What defines freedom? Can freedom really be achieved by humanity or has determinism made it an illusion?
The definition of freedom has been argued by several philosophers. On one hand French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau insisted that a man is born free but loses freedom either voluntarily or involuntarily everywhere else in life because form of society prevents him so. Even in a democracy, man's determination has caused loss of freedom and free will. Libertarian philosophers have argued that all humans are free. The legality of the law only punishes and does not physically prevent.
Some philosophers say the there are 2 orders of desires. The first order is to want to do something. The second order of desire is to actually identify oneself as something.
For example Jane wakes up six o'clock in the morning and goes to jog. It is not that she really wants to jog but that she wants to be attractive in society. Or maybe she has jogged everyday that she has loss her freedom and got used to jogging everyday. In here Jane identifies herself as a jogger.
Another example, Bob the worker doesn't have to go to work everyday, because he can have his own will, but then in order to earn his pay and raise a family he still does go to work. He goes to work however only to raise his family and his determination to do so. Thus he has loss his free will.
In contrast Jane and Bob can do what they really want to want to do. Jane can sleep late and not jog and Bob can play computer games all day and not work. But society has formed to confirm their loss of free will. "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains" - Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
What do you think?
Thursday, December 4, 2008
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The social norm was formed, is forming, and will form into something different because change is inevitable. This is not to say that the social norm of different regions are the same, and further strengthens your point. In Iran, say, Jane would not be jogging openly to be "attractive in society". Bob would not be working everyday openly if he is a drug dealer. So the two examples' first orders of desire are controlled by the social norm.
ReplyDeleteThe second level of desire (as you put it) of both people here are the same as human nature. The conscientious nature to be attractive and keep relatives alive were developed through evolution. It is better to say that peoples' second level of desire are ultimately controlled by evolution (and therefore by God's creation). In this sense, to achieve freedom is to become not human.
Well, in my view, man is not born 'free'. You mortals are still basically creatures of nature and are subject to your built-in genetic pre-dispositions as well as animal instincts.
ReplyDeleteAs a personal example, all little green giants are born with an instinctive & burning desire to grow vegetables. We green giants therefore have no 'freedom' to do otherwise.
Leader of a chain-gang of veggie farmers located in the valley of the jolly,
Jolly Green Giant
"Man is born a beast. It is then subjected to education, religion, cultural norms, ..., etc. to convert such beast into what society deems to be a human. But some men remain beasts (i.e., fully free)."
ReplyDeleteJolly Green Giant 2009
:-D
The Jolly Green Giant time travels...
ReplyDelete...I am from 2010
ReplyDeleteIn a civilized society, you have to be fair to every one so there are laws and other rules, which makes our society a realistic place, you spend money to do most of the things. So you can be not going to work but go fish in the river to get your lunch. So in conclusion, you don't have full freedom if you live in a educated place.
ReplyDelete(To Vigils of Reason,
man are not the creation of God, human kind is the descendant of a group of mutated monkeys from thousands of years ago that gradually developed into the current form.)
As this point is obvious enough, justice for all, I will not post about it: Humans are descended from mutated primates (more or less monkeys), which were ultimately descended from bacteria, which were formed from organic materials on Earth, which were formed from the Big Bang, which was caused by God.
ReplyDeleteThe painter uses a paint brush to apply paint to the canvas; the paint does not magically appear out of nowhere.
No one can prove that the Big Bang was caused God.
ReplyDeleteHey, the Big Band theory might not even be true. Some physicist think the universe had always existed and will always exist and henceforth there is no specific time frame.
ReplyDeleteApply Occam's Razor: theory that cannot be directly proven, or simply God? God is easier. Some ancient scientist just attacked himself.
ReplyDeleteThen who created God, or he just jumped out of nowhere?
ReplyDeleteGod does not need to be created, because God is God.
ReplyDeleteFrom God.
Then why can't you say Big Bang is Big Bang, it just BANG and our universe was created
ReplyDeleteBecause God caused the Big Bang. It is the first postulate of reasoned thought.
ReplyDelete1. God caused the Big Bang.
2. God is God.
3. Invisible pink unicorns do not exist.
From God.