IS THERE SUCH A THING AS HUMAN FREEDOM?

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS HUMAN FREEDOM?Chapter 2 continuedNot all philosophers agree on the question of human freedomIf INTENTION is the heart of an actionThen the heart of an action is something we cannot see.Intention has been traditionally identified as a spiritual, (transcendent) qualityThe Catechism on FreedomFreedom characterizes properly human acts. It makes the human being responsible for acts of which he (or she) is the voluntary agent. (#1745)Freedom is the power to act or not to act, and so to perform deliberate acts of ones own. Freedom attains perfection in its acts when it is directed towards God the sovereign Good.(#1744)

Freedom is not realNaturalism (Physical Determinism)Religious DeterminismSocial DeterminismNaturalismCoined by G.E. Moore, Principia Ethica in 1903Built on Humes challenge to principle of causalityKey ideas:Material universe a unified systemEverything follows physical, biological processesConcrete evidence a must, empirical/ scientific experiment what is true Its all in the genesA direct assault on human freedomDNA who you are genetic predisposition your choices/promises/actionsFreedom is now a delusionNaturalism now causes us to deny the possibility of ethics and moralityHow can you be responsible for actions if you have no control over them?Neurons ActionsGenetic predispositions would lead us to wonder: are people really guilty of crimes?Are we COMPELLED to behave in certain ways?About free will, guilt, innocence other mitigating factorsIf causal connection: wed no longer be agents

YetWe need our body to actYour spirit is an embodied spirit,Spiritual capacities,Free will,ARE IN SOME WAY CONNECTED WITH YOUR BODYNaturalism cannot account for human freedom or the moral drive. Mind Brain DistinctionRene DescartesI think, therefore I am.Cogito, ergo sum.Descartes created a split between thinking and the world of matter: a thinking mind with no link to the body. (Body / Mind split)

Thomas HuxleyThe brain a machine like everything else in natureMind only a passive reflection of the brains activity.Catholic TraditionDOES NOT deny:Discoveries of scienceConnections between mind & brainThe human mind is more than physical functionsProvides capacity for freedom, choice, actionThe heart of our capacity to receive Gods self-revelation in faith, understand, live a life of loving serviceThe human personA being at once physical and spiritual. (CCC #362)Soul our innermost aspect of greatest valueSoul signifies our spiritual principle Our spiritual traditionEmphasizes the heartDepths of ones beingWhere one decides ForOr againstGOD (CCC #368)Religious DeterminismPREDESTINATIONGod predetermined the courseOf the worldHistoryEach personPROVIDENCEGods influence events/actionsJohn Calvin French Reformer, 1509-1564Believed in PredestinationFreedom & ethics not a part of doctrine of predestinationCATHOLIC TEACHING DISAGREES!Human freedom & Gods providence do not conflict!PuritansOffshoot of CalvinismSin totally depraved humans >live entire lives deserving eternal damnationCut off from God, helpless to save themselvesDont believe that God wants to save allGod elects some, rejects others.Catholic Traditionwe are free because of Gods providenceSalvation: Gods initiative of love, that requires & makes possible our cooperation

St. Augustine (354-430)1st great theologian to write about free will and its connection to graceHe WAS a Manichaean (he converted)No free willBody / matter are evilSpirit / soul are goodAugustine continuedTaught against PelagianismPELAGIUSFree will has total powerAcc. To Augustine, Pelagians gave free will too much powerIt is certain that we will when we will; but God brings it about that we act, but that without Gods help we neither will anything good nor do it.

Social DeterminismOutside influences behaviourExamples:ParentsCulturePsychological stateTraumatic experiencesOnes: history, social background, race, genderSigmund FreudUnconscious determines behaviourRepressed memories & desires unconscious impulsesBehaviour patterns are neurotic, ones dreams actually resurfacing memories & desiresNot free until you connect with repressed memoriesUNCONSCIOUS determinismMore FreudSUBLIMATIONChannelling behaviour in less neurotic, more creative ways in right actionTwo basic instincts:Life (Eros)Death (Thanatos)