Human Freedom: Is Your Definition Adequate?
One of the most important principles of natural law has to do with the definition of human freedom. How we use our free will ultimately determines what kind of person we become. Therefore, we need to be very careful about how we define this attribute of human nature. Natural law defines human attributes according to laws of reason applied to human nature, and also guides us to use our freedom in accord with our nature and destiny. One thing we need to understand in our search for clarity is that there are different ways to define things. For example, we can define things ontologically. This is a fancy philosophical term that means that we’re describing something as it is in its nature. An ontological definition is the most basic way of defining something. But we can also define something teleologically. This is another fancy philosophical term. It means defining a thing’s end purpose. Why does something exist? What purpose does it serve? When we look at understanding human nature, it is important to use both of these definitions.
Defining Human Freedom Ontologically
Simply defined, freedom is the function of the will that empowers rational beings (humans, angels, etc.) to choose their actions. Freedom allows us to
- Act contrary to our instincts, emotions, and desires
- Control our emotions and desires
- Choose among various potential goods
- Choose between physical and spiritual goods
- Choose who we want to become
Cultural Definition
There is a strong movement in our culture to leave the definition of freedom there — to see freedom as the ability (and right) to choose to do whatever we want. Living this definition of freedom at first seems fun and easy. We can do what we want and nobody else has the right to tell us our choice is right or wrong. After all, only we truly know what is truly good for us. As fun as it seems, though, in the end this definition of freedom is not livable. What happens when the choices that I want to make for myself interferes with the choices you make for yourself? What happens when we think something such as taking drugs is good for us when it objectively ruins our lives? What happens when someone chooses a path that harms other people? The band-aid solution often used to answer these questions is to define freedom as “the ability to do whatever you want to do as long as it doesn’t hurt someone else.”
There is a deeper problem with this simple definition of freedom. While it contains truth in it, it is not a complete definition. Human reason (and therefore natural law) requires more rigor in defining important concepts such as freedom. One of the most important questions to ask ourselves when we are trying to define something is, “What is the thing’s purpose?”
The Purpose of Freedom (The Teleological Definition)
So, what role does freedom play in human nature? What is its purpose? Well, it makes sense that if we are going to choose among possible goods, the goal would be to choose those goods that meet the other goals of natural law – making us more human, choosing and protecting authentic human goodness, being true to our physical and spiritual nature, and enriching human society.
For human free will to fulfill its purpose, we need to have not only the ability to choose, but the ability to choose what can do the greatest good for us as human beings. Put simply, true human freedom is the ability to choose the best possible good.
Through the eyes of faith, we recognize that God gave us the gift of free will ultimately so we would choose Him in a relationship of love. We can also see that out of love for us, God teaches us and encourages us to strive for the good in life that He has planned for us.
Why Does It Matter?
Is it nit-picking to worry about such definitions? Remember that morality deals with the choices that define who we become and determine our eternal destiny. How we define and use our freedom would clearly affect these defining choices. In fact, it defines how we make these decisions. Whether we see our freedom as license to do whatever we want or as a mission to discern and choose what will make us better people and our lives more fulfilled inform the entire framework in which we make these defining choices. If we are off on how we understand human freedom, or moral compass is inaccurate from the very start.