HOLY FACE OF JESUS LYCEUM OF SAN JOSE INC.

285 Mabolo St. Cor. Sampaguita St., San Jose, Rodriguez, Rizal

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE

HUMAN PERSON

GRADE 12 - CORE SUBJECT

MODULE 5

MRS. CHRISTINE JOYCE J. SIMEON LPT.

SUBJECT TEACHER
 Pre-Test

Here we go, let us remember and

answer the following questions based
from your
prior knowledge. Don’t be afraid, this
one is set to get you ready on our
topic. I know
you can do it! Let’s go!
1. This word refers to the ability to make choices and perform actions. It is an
intrinsic and essential property of the human person.
a. Freedom
b. Free Will
c. Psychological freedom
d. Voluntariness

2. This is a type of freedom from physical restraint.

a. Moral freedom
b. Physical freedom
c. Psychological freedom
d. Voluntariness

3. This is the kind of freedom that allows a person to perform actions which he or she
considers right and wise.
a. Freedom of choosing
b. Voluntarism
c. Psychological freedom
d. Moral Freedom

4. It is the ability to act out one’s free will and self-determination.

a. Volunteerism
b. Responsibility
c. Psychological freedom
d. Voluntariness

5. This word means that a person is accountable for his or her actions and their
consequences.
a. Responsibly
b. Responsibility
 c. Irresponsibleness
d. Voluntariness

What I Need to Know

At the end of this module, the learners will be able to:

1. understand the true essence of freedom;

2. exercise prudence in making choices;
3. rationalize that:
a. choices have consequences;
b. some things are given up while others are obtained in making choices,
and
4. show situations that demonstrate freedom of choice and its consequences.

The following are your guides for the proper use of this module:

1. Follow the instructions correctly.

2. Be honest in answering and checking your exercises.
3. Answer the pre-test before going over the material to find out what you
already know.
4. Answer the exercises at the end of every lesson.
5. Review the lesson that you find difficult to understand.
6. Seek assistance from your teacher if you need help.
7. Ask permission from y our parents/guardians whenever you have
research and requirements to be conducted outside your home.

Lesson 1: Definition of Freedom and It’s Kind

What is Freedom? What is the essence of freedom?

- The ability to make choices and perform those choices.
- The ability to be what we want and to decide and create oneself.

Two concepts that will help us fully understand freedom:

 1. Freedom itself

“Freedom is generally defined as having the ability to act or change without constraint-
Wikipedia” Someone or something is “free” if he/it can do or change anything
effortlessly and responsibly. A person or an animal has the freedom to do things
that will not, in theory, or practice, be prevented by other forces. But freedom has
its particular limitations beyond himself because he is bound by consequences of
his actions either to promote goodness or destruction to himself or other persons.

Example:

Your teacher gave you a pen and paper. The goal here is to make these two items useful for
you. You can either use the pen to write a letter or draw something on the paper.
You can also transform the paper into a paper airplane and write a message on it
and throw it in the air until it finally lands to another person’s lap. Using your
freedom as an instrument to create action without constraint is its true meaning.

2. Free will
Free will is the ability to choose different courses of action without restrictions. If we
exercise our free will, we get to decide on things that will lead to results, either
good or bad, beneficial or not. The actions that we do depend on the values we
uphold and the acceptance and expectations of the community we live in,
including family members and friends that we care about.
To be precise, free will is our ability to choose things according to our moral reasoning,
which can also be related to our previous lesson on self- determination or the
ability to select on what is right and wrong, that a person’s action determines what
kind of person he or she become.

KINDS OF FREEDOM

1. Physical Freedom

Physical freedom refers to the absence of any physical restraint. The person
has the freedom of mobility to go where he or she wants to go. He or she is not
impeded in his or her actions by any physical force. Granted that the person has
natural limitations, physical freedom enables him or her to act and move in
determined manner. You cannot be everywhere at once, but your freedom allows
you to move one place to another and to go whenever you want to go.

2. Psychological Freedom

Psychological freedom is also called 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 to a person.
No outside force or influence can compel a person to take action against his or her
will.

3. Moral Freedom

Moral freedom 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 must use his or her freedom to grow as a person. A
 person becomes freer when he or she uses freedom well but becomes less free
when he or she uses it in a wicked
way. Humans have a natural inclination for what is right and moral, and when
a person uses his or her freedom to do acts that violates human dignity and goodness, he or she dehumanizes
himself or herself and effectively negates human freedom
 Lesson 2: Elements of Freedom

Two elements that define freedom:

1. Voluntariness

It is the ability of a person to act of his or her own free will and self-determination. A
person may decide to do things or not to do it according to his own free will. It also means that
even though she/he is not required to do such things he/she could still do it or take action on
it.

Voluntary acts are free acts which can be assigned a corresponding moral value. One
must always remember that in every action we make, in every choice we make there is an
equivalent consequence. These consequences affect not just the individual who does the
decision but also other people in their surroundings. With that, one must always accept the
consequences that results from his or her choices or actions and take responsibility for them.

2. Responsibility
Responsibility refers to the person being accountable for his or her action and their
consequences. Taking responsibility can mean either you take responsibility to your doing
voluntarily or other people will hold you responsible. For example, if you made a bad action
it’s either you take responsibility of it or other people will hold you accountable for it.

Example of voluntariness and responsibility

Mira wanted to earn extra income to support her studies. That is why she joined
an online business that offer to sell beauty products and vitamins. At first, Mira was
making money enough to support her school needs like fare and food for one week.
Her demands grew better, so, she wanted to earn more by recruiting members to join
her company she knew nothing of its origin. Later, she found out that this company was
a hoax and several classmates she enlisted and even teachers she enticed to buy
warned that her products have harmful effects to a person’s kidney and liver. Still she
continued selling because she needed the money badly without considering the health
of her customers. One day, Mira was apprehended by the NBI, Narcotics and SOCO
officers for selling counterfeit products.

This situation tells us about volunteerism on the part of Mira who at first aspires
for extra income to support her schooling by engaging in an online business which is
not bad. But when she learned about the company/s fraudulent and counterfeit
products, she has the responsibility to leave the company and report it to the
authorities.

Discuss:
1. What kind of freedom does Mira exercise?

2. How does truthful knowledge contribute to or limit Mira’s freedom?

3. How can you show respect for the freedom of others?

 There are significant factors to consider in the exercise of freedom. These are Prudence
and Self-reflection.

• Prudence is the ability to govern and discipline oneself with the use of reason; it is having
caution and giving good judgments in making decisions. Making hard choices is an
exercise of freedom. But freedom should also be based on truthful knowledge and wise
reasoning. Hence, we should practice self- reflection on every decision we make.

• Self-reflection allows each person to analyze his life both in small and big details in terms of
the decisions, actions and choices he make Browning, G (2009). It is a deeper form of
learning where if practiced with higher sense of wise judgement and keen perception,
the experiences he makes are more meaningful and serve as guide for improved and
informed decisions, actions and choices.

Finish the Sentence

• I do my best when . . .
• I struggle when . . .
• I am comfortable when . . .
• I feel stress when . . .
• I am courageous when . . .
• One of the most important things I learned was . . .
• I missed a great opportunity when . . .
• One of my favorite memories is . . .
• My toughest decisions involve . . .
• Being myself is hard because . . .
• I can be myself when . . .
• I wish I were more . . .
• I wish I could . . .
• I wish I would regularly . . .
• I wish I had . . .
• I wish I knew . . .
• I wish I felt . . .
• I wish I saw . . .
• I wish I thought . . .
• Life should be about . . .
• I am going to make my life about . . .

Activity

Activity 1: Show Me A Picture.

 1. Paste/draw any picture in the box that depicts a caged animal.

1. What emotions and ideas can be derived from the picture when it comes to
freedom? Why?

2. Could there be a considerable amount of change if animals are given the

freedom and roam freely in their natural habitat? Expound your answer.

Activity 2: Knowing My Priorities

Read the situation below and answer the questions after it. Write your answer in
your activity notebook.

News came that a sudden deluge of water ran over some houses near your area. Thank God,
no one was hurt except that most of their homes were destroyed and all of their belongings
were literally washed out. Your school is planning to help since some of their students live
there. The school needed the help from student volunteers who were lucky to have been spared
from this calamity. Are you willing to accept this call?

a. Would you volunteer to the said activity? Why or why not?

b. What do you think drives you to join or not join the activity?

c. If you choose to volunteer for the activity, what are the responsibilities that you can
associate to your act of voluntarism?
 Activity 3: My Freedom Circle.
Write down as many good and bad decisions you made in the past one year inside
the circle and cross out the decisions you think you regret.

According to Ruth Chang, there is no best choice in decision- making, but it is your
commitment to own that decision where it will shape the best version of yourself. Fill
the chart below with words or phrases to know whether your judgements are good
and bad ones. Cross out those you think are limiting your freedom and the freedom of
others.

Post Test
I. MULTIPLE CHOICES
1. This word refers to the ability to make choices and perform actions. It is an
 intrinsic and essential property of the human person.
a. Freedom
b. Free Will
c. Psychological freedom
d. Voluntariness

2. This is a type of freedom from physical restraint.

a. Moral freedom
b. Physical freedom
c. Psychological freedom
d. Voluntariness
3. This is the kind of freedom which allows a person to perform actions which he or she
considers right and wise.
a. Freedom of choosing
b. Voluntarism
c. Psychological freedom
d. Moral Freedom
4. It is the ability to act out one’s free will and self-determination.
a. Volunteerism
b. Responsibility
c. Psychological freedom
d. Voluntariness
5. This word means that a person is being accountable for his or her actions and their
consequences.
a. Responsibly
b. Responsibility
c. Irresponsibleness
d. Voluntarines

Put a check beside each number of the statement which shows responsible use of freedom.
1. Daniel’s school shoes are still in top shape except that its color is dried out. Instead of
buying new ones, he decided to fix it and polish it well.
2. Instead of shopping for a new expensive purse, Liza decided to save up for her startup
capital for the buy and sell business.
3. With the knowledge that the following day is their unit test, Justin stayed up late
playing video games.
4. Leo decided to help his parents put up their backyard garden instead of going
out with his friends.
5. Martha loves eating out in fast food and enjoys greasy and unhealthy food
and drinks instead of eating home-cooked meals.

Analyzing situations.

Read the following situations below. How are you going to apply prudence in making a
choice to exercise your freedom more responsibly? Encircle the letter that corresponds your
answer.

6. Your parents cautioned you about going out with friends or classmates after school and
that you should be home early to help out in the household chores. But your best friends
insisted that you will watch movies together and they will pay for the meals and tickets.
What is your take on this?

a. You are going to text your parents that you will be late in going home
because your friends invited you to a movie with free tickets and food.
b. You will text your parents that you will be late and make an alibi that there
is an activity in school.
c. You will ask your parents’ permission if you could go out with them to
watch movies.
d. You will decline the offer and go home directly after school.

7. Your grandmother asked you to withdraw her pension in the ATM. After getting the cash,
you saw those fashionable denim pants your friends wore which you have also been
dying to have and it is on 70% discounted sale. Knowing your grandmother has sufficient
savings in the bank, now is your chance to own those attractive denim pants. What
decision are you going to make?

a. You will not give the transaction receipt to your grandmother and explain
that the machine ran out of transaction slips and then give her what remains
of the cash.
b. You will ask money from your grandmother and buy those fashionable
denim pants you have been dying to have.
c. You will buy those fashionable denim pants using your grandmother’s
pension and ask money from your parents to refurbish the withdrawn cash.
d. You will not buy those fashionable denim pants you have been dying to have and
give the full cash to your grandmother together with the transaction receipts.
8. Your classmate borrowed the money which is supposed to pay your dressmaker for your
new uniform with the promise to return it the next day. But more than one week has
passed, still your classmate did not pay you and worse ignored your pleas. She seems to
have no plans of returning the money back. What are you going to do?

a. You will take the matter to your own hands and create a scene that will
embarrass her in front of the class.
b. You will report this matter to your adviser so that she will promise to pay
you her due.
c. You will go to their house and tell her parents that she owed you money
to pay for your new uniform.
d. You will just ignore and forget about this matter and promise yourself that
she can never borrow money from you again.

9. You caught your little brother secretly taking money from your mother’s wallet twice.
You asked him the reason. He explained that the money he took is to buy materials for
their class project. What are you going to do?

a. You will report this incident to your mother and let your brother explain his
act to her himself.
b. You will not believe your brother’s story and punish him yourself
immediately.
c. You will announce to all your family members what your brother did so that
everyone will have the chance to judge him off his act.
 d. You will give him last chance by not telling anyone especially your mother
of what he did if he will return the money back and promise to not doing it
again.

10. You saw a classmate sleeping during your English subject. You are aware that he works
in a cafeteria in the evening and he looks really exhausted and in a deep sleep. But you
are also concerned that he should also participate actively during class activities. What
are you going to do then?

a. You will make a loud noise just to wake him up and tell him the class is
almost done.
b. You will report to the teacher that he is always sleeping during her class.
c. You will ignore him sleeping and give him your notes so that he can just
study it when he is already wide awake and ready to learn.
d. You will lead the class in carrying him until he will wake up, it will be fun.

Refference

Books:
Abella, Roberto D. M.Div., D.Min. “Freedom of the Human Person” In Introduction
to the Philosophy of the Human Person. Quezon City: C&E Publishing Inc.2016

Browning, Geil, 2009 lifted from https://www.holstee.com/blogs/mindful- matter/self-

reflection-101
Chang, Ruth, 2014 lifted from https://www.ted.com/talks/

Lucas, Peter, 2020 Self-determination lifted from https://theconversation.com/to- what-

extent-are-you-truly-free-71188

Sioco, Maria Paula G.D. and Vinzon I.H. “Limitations and Transcendence” In
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person.Gregorio Araneta Avenue,
Quezon City: Vibal Group, Inc. 2016

https://positivepsychology.com/introspection-self-reflection/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/freedom

http://www.open.ac.uk/choose/unison/develop/my-skills/self-reflection