notes on social studies

1. Elements that define freedom
1. Voluntariness- the ability of a person to act out of
his or her own free will and self- determination.
- A person may act even if he or she is not required or
called to take action
- Free acts which can be assigned with corresponding
moral value

2. 2. Responsibility
-Refers to the person being accountable for his or her
actions and their consequences.
- It can either mean a person voluntarily taking
responsibility for his or her own actions or being held
responsible by other people.
Without these two elements human freedom is
diminished.

3. Jean Paul Sartre- Absolute Freedom
absolute freedom can be best explained from his
atheistic view – if god does not exist, then everything
is permissible. Simply, no god, no rules – no rules, you
can do anything. Moreover, according to him, “if there
are no guidelines for our actions, then each of us is
forced to design our own moral code, to invent a
morality to live by.” That’s what makes Sartre an atheist
after all.

4. Now, Sartre’s absolute freedom consists of these two
realities – that we can do anything (good or evil), and at
the same time, we choose to live our own way of life. In
a nutshell, WE ARE CONDEMNED TO
BE FREE! Absolute freedom, therefore,
means the act of free will to choose, these
choices are personal choices.

5. Maurice Merleau-Ponty-SITUATED FREEDOM
Our freedom depends on a given situation.
TWO KINDS OF FREEDOM
The freedom of choice (horizontal freedom)-our basic
and particular choices we made every day in our lives.
Fundamental option (vertical freedom)-The
fundamental option is our general direction or
orientation in life that reflects our values in life.

6. To sum things up, let us ponder on the words of Max
Scheler, “it is Love which makes me a Person, which
makes me truly Free.”
Love is the highest moral value of all. When our choices
are rooted from love and compassion, then all the
decisions we make are good and nothing but pure
goodness. There is total freedom if there is love as the
saying goes, “if you Love someone set it Free.” Freedom
makes us truly human.

7. “Walang sino man ang namamatay para
sa sarili lamang. Walang sinoman ang
nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang. Tayong
lahat ay may pananagutan sa isa’t isa.
Tayong lahat ay tinipon ng Diyos na
kapiling niya.”

8. Intersubjectivity

10. Guide Questions:
1. What are similarities have you observed
that were depicted in the three pictures?
2. Do you think the world could accept them
with their differences?
3. In your own ordinary concrete way, how
could you demonstrate acceptance towards
them?

11. Intersubjectivity
-refers to the shared awareness and
understanding among persons. It is made possible
by the awareness of the self and the other
(Abella, 2016).
-a unique relationship between distinct subjects
(characteristic of the human person to engage in
a very intimate and personal relationship with
others who are different from him or her but also
like him or her.

12. Social interactions define the development of
individual ideas and characteristics, while the
welfare of society is founded on the maintenance
of meaningful and harmonious relationships
among its members (Ibid.)
Seeming- an individual present herself or himself in a
certain way when dealing with others. The persons take
on role or act out characters when dealing with certain
people or in certain situations.

13. • Dialogue- deeper and substantial interactions and
relationship with other people. It occurs when two
persons are willing to “open up” to each other and
give and receive one another in their encounter.
Genuine dialogue – occurs when persons are willing to
share themselves with one another and accept each
other’s uniqueness and differences.

14. Empathy- the ability to share emotions by being aware
that the other is a person with thoughts and feelings.
Availability- the willingness to be present at the
disposal of others.
Ethics of Care- ethical theory that emphasizes the
moral dimension of relationships and interactions. This
encourages individuals to help other people most
especially the vulnerable
Alienation- arises when a person view the other
person as a mere object or a means to satisfy personal
interests.

15. * This pessimistic view consider human relationship as
frustrating and deceptive. The human actions are
influenced by selfish interest.

16. Being human means we are in relation with other
human beings who might be different from us. Yet,
regardless of the differences, our humanness is
enriched as we participate in a community.
Yet, regardless of the differences, our humanness is
enriched as we participate in a community. This
relationship can be fruitful if based on mutuality,
sincerity, and acceptance. Buber, Wojtyla and various
philosophers dreamt of equality, actualization, and
participation (Ramos, 2016). As we undergo the
process of knowing ourselves, we acknowledge the
fundamental goodness of our nature and share it with
others. (Ibid)