Freedom that is Proper for Man

Abstract

The understanding of human freedom is always entangled in the IMAGE of man accepted earlier. Hence the various notions of freedom that we encounter nowadays stem from the earlier accepted understanding of man.

In order to realise this connection, and also for a more profound understanding of WHAT HUMAN FREEDOM IS, four images of man are presented that have been selected from the history of philosophical anthropology. Within the frames of these images various understandings of freedom were formulated. The consequences for the understanding of human freedom resulting from these are also pointed to. For if the understanding of man is not complete, or even utterly false, the understanding of human freedom will be the same, as well as the rules for free activity. And the results may turn out to be harmful, or even tragic for man himself. The answer to the question if man will belong to himself or not depends on the proper understanding of freedom and on the choice of proper rules of free activity. And, as Montaigne wrote, „it is the most important thing in the world, to be able to belong to oneself”.

The images of man that appeared in history are still alive in contemporary culture. Referring to them allows one to understand better what the basis of truly human freedom is and in what way it manifests itself.