INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF A HUMAN PERSON
QUARTER 2 | 1ST SEMESTER | REVIEWER
MAN AND FREEDOM ● They are simply not free
from biological
View that rejects the claim determination.
that a human person is free.
● This probably explains why
they find it difficult to
PAN - DETERMINISM change their attitude,
behavior, and personality no
● “the view which disregards matter how hard they try.
[the human] capacity to take
a stand toward any ● Human actions may appear
conditions whatsoever” free, but they are nothing
(Frankl 1984, 154). but a manifestation of the
various mental states,which
● states that a human person humans are not aware of.
is not free because his/her
decisions, actions, and ● These mental states, in
behavior are DETERMINED by turn, govern human
his/her biological, decisions, actions, and
psychological, and behaviors.
sociological conditions
(Frankl 1973). ● To understand this view, let
us briefly discuss Freud’s
● idea that humans do not have concept of the mind:
control over who they CONSCIOUS LEVEL, PRE-
become, but instead simply CONSCIOUS LEVEL, UNCONSCIOUS
become the people their LEVEL.
genes and upbringing force
them to become. ● Human decisions, actions,
and behaviors are determined
by those instincts, drives,
BIOLOGICAL DETERMINISM
hopes, wishes, and past
experiences which humans are
● Humans are biologically not aware of and of which
predisposed to decide, act, they have no control.
or behave in a certain way.
● Whether they like it or not,
SOCIOLOGICAL DETERMINISM
their biological
constitution affects the way ● Human behavior is shaped by
they decide, act, and external conditions (the
behave. surrounding environment) and
not by the so-called inner
self (SKINNER, 1971).
, INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF A HUMAN PERSON
QUARTER 2 | 1ST SEMESTER | REVIEWER
● Actions that produce good physical disabilities, and
consequences are reinforced; the failures of those who
conversely, actions that got what it takes to succeed
yield negative effects have in life?
the tendency not to be
repeated. ● If biological determinism is
true, then how do we also
● Positive or negative explain the lives of
reinforcement (reward or identical twins who are said
punishment mechanism) is, to have the same genetic
therefore, imperative to make-up but who turn out to
shaping and changing human have different attitudes,
behavior. behaviors,and personalities?
● “It is not the consciousness ● Physically challenged
of men that determines their individuals can go far
existence,but their social beyond what their biological
existence that determines conditions permit them to
their consciousness.”(MARX, do.
1999).
AGAINST PSYCHOLOGICAL
Notes: DETERMINISM
● To be free means to be free
from.
● To condition does not mean
● Freedom always presupposes a
to determine.
condition or a restriction.
● Without condition or
● Plato says that reason has
restriction,there is nothing
the power to govern both our
from which a person can be
appetite and emotion.
freed.
● All these conditions—
● Immanuel Kant states that
biological, psychological,
humans may sometimes act
and social—serve as the
according to the dictate of
springboards of human
their desires but they have
freedom.
the capacity to choose what
is right. This capacity is a
AGAINST BIOLOGICAL DETERMINISM
proof of human freedom.
● If we are nothing more than ● Clearly, psychological
our biological endowment, states are real but humans
how can we explain the have the power to be aware,
triumphs in life of those to process, and to use them
persons who suffer from to their advantage rather
QUARTER 2 | 1ST SEMESTER | REVIEWER
MAN AND FREEDOM ● They are simply not free
from biological
View that rejects the claim determination.
that a human person is free.
● This probably explains why
they find it difficult to
PAN - DETERMINISM change their attitude,
behavior, and personality no
● “the view which disregards matter how hard they try.
[the human] capacity to take
a stand toward any ● Human actions may appear
conditions whatsoever” free, but they are nothing
(Frankl 1984, 154). but a manifestation of the
various mental states,which
● states that a human person humans are not aware of.
is not free because his/her
decisions, actions, and ● These mental states, in
behavior are DETERMINED by turn, govern human
his/her biological, decisions, actions, and
psychological, and behaviors.
sociological conditions
(Frankl 1973). ● To understand this view, let
us briefly discuss Freud’s
● idea that humans do not have concept of the mind:
control over who they CONSCIOUS LEVEL, PRE-
become, but instead simply CONSCIOUS LEVEL, UNCONSCIOUS
become the people their LEVEL.
genes and upbringing force
them to become. ● Human decisions, actions,
and behaviors are determined
by those instincts, drives,
BIOLOGICAL DETERMINISM
hopes, wishes, and past
experiences which humans are
● Humans are biologically not aware of and of which
predisposed to decide, act, they have no control.
or behave in a certain way.
● Whether they like it or not,
SOCIOLOGICAL DETERMINISM
their biological
constitution affects the way ● Human behavior is shaped by
they decide, act, and external conditions (the
behave. surrounding environment) and
not by the so-called inner
self (SKINNER, 1971).
, INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF A HUMAN PERSON
QUARTER 2 | 1ST SEMESTER | REVIEWER
● Actions that produce good physical disabilities, and
consequences are reinforced; the failures of those who
conversely, actions that got what it takes to succeed
yield negative effects have in life?
the tendency not to be
repeated. ● If biological determinism is
true, then how do we also
● Positive or negative explain the lives of
reinforcement (reward or identical twins who are said
punishment mechanism) is, to have the same genetic
therefore, imperative to make-up but who turn out to
shaping and changing human have different attitudes,
behavior. behaviors,and personalities?
● “It is not the consciousness ● Physically challenged
of men that determines their individuals can go far
existence,but their social beyond what their biological
existence that determines conditions permit them to
their consciousness.”(MARX, do.
1999).
AGAINST PSYCHOLOGICAL
Notes: DETERMINISM
● To be free means to be free
from.
● To condition does not mean
● Freedom always presupposes a
to determine.
condition or a restriction.
● Without condition or
● Plato says that reason has
restriction,there is nothing
the power to govern both our
from which a person can be
appetite and emotion.
freed.
● All these conditions—
● Immanuel Kant states that
biological, psychological,
humans may sometimes act
and social—serve as the
according to the dictate of
springboards of human
their desires but they have
freedom.
the capacity to choose what
is right. This capacity is a
AGAINST BIOLOGICAL DETERMINISM
proof of human freedom.
● If we are nothing more than ● Clearly, psychological
our biological endowment, states are real but humans
how can we explain the have the power to be aware,
triumphs in life of those to process, and to use them
persons who suffer from to their advantage rather
