Freedom is not a foreign word to us. We
are taught about it since our elementary years. We are exposed by our parents
about it. Our parents keep on reminding us with regard to it especially when we
reach the adolescent stage, never to abuse such privilege of “Freedom”. What is
really then is freedom? Several Personalities has already given their views and
opinions about it, philosophers, psychologists, scientists, and everybody of
great minds. But have we really understood it from our own perspective? Can we
say that we really have experienced such?
Allow me to expose some view points of
well-known persons with regard this matter for I am convinced that these would
be helpful for us to compare and contrast as the essay progresses. According to
St. Thomas, the will is the
principle of the self motion in humans. That is, humans are free to exercise
their will and to choose particular things.[1] Is
‘Freedom’ limited only to choosing and willing something? For Augustine, he
says, “In
itself, free will would not be an evil; but it is not either an absolute good,
such as temperance and justice are. It is a kind of a middle good, whose
nature is good, but whose effect may be evil or good, according to the way man
makes use of it.[2]
Another concept about freedom which I have found practical and makes sense is
the idea of Pelagius. He contends, “Freedom is one’s choice of right or wrong
on any occasion independent of what his/her previous actions may have been.”[3]
This particular thought leads him to conclude that there’s no such thing as
original sin for sin is a matter of the will and never of nature: the will is
the ultimate determinant of conduct. Man is always inclined towards goodness,
however, considering imperfections, he sins because of ignorance. For Albert
Camus, Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.[4]
For Franklin Rosevelt, in the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must
be achieved.[5]
So we have been initiated with some line
of thoughts/view points from those famous personalities. It depends upon us
what idea we like to buy. Since this is a reflection paper, I would also like
to present how I understand freedom based obviously from my humble experiences.
Before, as a college seminarian, I found
freedom as “doing everything” so long as it could make me happy. I was always emphasizing
‘happiness’ as my first priority either directly or indirectly. That was the
reason perhaps why I had pushed myself to do acts against the seminary rules
and regulations because I had misinterpreted freedom—stuffs like: bringing cell
phone, smoking, escaping, and the like. What I had in mind that time was, “Ahh
nag-bayad gd ko!”
However, as I have reached theology, I
have experienced it differently. Few months of my stay have echoed a loud voice
of respect and professionalism. We, seminarians, are treated as young adults.
We are able to express our thoughts in many ways. One of which is this
activity. Freedom for me now is the willingness, with full knowledge and conviction,
to do the right thing considering the vocation that one has chosen. Freedom
implies happiness despite the total denial of the self. Happy in the sense that
one is convinced that it is the right thing to do for the betterment of myself
and for the community even if, with this particular act, I would be taken out
from my “comfort zones.” Freedom promotes selflessness and self-mastery. From
our Pastoral theology class, our professor has explained how self-mastery opens
the gate for genuine freedom. He contends that, after a person recognizes
his/her strength and weaknesses, talents and skills as gifts from God and Flaws
as part of imperfect nature of man, he/she can now see the world differently.
He/she can now face the world with flexibility in spite of different emerging
situations. He/ she is more than willing enough to serve others and to
prioritize others’ need over his’/hers’. Thus, all that I have cited above
already makes sense—view of Rosevelt, Camus, Thosmas, Augustine, and Pelagius.
Imagine a world consisting these kinds
of individuals, self-mastered and selfless individuals. What a beautiful world.
And only then can this be achieved if we understand freedom correctly.
[1] http://www.aquinasonline.com/Topics/freewill.html
[2] http://www.unashamedofthegospel.org/free-will.cfm
[3]
Ibid.
[4] http://quotations.about.com/cs/inspirationquotes/a/Freedom1.htm
[5]
Ibid.