2006-11-04 11:53:18 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
What does it mean to be free?
2006-11-04 11:54:25 · answer #1 · answered by greeiore 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quite frankly it depends on the philosopher, or rather, the school of philosophy that you ask. A determinist might tell you that freedom does not exist; freedom to a determinist is a facade created by an outragously complex by product of an inmanagably large human brain. An existentialist would tell you that freedom only exists in those moments that we are forced to choose between one option or another, and that freedom to choose is what makes us who we are. A stoic would probably tell you to quit meandering over needless debate and get to work on something :) .
Really, freedom is a word to be defined by a defining agent, a human. Whether you believe that it is or it isn't something or another, use the decision that you make to inform some of your life decisions for the better. If you decide that you are a the product of thousands of biochemical reactions, a hapless cog in a deterministic framework of causal links, and nothing more, then take the time to understand what causes you must create as a cog in the machine to make your life what you want it to be. If you choose to believe that you have freedom and are an informing agent to the causal links, then make the type of choices that will lead you to your happiness.
The final point I would like to raise is that not all people think humans are free, but that the spirit, or life force, that they believe directs us through our lives, is free, and our physical bodies are mere vessels with which the spirit generates it's desired outcomes. If this idea is more to your liking, wonderful. I hope I have helped to provide more clarity on the subject and less chaotic rigermerole, and if I haven't I apologize. Take care.
2006-11-04 12:36:23 · answer #2 · answered by carlos_18_37 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Philosophy is the science of thinking. The complete analysation of thought patters throughout the human race. When philosophy is let loose with freedom it isn't limited the way it would be without freedom. Freedom gives philosophy greater depth and perspective, otherwise certain ways of thinking would be deemed illegal and that section of philosophy would be banned.
2006-11-04 13:26:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Freedom is the result of philosophy.
2006-11-04 12:14:51 · answer #4 · answered by Sophist 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Philosophy has nothing to do with freedom. But you could have a philosphical idea on freedom. Like what it means to be free and why its important. Why you believe that its important. Or your view could be that its impossible to be compleatly free because of human error and the need to be better than some one else; that having freedom is like having happyness, its compleatly impossible because you could always have more its infintate.
2006-11-04 12:03:43 · answer #5 · answered by Breeanna 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Philosophy is freedom of thought. It is the freedom to voice it.
2006-11-04 12:44:52 · answer #6 · answered by qpi 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not much. Freedom take self awareness. Philosophy is a result of self awareness.
2006-11-04 12:12:31 · answer #7 · answered by St.Anger 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
freedom is a philosophy that claims that people can reach their potential and be happiest when they are not coerced by any other individuals; when they do not have to answer to anyone
2006-11-04 12:30:47 · answer #8 · answered by Stand-up Philosopher 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its free thinking, with out the limits of others social standards and system of beliefs
2006-11-04 13:33:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋