Catholic Dictionary
Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
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FREEDOM OF THOUGHT
In a correct sense, the capacity of the human mind to distinguish between truth and error. In this sense it is the foundation for freedom of the will, to choose between good and evil. but historically the term came into vogue as a motto for the Freethinkers, who were actually skeptics. Hume (1711-76) and Voltaire (1694-1778) in their day claimed to be Freethinkers, because they chose to disbelieve in divine revelation and, in fact, even to reject the basic dictates of sound moral reason.
