Menslike vryheid in konteks en perspektief

Part I of this thesis starts with the problem of human freedom. Part II of this thesis deals with the Calvinistic theory of human freedom. In order to study the theoretical foundations of human freedom in Calvinistic philosophy, it is essential to distinguish between the Philosophy of the cosmonomic idea and the Philosophy of the creation idea. Although there are minor points of difference between these streams of thought it is clear that in essence the fundamental cosmological principles between these philosophies are the same. An analysis of the Philosophy of the cosmonomic idea reveals that the fundamental principle underlying man's freedom was first formulated by prof. dr. H. Dooyeweerd: only through the salvation of Christ Jesus can man receive and know true human freedom. As far as human freedom is concerned it is clear that prof. dr. H.G. Stoker further developed this fundamental principle in the Philosophy of the creation idea. Much along the same lines as the Philosophy of the COSIIOnomic idea H.G. Stoker stresses that an analysis of human freedom should fulfill the following conditions: (a) Human freedom is self-insufficient and must essentially be distinguished from the freedom of God; (b) an analysis of human freedom should be an analysis of positive freedom; (c) human freedom is intimately connected with man as a concrete whole and with his destiny on earth; and (d) human freedom presupposes a real choice between different possible acts, ultimately between obeying and disobeying the principles of order concerned. Furthermore H.G. Stoker reveals that the nature of human freedom should be discovered by observing how man occupies himself and how his doings essentially differ from animal activity; human mastery is creativity; human freedom is no caprice, nor something arbitrary. but is governed by the principle of order and human freedom is finally the realisation of a divine calling: (a) his innate abilities and talents call man to master, to create, to be