Contextualization

Philosophy, as a discipline, involves questioning and exploring various perspectives on fundamental issues of human existence. One of these issues is freedom and subjectivity, concepts that allow for a deeper understanding of autonomy, individuality, and responsibility of each individual in society.

The question of freedom is central to our existence as autonomous beings, capable of making decisions and having control over our lives. However, this freedom does not occur in a vacuum, but is immersed in a social context that also shapes, restricts, and influences our choices. Subjectivity, on the other hand, is what makes us unique as individuals, shaping our personal and particular point of view on the world, our identity, and the way we relate to others and reality.

However, these concepts are not isolated but are intertwined in a complex network of relationships that involve ethical, social, cultural, political, and historical aspects. They are the backbone of many philosophical, ethical, and political discussions on human rights, justice, democracy, citizenship, and various other important social issues.

The concepts of freedom and subjectivity are fundamental to understanding our role as citizens in a democratic society. It is important to emphasize that these ideas allow us to reflect on how we deal with differences, diversity, and human rights in our society. Furthermore, these concepts are crucial for us to understand and evaluate the ethical and political challenges arising from the complex cultural, social, historical, scientific, and technological transformations that characterize our contemporary world.

Understanding these issues, therefore, allows us to develop a more critical, reflective, and transformative view of our world and our role as agents of social change, as well as to strengthen our commitment to ethics, justice, and human rights.

To deepen your knowledge of the concepts of freedom and subjectivity, we recommend reading classical and contemporary philosophical texts such as:

1. "Existentialism is a Humanism" by Jean-Paul Sartre.
2. "The Ethics of Liberty" by Murray Rothbard.
3. "The Second Sex" by Simone de Beauvoir.
4. "The Age of Rights" by Norberto Bobbio.

Moreover, we suggest accessing the Philosophy Net website for articles and essays on the subject, as well as the Prof. Paulo Ghiraldelli channel on Youtube, where videos on Philosophy are regularly posted, bringing current concepts and debates.

Practical Activity: "Freedom and Subjectivity: A Critical Analysis"

Project Objective

Demonstrate understanding of the theories of freedom and subjectivity, evaluate their concepts, and apply these ideas in the contemporary context, especially considering the various cultural, social, historical, scientific, and technological transformations.

Detailed Project Description

Groups of 3 to 5 students will work together to conduct a critical analysis of the relationship and role of freedom and subjectivity in modern society. Students will select a current example that illustrates a contentious issue related to these concepts (for example, freedom of expression on social media, gender identity and subjectivity, etc.) and will produce a short documentary (10-15 minutes) on the topic.

Required Materials

• Computer with internet access for research
• Video editing software (free options available online)
• Video camera or smartphone for recording
• Access to books and articles for research

Detailed Step-by-Step

1. Group Formation: Students will form groups of 3 to 5 people.

2. Theme Selection: Each group must choose a theme that illustrates a current issue on freedom and subjectivity.

3. Theoretical Research: Students must conduct in-depth theoretical research on the concepts of freedom and subjectivity and how they relate to their chosen theme. They should use the suggested texts and additional resources to support their argument.

4. Documentary Production: Based on the theoretical research, students will script and film a short documentary (10-15 minutes) that explains the chosen issue and how it connects with the concepts of freedom and subjectivity. The documentary should be clear, well-produced, and have a strong argument.

5. Submission: The complete documentary must be submitted within one month. Along with the video, the group must submit a report in the form of an academic paper detailing their research and argument.

Note: Each group member should spend between five to ten hours working on the project, including theoretical research, documentary production, and report writing.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, each group must deliver:

1. Documentary: A 10-15 minute video analyzing the chosen issue and connecting it with the concepts of freedom and subjectivity.

2. Report: A detailed report documenting the entire project process. The report should have four main sections:

   • Introduction: Contextualize the chosen theme, explain its real-world relevance, and discuss the project's objectives.

   • Development: Explain the theory behind the project's central themes (freedom and subjectivity), detail the activity carried out (documentary production), indicate the methodology used, and discuss the results obtained.

   • Conclusion: Review the main points, present the learnings acquired, and draw conclusions about the project.

   • Bibliography: List all sources the group used to develop the project.

Remember that the project will assess both technical knowledge (understanding of the theories of freedom and subjectivity) and socio-emotional skills (teamwork, time management, problem-solving, creative thinking, etc.).