What does freedom mean?

[TheFifthElement]

It's all in the title.

Discuss.

[Shea]

I think most people would say that freedom means being able to do what you want in general. Trouble is, one persons freedom may hinder someone else's. For an example, when I lived with my parents next door to that 24 hour gas station, we were getting extremely tired of the THUMP-THUMP-THUMP! of the car stereos at all hours of the day and night. So, we drew up a pettition for a noise ordinance (since there wasn't any law for that yet). At the council meetings, the kids that were fighting the ordinance said that they had the freedom to play their "music" anywhere they wanted and as loud as they wanted. So what about my freedom to an uninterrupted night's sleep or harp session? That freedom of mine was taken away quite frequently by these spoiled children.

Freedom is well and good, but there has to be a level of respect involved as well.

[SleepyWitch]

"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to loose" :p

[papayahed]

"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to loose" :p


:lol: :lol: :D

[Virgil]

Freedom is the ability to keep the money you earn. Slavery is the bonding of a person to provide labor for no compensation. A government that forces you at the point of a gun, becuase that's how they will come to your house if you don't pay taxes, to take 50% of your money that you earned by your labor is taking away 50% of your freedom.

[Sweets America]

Freedom is the ability to keep the money you earn. Slavery is the bonding of a person to provide labor for no compensation. A government that forces you at the point of a gun, becuase that's how they will come to your house if you don't pay taxes, to take 50% of your money that you earned by your labor is taking away 50% of your freedom.

:D That's not a very romantic or poetic view on freedom! :D
Money is not the only factor involved in freedom, is it?

[Lote-Tree]

Free to choose and choose to be Free.
Free to Act and Act to be Free.

[Klingsor]

"Freedom is the necessity to work." (Jean Paul Sartre)

[manolia]

I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free. (Nikos Kazatzakis)

[AimusSage]

If you're imprisoned, you desire freedom. If you're free, you'll know freedom is an illusion and life itself is the biggest prison. (Not a bad one mind you, but a prison nonetheless)

[amalia1985]

I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free. (Nikos Kazatzakis)


Couldn't say it better. Freedom is LIFE!

[Bakiryu]

Freedom is being bereft. When you owe nothing and no one and you are free to do as you will. Freedom is not being judged or stereotyped or held fast by religion, kith or clan.

Freedom is no existent, the more we can hope for is liberty.

[Dori]

While everyone's posting quotes, I think I'll join in with a couple.

Denis Diderot, the leading editor of the French Encyclopedia (1751), wrote:


"THE WORD FREEDOM HAS NO MEANING."

Benedict Spinoza wrote:


"MEN ARE DECEIVED IF THEY THINK THEMSELVES FREE."

[Virgil]

:D That's not a very romantic or poetic view on freedom! :D
Money is not the only factor involved in freedom, is it?

Of course not. But that's what slaves are denied.

[Sweets America]

Of course not. But that's what slaves are denied.

Yes I see your point. :)

[mukta581]

Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.:p

[papayahed]

While everyone's posting quotes, I think I'll join in with a couple.


Benedict Spinoza wrote:


"MEN ARE DECEIVED IF THEY THINK THEMSELVES FREE."



What does that mean?

[Virgil]

Two elements on freedom, with quotes from those who have expressed it far better than i can.

Freedom is absolutely linked to the notion of the importance of the individual:

"Freedom is the recognition that no single person, no single authority or government has a monopoly on the truth, but that every individual life is infinitely precious, that every one of us put in this world has been put there for a reason and has something to offer." -- Ronald Reagan

And freedom is always qualified in society by the notion of security:

"If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom." -- Dwight Eisenhower

[PrinceMyshkin]

"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to loose" :p

Yes and to spell any damned way you choose to!

[NikolaiI]

Just like anything, to be free is a state of mind.

In Buddhism and in Hinduism, it's said that whoever looks upon all things as the same, and has equanimity of mind in all matters, is free.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Two elements on freedom, with quotes from those who have expressed it far better than i can.

"Freedom is the recognition that no single person, no single authority or government has a monopoly on the truth, but that every individual life is infinitely precious, that every one of us put in this world has been put there for a reason and has something to offer." -- Ronald Reagan

Until the flight controllers exercised their right to strike - and he fired and replaced the whole lot of them!

[Virgil]

Until the flight controllers exercised their right to strike - and he fired and replaced the whole lot of them!

Come on. Given that legal challenges failed, they obviously did not have a right to strike. Get over it.

[Sweets America]

Ehehe that is funny I just saw that in class, the Reagan years and this strike of the air traffic controllers, and when Reagan decertified the trade union because they pissed him off. :D Virgil, I thought of you when I worked on that course!:D

For my part, I absolutely LOVE NikolaiI's quote:


Just like anything, to be free is a state of mind.

In Buddhism and in Hinduism, it's said that whoever looks upon all things as the same, and has equanimity of mind in all matters, is free.

This is a lot more poetic that these quotes from politicians. :p

[Virgil]

Ehehe that is funny I just saw that in class, the Reagan years and this strike of the air traffic controllers, and when Reagan decertified the trade union because they pissed him off. :D Virgil, I thought of you when I worked on that course!:D


He didn't fire them because they pissed them off. He fired them because they going on strike posed a danger to society. Police and firemen and air traffik controllers and certain others who place society at danger by striking are not allowed to strike in the US by law.




For my part, I absolutely LOVE NikolaiI's quote:
Quote:
Just like anything, to be free is a state of mind.

In Buddhism and in Hinduism, it's said that whoever looks upon all things as the same, and has equanimity of mind in all matters, is free.

This is a lot more poetic that these quotes from politicians. :p
That may be true, but i wouldn't consider that real freedom. If you're whipped and branded and made to work in the fields as a slave, I don't care what Buddhism or Hinduism says, or what kind of equanimity of mind you have, you are not free. That's one of those philosophic mumbo jumbo thoughts that is not real in reality. If you're interested in that type of philosophy, you might be interested in the Greco-Roman philosopher Epictetus.

[Sweets America]

He didn't fire them because they pissed them off. He fired them because they going on strike posed a danger to society. Police and firemen and air traffik controllers and certain others who place society at danger by striking are not allowed to strike in the US by law.
It's ok, I didn't mean to criticize Reagan anyway. Let's talk about something else.:)


That may be true, but i wouldn't consider that real freedom. If you're whipped and branded and made to work in the fields as a slave, I don't care what Buddhism or Hinduism says, or what kind of equanimity of mind you have, you are not free. That's one of those philosophic mumbo jumbo thoughts that is not real in reality. If you're interested in that type of philosophy, you might be interested in the Greco-Roman philosopher Epictetus.

Ah, but it is just that I like these 'philosophical mumbo jumbo', as you strangely call them. ;) I guess you could think I sometimes live more in my mind than in the real world, but I like those kinds of philosophies and when I cannot always be free in the real world, I will always be free in my inner world. Thank you for the reference.:)

[PrinceMyshkin]

Two elements on freedom, with quotes from those who have expressed it far better than i can.

Freedom is absolutely linked to the notion of the importance of the individual:


And freedom is always qualified in society by the notion of security:

Apropos your reverence for Reagan, there's an exchange in Galileo by Bertolt Brecht in which a supporter of the Church says:

Happy is the land that has a hero! to which Galileo retorts:
Happy is the land that needs no heroes!
which I quote to suggest that one aspect of freedom may be to respect or admire others without worshipping or idolizing them.