Freedom

1
Freedom

• Excellence or Indeterminance

2
Modern Theories of Freedom

• Tendencies lessen or deny the dependence of
  freedom upon truth, VS34
• Human freedom claims to be able to create values,
  VS35
• A moral autonomy with absolute sovereignty

3
New theories Incompatible with Catholic thought

• A complete sovereignty of reason in the moral
  domain, separation from Divine Wisdom
• Man would lay down for himself norms founded
  exclusively in human reason, VS36

4
New (erroneous)thoughts on Catholic Morals

• A sharp distinction between and ethical order
  with value for this world and an order of
  salvation encompassing certain intentions and
  attitudes, VS 37
• Autonomous reason, not revelation makes material
  norms
• Thus, competence of Magisterium denied

5
What is a rightful autonomy?

• Reason draws its truth from Eternal Law, Divine
  Wisdom, VS39
• Natural Law is a properly human law
• But autonomy does not mean that reason can create
  values and moral norms
• This would mean that one denies the participation
  of the Divine Wisdom in the rational creature.

6
Mans Genuine Moral Autonomy

• An acceptance of Gods moral law
• Human freedom and Gods law intersect
• Obedience is not a heteronomy
• Mans free obedience to Gods law implies that
  human reason and will participate in Gods
  providence
• This is a participated theonony

7
St. Thomas vs. Ockham

• St. Thomas-Freedom is a faculty proceeding from
  reason and will, uniting to make the act of
  choice
• Free will is not the originating force but
  presupposes intelligence and will
• This is rooted in natural inclinations to
  goodness and truth

8
Ockham

• In Ockham the ability of choice (free will)
  precedes the combination of reason and will in
  its operation
• Freedom is found in the power of the will to
  choose independently between contraries
• This capacity is in the power of the will, an
  ability to choose between what reason identifies
  and judges as true and its contrary
• Thus freedom exists in an indetermination or
  radical indifference in the will

9
Ockham

• Freedom is radically indifferent to the opposites
  in front of it, good or evil.
• The will becomes redefined
• It is no longer an attraction to the good
  exercised in love or desire
• It is radical indifference
• It becomes characterized not by loving but by
  obeying and commanding.

10
Natural Inclinations

• In Thomas, freedom is rooted in the natural
  spontaneity toward the good and the true
• The ultimate end, perfection of the good, (and
  Beatitude) formed the basis of Thomass moral
  theory.
• That desire could never be extinguished
• The important point, this desire for happiness is
  the foundation of natural spontaneity and freedom

11
Inclinations and Ockham

• One is always free to refuse happiness
• One can choose to despise even existence
• This places inclinations below freedom
• Harmony between nature and freedom destroyed
• Freedom is now described as indifferent to nature

12
The breakdown of Morality

• Loss of the relationship between freedom and
  nature-enjoying good, truth, etc.
• Loss of sense of happiness as first desire of
  human nature
• Habitus, virtue, would be opposed to freedom
  freedom does not grow
• Final end as a result of pattern of action,
  banished individual acts are not united

13
Reason and Freedom

• In Ockham, reason does not influence freedom or
  determine choice
• Freedom would have to affirm itself against
  reason voluntarism
• The power to say no in Thomas is recognized, but
  the freedom to reject Beatitude is a weakness
• Indeterminate freedom, power to say no to reason
  is essential to freedom

14
What is the next question?

• Is the problem reason?
• Or is the problem will?
• Thats not the question you ought to be asking
  right now, btw.