What is freedom? The opposite of captivity? The state of having the ability to do what you want? A cheesy ballade by Robby Williams?
According to the Oxford dictionary: "The ability to freely choose between different options. The autonomy of a decisive subject."
Sounds good. But it is not as easy as it seems to be... There is the freedom of mind, freedom of will, and the freedom of action. The freedom to choose – if you want to do so. The freedom to doubt.
In general we differentiate between two: The negative and the positve freedom. Positive freedom? Isn't that tautological? No. A horse is standing on a field and there is no fence. That is negative freedom: The absence of compulsion or restrictions. It has all conceivable options. Galloping, eating, enjoing the sun, or just producing a bunch of road apples. But only when our horse is putting one of its options into action, it's positive freedom. A state of actually using the given opportunities.
Lets try to use our opportunities: I always wanted to say "a*****e", "m***n" and "c**t" on a online forum. Wait. What was that? Am I free, if I do what I favour to do? Or is it just asocial? Freedom is not anarchie!
Every kind of freedom can just be seen as "good" if it is defined as "good" in the system of values which surrounds it. Indeed! Now its getting complicated! We offend conservatives, people wearing a hijab and people who are still asking for Britney Spears on the radio... are those people "less free"?
Did iraq had to be freed? Do we have to forbid chain smokers to enlight their cigarettes less than 10 meter away from office? Or forbid a muslim woman wearing her scarf working in the IRS, just because we think that she is not free while wearing it?
Freedom is quiet restrictive... intolerant and presumptious. If you dont wanna belive it, please try to find hospitality in a squat, occupied by hippies. Good luck...
Freedom is indivually.
That's the reason why it's called "Freedom"!
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An article written by Kevin Drehler from germany, also known as @steemitpolitics. Pictures from 3sat.
©Steemlosophy is a mix of the words "steem" and "philosophy", which i use to describe my new series of articles dealing with philosophical topics on steem(it).
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