Human Existence: Liberty, Character, and Purposeful Living

Foundations of Human Existence

There are two fundamental elements that constitute our lives: those that build us as individuals and those that guide us toward a good moral character.

Key Components of Our Being

Liberty: The Power of Human Choice

Unlike predetermined entities, we are not confined to a single answer or choice because we are liberated beings. Liberty fundamentally constitutes human beings. In principle, we are open to intelligently creating a world of possibilities and choosing among those we consider best. While we can make ourselves somewhat as we want, true freedom is not merely doing what we desire, but rather how we respond to what happens to us.

Mood: Our Fundamental Sense of Existence

Our freedom is conditioned by the spirit in which we are immersed and the social situation in which we find ourselves. A person's mood is their fundamental sense of existence, the vitality with which they confront reality. We possess a unified and intelligent, non-elected emotional core, which we inherit from nature: our mood.

Character: Forging Our Moral Identity

We are free to forge our character. People are born with a spirit, and we are continually creating a second nature for ourselves. As Aristotle stated, life is about acquiring moral values, virtues, actions, and rules.

Learning to Live: Cultivating a Purposeful Life

Beyond Instinct: The Human Journey

Unlike animals, whose existence is determined by their nature—meaning their life is pre-made from birth—human beings are naturally not predetermined. We can live in many different ways because our nature does not dictate our life; instead, we actively build it. Therefore, we need to learn to live. This is the most important learning: to acquire the necessary knowledge for life.

Guiding Principles for Life's Path

Moral law, politics, and religion are practical disciplines that direct or steer individuals and societies toward a specific end. These dimensions provide essential guidance:

• Moral Law and Personal Direction

  The moral dimension gives direction to personal life and relationships with others. Moral principles and their goals help us achieve our self-realization.

• Politics and the Common Good

  Law and politics operate in social and public spheres. They guide us toward achieving the common good for humanity. The elaboration of laws and policies must be informed by a common concept of political and moral justice.

• Religion: Seeking Ultimate Meaning

  Religion helps us connect with each other and with an absolute reality. It guides us in the rejection of immorality and in the search for ultimate meaning to make sense of existence. An authentic religious response is an invitation to happiness and solace. In some religions, there are no strict rules, but rather a core guiding principle. Norms or laws are fundamental to religiosity, through which we seek answers for the experience or sense of compassion and complete love. When religion transcends its legalistic aspects, it becomes a source of profound hope.