2007-01-03 01:32:33 · 11 answers · asked by koki 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Freedom is when you can be yoursefl without limiting others' freedom.
2007-01-03 01:39:21 · answer #1 · answered by Razan 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
'small' had a great answer!
If you've seen the movie 'Waking Life' there is one teacher who says something along the lines that we actually have no free will. Or any control at all. That our bodies are actually acting on their own, regardless of our minds trying to be in control. The particles and sub particles, molecular structure and atoms all acting on their own. Something we cannot possibly control. We only think we control it because our mind tells us this. Even when we wish to not more at all, we may appear from a distance to be not moving, but upon closer examination, we are in fact always moving. Therefore, like 'small' stated, absolute freedom is not a reality. If it were, we'd have mind bending 'powers', could make our limbs stretch and retract, control things with our very thoughts. But, bound by the laws of this world and physics, we simply cannot.
Freedom may have a definition, but the idea of absolute freedom cannot be attained in our current humanity. The soul, however, of which it all began, to equally be everything and nothing at the same time, is freedom. If you've read 'Conversations With God - Book 1, it is all explained.
Hope this helps.
2007-01-03 10:08:29 · answer #2 · answered by prizefyter 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A smart answer is 'Freedom is the phenomenon that is examined by Philosophy'...
I find that going beyond that kind of 'smart' definition/description is difficult; is 'freedom' just a word that has become a noun from an adjective? I can be 'more free' than I was, 'less free' than I was, 'as free as I was'... I think one can say these things & not be too much the 'alien'...
Obviously, the question 'what is freedom?' has had a long history but it is worth noting that the question is itself a 'sign' or 'signal' of a kind of 'freedom' being present... if I pose it, then I possess the vocabularly (a 'freedom' from not being able to 'utter' the question legibly (here I think of speaking as being like writing)), I probably possess the freedom to pose such a question (the free time, the right of free speech (i.e: I do not fear that posing the question will immediately bring harm))... famously, I (for your amusement) forget the reference, the anti-slavery promoters of the USA found that communicating the idea of 'being a free man' to slaves was a problem, some slaves had no concept of the difference 'tween freedom & slavery (& many people today see little or no difference, the freedom of some citizens is seen as being simply an improvement of slavery conditions - worsened somewhat by being so improved (which minimizes the chances of revolution).
Regarding again the earlier question of whether freedom is a relative concept, I propose that one can clarify what is meant here by regarding the idea of 'wealth' or 'being rich' (wealth maps onto freedom, being rich maps onto being free)... what is wealth? Wealth, I think many (if not all) of us will agree, separate from monetary/property evaluation, comprises 'stuff' that one can buy or make & stuff (such as good luck) that one cannot so easily (if @ all) buy or make..
Transforming what I've said about wealth & being rich to the first questions (freedom/'being free'), one can perhaps see that two plus versions of freedom exist: one that one can somehow 'get' & one that one is given (many regard this as 'God'-given, I prefer that I regard it as being, simply, 'given')...
Of course, there are many routes one can take when thinking on the question of freedom (if one is free to do so), those outlined here are just some thoughts...'off the cuff' as it were...
So, finally, I will state a position on 'freedom' that, I think, is well worth noting: 'freedom' is perhaps an idea that has no meaning like that of any other idea... I mean this quite literally... yes, there are other ideas that are completely unique, but freedom is the most unique (if one 'gets' what I mean despite the oxymoronic qualities of the phrase)...
Such a freedom is, simultaneously, a curse & a gift... as what it gives it takes away... something like a gift of money that one must pay to be transported to oneself, the cost of the transportation being the equivalent of the value of the cash gift...
Why would/do we pursue such a gift?
Therein rests many a metaphor for the enquiring mind...
thank you for posing this question... while answering it, I enjoyed myself...
K (antiparanoid)
2007-01-03 10:29:23 · answer #3 · answered by K V 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
“Freedom is the right to be wrong, not the right to do wrong.”
You can be wrong in your opinion, but noy in your facts!
“There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence, and energy of her citizens can not cure.”~ Dwight David Eisenhower
“Freedom is never given, it is won.”
“The secret of Happiness is Freedom, and the secret of Freedom, Courage.” ~ Thucydides
“There can be no real freedom without the freedom to fail.” ~ Erich Fromm
“Freedom means the opportunity to be what we never thought we would be.” ~ Daniel J. Boorstin
“There is no such thing as a little freedom. Either you are all free, or you are not free.” ~ Walter Cronkite
“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds Won't you help to sing The songs of freedom?” ~ Bob Marley
“Real freedom is having nothing. I was freer when I didn't have a cent.” ~ Mike Tyson
“Who accepts from another sells his freedom”
2007-01-03 12:36:07 · answer #4 · answered by ••Mott•• 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Freedom is a concept whereby there ought to be no hindrance to fulfilling any desire. By definition therefore total freedom is not a reality... we can only have limited freedom, restricted by the physical, mental, social, global and natural frailties or bondage.
2007-01-03 09:42:42 · answer #5 · answered by small 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Two aspects of freedom are being able to investigate truth for oneself and being detached from selfish desires.
2007-01-03 10:46:58 · answer #6 · answered by Claire 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Freedom is high on the list of propaganda words to quell the masses.
2007-01-03 10:03:35 · answer #7 · answered by mac 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Freedom is choice.
2007-01-03 09:39:39 · answer #8 · answered by Lovefly 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
freedom is having nothing left to lose (janis joplin)
2007-01-03 10:09:38 · answer #9 · answered by Freedspirit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being able to express yourself freely and wholey as long as you do not impose on others
2007-01-03 10:23:23 · answer #10 · answered by Lil Sexy Biker Chic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋