According to the Philosophy of Human Person,
Freedom is given three points. These are the Determinism, Libertarianism and
Compatibilism. But before all of these points, there is an example given
regarding Skinner’s thought but I will not use it. Instead, I will use another
example. Let’s use as an example the story of the Good Samaritan. One day, a
man was robbed, beaten and was left half-dead on the road when he was in his
way to Jericho. Three men passed by the same road that the man has taken. They
are the Pharisee, the Levite and the Samaritan. The first two men just passed
by the half-dead man and left him without sympathy. They did not do anything to
rescue the poor man; instead, they just walked as if they did not see anything.
The third one, the Samaritan, despite of the fact that he is a Samaritan while
the half-dead man is a Jew and they were citizens of two different and opposing
countries, he disregarded this thought and helped the man, gave him a drink and
brought him to an inn where the half-dead man can rest and recover.
Man has his own will, a power or capacity of
man, to decide and make a choice. Choices are the factors that help us to
deliberate which the best way to do or the best thing to have. Choices are made
by the person himself. Choices depend upon a person’s motives and decisions. Motives are used to prove something is
something or not. Choice is already chosen even before the question.
In the story, the three men were given choices
to help the poor man or not, to feel sympathy over the poor man or not, and to
stop the journey to help the poor man or to continue walking and continue his
journey. The first two men, they chose to continue their journey while the
Samaritan decided to stop first his journey to help the poor man. This choice
of the Samaritan has shown his motive to feel sympathy for the poor man and to
help him despite of the separation of their nationality. This also gave us an
idea on a good behavior on how we must act with our less fortunate brothers and
sisters. But, the Samaritan did not think of popularity or fame after helping
the man. Again, choices were given, to help for the sake of fame or to help for
the sake of friendship and love. And again, a decision was made. This showed us
that the Samaritan has a good motive and character which were determined by the
Samaritan’s PAST.
According to Sartre, “Man is nothing else but
that which he makes of himself”. What does this mean? For me, as I reflected, man
is the source of all his decisions. He must be the one to choose and to decide
for himself. What a man does and how he acts shows his full rationality and his
full being. For example, the Samaritan decided to help poor man. This act shows
his true color that he is a good example, a good model in serving those who
need a lot of help or in danger.
Let see how Determinism, Libertarianism and
Compatibilism differ and be similar to each other. All of these show that we
decide every time and every day. But how do they differ? Determinism shows that
a person is not responsible, Libertarianism shows that a man is free, that he
may live his own life and property and that he can make his choices as long as
others are respected, and Compatibilism shows that a person is both responsible
and free at the same time.
It is said that we are attracted by the illusion
of these three. In determinism, freedom is an illusion because we are cheated
that we think we are free and we are free because we are ignorant of the
necessitating causes. These necessitating causes are the following: impulse,
composition, elements, physical, temperament, energy, happiness, passion and
the real and fictitious advantages.
For example, it is examination week and your
parents told you to study at 7pm. You were not aware that it is already 7:30pm
and you don’t know that it is already past 7 so you thought you were free. So you
were not able to study so you disobeyed your parents and failed the exam.
In the case of libertarianism, there is a rule
and when the ruler is absent, you think you are free. For example, your parents
left you alone at home because they are going somewhere. Before they left, they
told you to study your lessons and review your notes. The illusion appeared
because you know that there is a rule but the rule maker is absent so you think
you are free. It is just the same as the saying, “when the cat is out, the mice
are playing.”
But in compatibilism, you are totally and
absolutely free even if there is a rule and the ruler is present. For example,
same as the example for libertarianism but the difference is the presence of
your parents. What if they did not leave you? In the case of compatibilism, you
are still free to do anything.
To end this reflection, I would like to say that
I have less belief in superstitious beliefs and destiny. Our destiny will
depend in our decisions and how we act on it. Our decisions will lead us to
another problem that will give us a lot of choices again and will make us decide
all over and over again. We must always remember that we are free, free to
obey. If we are free to obey, we are free to follow God’s commandments and His
will. There was a misconception of freedom. They said that we are free to do
anything and whatever we want to do. I say that it is not totally true because
if we can do everything, what about the bad intentions and evil motives? If we
are free in that sense, it will be chaos all over the world. What this really
points out is that we must be free in doing everything that is good and that is
for the sake of the common good.
there are two points i like to share as a comment:
ReplyDelete1.) did you ever wondered why the Pharisee and the Levite left the beaten man without helping him? knowing the post they occupy in the church hierarchy, they bear great responsibility. this could have prevented them from helping. they had more important matters to attend to - matters that cannot be compromised. but the Samaritan, he is of no great responsibility so he has time to bother. we see the Samaritan performing a heroic act. but, it is so simple compared to the tasks of the Pharisee and the Levite, so they have a valid excuse.
if we look deeper, we would see how religion alienates us from this world. did you ever realize the sole reason why the Samaritan helped the beaten man? it is because he is free from the spell of religion. this perfectly reflects marx's statement that religion is the opium of the people. many times have i heard priests say themselves that lay people or atheists are more socially responsible than the clergy. then they ask why. i say they are blind! haven't they figured-out what's wrong with them why they are so much detached from the society? they are under the disillusionment cast by religion - that's how plain it is. not unless they abandon their belief will the veil that prevented them from seeing reality and the wall that separated them from the world be removed.
2.) marx said that the ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas. the church, though they keep denying this fact, is part of the ruling class and their ideas had polluted the philippine society. they even defined words/terms in very absurd manner (e.g. freedom as you have said). after all these years, they still has this notion that we filipinos are indios that would believe whatever they say. it is evident though that still, many people are fooled to adhere to their beliefs not knowing that they were being pushed inside a box, a box that would limit their understanding. where did the church got this notion that freedom is only limited to freedom to obey? this is just a ploy. a mere act of manipulation to dominate people. freedom as you know it is not freedom at all. it is just a notion planted into your head by religion. you are not really free in that sense. the ruling class always know everything. you are free because they tell you so. in that sense, one should be grateful to the church because one owes his freedom from it!