
of being interested and inspired to act passionately. These "givens" or
predetermined things do not negate our freedom but give us opportunities
to exercise our freedom when we determine ourselves.
The key idea is that we should always act well in any given situation because
the self is determined by the self. We have given tendencies or inclinations,
and the world also exerts some forces over us, but we can transcend all of
these and determine ourselves in the manner we want because we are free.
As much as possible, we must use our freedom in a good way so that we may
become better people and better versions of ourselves for our own sake and
the sake of others.

What’s More?

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 ACTIVITY 6 : “ It’s your choice”

Look at the picture in the first column and discuss the “given” and “chosen” based
on each situation

Situation Given (20pts) Chosen(20 pts)

A scene after Typhoon

https://the-buchiblo.com

Source : Wikipedia

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 What I Have Learned?

• Freedom is an intrinsic and essential property of a person. The human person

is by nature free and seeks freedom. Our freedom to act sets us apart from
other beings.
• Freedom is also understood to be the power to create and define oneself. It is
also rooted in the person's self-determination and the exercise of intellect and
free will.
• Having and exercising freedom entail certain responsibilities. Human action can
either uphold or diminish freedom. A person becomes less free when he or she
does not exercise control over his or her actions. Actions that diminish freedom
also dehumanize a person
• There are three kinds of freedom. Physical freedom refers to the absence of
physical restraint. Psychological freedom is the freedom of choice. Moral
freedom refers to the responsible use of freedom which upholds human dignity
and goodness.
• The two important elements of human freedom are voluntariness and
responsibility. Voluntariness refers to the ability of the person to act out of his
or her own free will and self-determination. Responsibility refers to the person
being accountable for his or her actions and their consequences.
• Freedom is experienced through the act of making choices. It is therefore
important for persons to exercise caution and prudence and reflect on possible
courses of action in making decisions or doing actions.
• Freedom should be exercised in a responsible and beneficial manner.
• Individuals must exercise control over their actions and recognize reasonable
limits to their freedom. Freedom should also be exercised with regard for
knowledge and truth, and each choice or action must be made after careful
thought and reflection. Finally, it is our responsibility as persons to uphold not
only our individual freedoms, but also the freedom of others.

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 What I Can Do?

ACTIVITY 7: Show situations that demonstrate freedom of choice

(120 pts)

Situation: Give your recommendations on how the persons involved can exercise freedom
more responsibly.

Julia's family is well-known for being wealthy and influential. However, her Family faced hard
times since the beginning of lockdown caused by COVID 19 pandemic. Her father 's
business closed and they are forced to sell most of their possessions and live to live a much
simpler life. Julia,however, wishes to maintain her image among her friends. She has
resorted to borrowing money from relatives in order to keep up with her well-off barkada.

ESSAY : (20 pts)

• If you are Julia how are you going to demonstrate your freedom of choice in this
situation? What do you think would be the consequence of such choice? ( Answer
must not be lower than 150 words)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

PERFORMANCE OUTPUT (100 pts)

• Compose a short poem (3 stanza, 4 lines each stanza) entitled : Freedom ( Can
be in written in Filipino) – 1 whole long bond paper

Rubrics

CATEGORY POINTS
Title Title is creative, sparks interest and is 20
related to the poem and topic.
Content The content is relevant, complete and 30
substantial
Creativity The poem contains many creative 30
details and/or descriptions that
contribute to the reader's enjoyment.
The author has really used his
imagination.
Imagery Many vivid, descriptive words are 20
used. The reader can picture the
imagery in the poem.

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Write your poem below:

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References

Books

Abella, Roberto. Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person. Quezon City: C & E
Publishing, Inc., 2016. 18, 30-31,36

Corpuz, Brenda B.,et.al, . Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person, . Quezon
City:Lorimar Publishing,Inc.,2016

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