The
Statue of Liberty, a popular icon of freedom.
Liberty Enlightening the World (La liberté éclairant le monde commonly known as the Statue of Liberty (Statue de la Liberté was presented
Freedom (the idea of being free) is a very broad concept that has been given numerous different interpretations by different philosophies and schools of thought. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language The protection of interpersonal freedom can be the object of a social and political investigation, while the metaphysical foundation of inner freedom is a philosophical and psychological question. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Psychology (from Greek grc ψῡχή psȳkhē, "breath life soul" and grc -λογία -logia) is an Academic and Both forms of freedom come together in each individual as the internal and external values mesh together in a dynamic compromise and power struggle; the society fighting for power in defining the values of individuals and the individual fighting for societal acceptance and respect in establishing one's own values in it.
In philosophy, freedom often ties in with the question of free will. The question of free will Libertarian philosophers have argued that all human beings are always free - Jean-Paul Sartre, for instance, famously claimed that humans are "condemned to be free" - because they always have a choice. Libertarianism is a philosophical position in Metaphysics with respect to Free will and Determinism. Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (21 June 1905 &ndash 15 April 1980 commonly known simply as Jean-Paul Sartre (ʒɑ̃ pol saʁtʁə was a French Even an external authority can only threaten punishment after an action, not physically prevent a person from carrying out an action. At the other end of the spectrum, determinism claims that the future is inevitably determined by prior causes and freedom is an illusion. Determinism is the philosophical Proposition that every event including human cognition and behaviour decision and action is causally determined
The philosopher Isaiah Berlin drew an important distinction between "freedom from" (negative freedom) and "freedom to" (positive freedom). Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Sir Isaiah Berlin, OM (6 June 1909 &ndash 5 November 1997 was a philosopher and historian of ideas regarded as one of the leading liberal thinkers of the twentieth century The concept of negative liberty refers to freedom from interference by other people ||-||} Positive liberty refers to the opportunity and ability to act to fulfill one's own potential as opposed to Negative liberty, which refers to freedom from For example, freedom from oppression and freedom to develop one's potential. Both these types of freedom are in fact reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights ( UDHR) is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly ( 10 December 1948 at Palais
Freedom as the absence of restraint means unwilling to subjugate, lacking submission, or without forceful inequality. The achievement of this form of freedom depends upon a combination of the resistance of the individual (or group) and one's (their) environment; if one is in jail or even limited by a lack of resources, this person is free within their power and environment, but not free to defy reality. Natural laws restrict this form of freedom; for instance, no one is free to fly (though we may or may not be free to attempt to do so). Isaiah Berlin appears to call this kind of freedom "negative freedom" - an absence of obstacles put in the way of my action (especially by other people). Sir Isaiah Berlin, OM (6 June 1909 &ndash 5 November 1997 was a philosopher and historian of ideas regarded as one of the leading liberal thinkers of the twentieth century He distinguishes this from "positive freedom", which refers to one's power to make choices leading to action.
Freedom has often been used a rallying cry for revolution or rebellion. A revolution (from the Latin revolutio, "a turnaround" is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively Rebellion is a refusal of obedienceIt may therefore be seen as encompassing a range of Behaviours from Civil disobedience and mass Nonviolent resistance For instance, the Bible records the story of Moses leading his people out of Egypt and its oppression (slavery), and into freedom to worship God. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin Moses ( Latin: Moyses,; Greek: grc Mωυσής in both the Septuagint and the New Testament; Arabic: ar موسىٰ
In the context of internal control, freedom is also known as self-determination, individual sovereignty, or autonomy. Autonomy ( Greek: Auto- Nomos - nomos meaning "law" one who gives oneself his/her own Law) is the right to Self-government
Freedom can also signify inner autonomy, or mastery over one's inner condition. This has several possible significances: [1]
- the ability to act in accordance with the dictates of reason;
- the ability to act in accordance with one's own true self or values;
- the ability to act in accordance with universal values (such as the True and the Good); and
- the ability to act independently of both the dictates of reason and the urges of desires, i. Reason involves the ability to think understand and draw Conclusions in an Abstract way as in Human thinking e. arbitrarily (autonomously).
In a play by Hans Sachs, the Greek philosopher Diogenes speaks to Alexander the Great, saying: You are my servants' servant. This article refers to the poet For other people of the same name see Hans Sachs (disambiguation. Diogenes (Διογένης ὁ Σινωπεύς Diogenes ho Sinopeus) "the Cynic " Greek Philosopher, was born in Sinope Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' The philosopher has conquered fear, lust, and anger; Alexander still serves these masters. Fear is an Emotional response to Threats and Danger. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific Stimulus, such as Literature In Dante's Inferno, the first Canticle of the Divine Comedy, the lustful are punished by being continuously Anger is an emotional state that may range from minor irritation to intense rage Though he has conquered the world without, he has not yet mastered the world within. This kind of mastery is dependent upon no one and nothing other than ourselves. Richard Lovelace's poem echoes this experience:
- Stone walls do not a prison make
- Nor iron bars a cage
- Minds innocent and quiet take
- That for an hermitage
Notable 20th century individuals who have exemplified this form of freedom include Nelson Mandela, Rabbi Leo Baeck, Gandhi, Lech Wałęsa and Václav Havel. Richard Lovelace (1618–1657 was an English poet in the seventeenth century The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (xolíɬaɬa mandéːla born 18 July 1918 is a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in fully representative Leo Baeck ( May 23, 1873 &ndash November 2, 1956) was an 20th century German - Polish - Jewish Rabbi scholar and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January Václav Havel, GCB, CC, ( (born October 5, 1936) is a Czech Playwright Writer and Politician
The French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau asserted that the condition of freedom was inherent to humanity, an inevitable facet of the possession of a soul and sapience, with the implication that all social interactions subsequent to birth imply a loss of freedom, voluntarily or involuntarily. Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language He made the famous quote "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains".
Rudolf Steiner developed a philosophy of freedom based upon the development of situationally-sensitive ethical intuitions. Rudolf Steiner ( 25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925) was an Austrian philosopher literary scholar educator artist playwright The Philosophy of Freedom, the fundamental philosophical work of the Philosopher and Esotericist Rudolf Steiner, focuses on the concept of Situational ethics, or situation ethics, is a Christian ethical theory that was principally developed in the 1960s by the Episcopal priest Joseph Fletcher
In those with spiritual beliefs, freedom may encompass the peaceful acceptance of reality. The theological question of freedom generally focuses on reconciling the experience or reality of inner freedom with the omnipotence of the divine. Omnipotence ( Omni Potens: "all Power " is unlimited power
The ama-gi, a Sumerian cuneiform word, is the earliest known written symbol representing the idea of freedom. Sumerian ( " native tongue " was the language of ancient Sumer, spoken in Southern Mesopotamia since at least the 4th millennium BC Ama-gi is an ancient Sumerian word (ama-gi4, also spelled ama-ar-gi4 thought to denote "freedom" or "liberty" it is the The English word "freedom" comes from an Indo-European root that means "to love. " Cognates of the English word "freedom" include the Old High German word for "peace" and our English word "afraid" from a Vulgar Latin word for breaking the peace. Vulgar Latin (in Latin sermo vulgaris, "folk speech" is a Blanket term covering the popular Dialects and Sociolects of the Latin
Usage
Liberty Leading the People, a personification of Liberty.
Liberty Leading the People (La Liberté guidant le peuple is a painting by Eugène Delacroix commemorating the July Revolution of 1830 which toppled
Arbeit Macht Frei -
work brings freedom - abuse of the term. (
Auschwitz concentration camp, Poland).
"Auschwitz" redirects here For the town see Oświęcim Auschwitz-Birkenau () was the largest of Nazi Germany
- Political freedom is the absence of political restraints, particularly with respect to speech, religious practice, and the press. Political freedom is the absence of interference with the sovereignty of an individual by the use of coercion or aggression Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without Censorship or Limitation. Freedom of religion is the freedom of an individual or community in public or private to manifest religion or belief in teaching practice worship and observance Freedom Constitutional or statutory protections pertaining to freedom of the press For further readings, see First Amendment of the United States Constitution, an amendment which guarantees protection of these political freedoms. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the United States Bill of Rights that expressly prohibits the United States Congress
- Personal liberty can refer to not being in prison (including not being a victim of false imprisonment). A prison, penitentiary, or correctional facility is a place in which individuals are physically confined or interned and usually deprived of a range of False imprisonment is a Tort, and possibly a Crime, wherein a person is intentionally confined without legal authority It may also refer to the enjoyment of all of the privileges of membership of a place or club (as in the honour, the Freedom of the City), financial freedom or anarchism. Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand The field of finance refers to the concepts of Time, Money and Risk and how they are interrelated Anarchism is a Political philosophy encompassing theories and attitudes which support the elimination of all compulsory Government, i
- Economic freedom usually means the degree to which economic actors are unfettered by governmental restrictions. Economic freedom is freedom to produce trade and consume any goods and services acquired without the use of force fraud or theft For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. Its most prominent advocates include Austrian School, Chicago School and Supply-side economists. The Austrian School, also known as the “ Vienna School ” or the “ Psychological School ” is a heterodox school of economics that advocates Supply-side economics is an arguably heterodox school of Macroeconomic thought that argues that economic growth can be most effectively created using incentives for Free market advocates frame the issue of economic freedom as "the degree to which the public sector interferes with the private sector," and argue that the less a government acts to interfere with the economic freedom of businesses and individuals (such as through taxation or regulation), the healthier the economy will tend to be. A free market is a Market in which property rights are voluntarily exchanged at a price arranged completely by the mutual consent of sellers and buyers The public sector is the part of economic and administrative life that deals with the delivery of goods and services by and for the Government, whether national Regional In Economics, the private sector is that part of the economy which is both run for private Profit and is not controlled by the State. This article is for the legal term For regulation of genes see Regulation of gene expression. The advocates of mixed economies and socialism contend that the public sector need not always be seen as an unwanted intruder on the economy, and that government action should not be seen as necessarily interfering or freedom-infringing. A mixed economy is an Economic system that incorporates aspects of more than one economic system Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution Critics of capitalism look at economic freedom as a positive freedom, where people are only "free" when they have the means to sustain themselves. ||-||} Positive liberty refers to the opportunity and ability to act to fulfill one's own potential as opposed to Negative liberty, which refers to freedom from Some Marxists are willing to curtail traditional freedoms to promote their objectives.
- Freedom of choice, i. e. free will. The question of free will
- Freedom of speech is similar to freedom of information, but refers to a general lack of such restrictions (on the creation, use, modification and dissemination of ideas) in a society by the government or those that hold power in that society. Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without Censorship or Limitation. A society is a Population of Humans characterized by patterns of relationships between individuals that share a distinctive Culture and Institutions For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government.
- Freedom of thought is also known as freedom of conscience and refers to the right of an individual to hold a particular thought, belief or viewpoint regardless of those held by others. Freedom of thought (also called freedom of conscience and freedom of ideas) is the freedom of an individual to hold or consider a fact viewpoint
- Psychological freedom, i. e. the ability to make the choice to not be afraid of failure in its most basic form.
- Being not in any relationship (be it a romantic relationship or a cooperative, for example), free to do what one wants, including starting a new relationship or having relationship tests (like one-night-stands, casual physical intimacy, etc). An interpersonal relationship is a relatively long-term association between two or more people NOTICE TO WOULD-BE-ROMEOS*************** The meaning of intimacy varies from relationship to relationship and within a given relationship
- Freedom of education closely resembles autodidacticism, which views modern schooling as a dismal system of captivity. Autodidacticism (also autodidactism) is self-education or self-directed learning Students have traditionally seen gaps in the school year as freedom from their oppression. This idea is not to be confused with liberal education, as one may interpret them as opposites. The term liberal education has its origins in the medieval concept of the Liberal arts but now is primarily associated with the Liberalism of the
- Software freedom or other freedom of information (or ideas); i. The free software movement (also known as open source movement, free and open source software movement and abbreviated FSM OSM or FOSSM) is a relatively _____ __ / ___/ / /_ ____ ____ \__ \ / __/ / __ \ / __ \ ___/ / / /_ e. : information (esp. software) being free of technological or (more commonly) legal restrictions on its use, modification, distribution and (less often restricted) creation. See also: Free software, Open source and gratis software. Free software or software libre is Software that can be used studied and modified without restriction and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified Open source is a development methodology which offers practical accessibility to a product's source (goods and knowledge Freeware is computer Software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee
- Leaving one's parents' home and coming of age. Coming of age is a young person's transition from Adolescence to Adulthood The age at which this transition takes place varies in society as does the nature
- The absence of interactions in physics; for example, asymptotic freedom discovered by David Gross, David Politzer, and Frank Wilczek. Interaction is a kind of action that occurs as two or more objects have an Effect upon one another Physics (Greek Physis - φύσις in everyday terms is the Science of Matter and its motion. In Physics, asymptotic freedom is the property of some gauge theories in which the interaction between the particles such as Quarks, becomes arbitrarily David Jonathan Gross (born February 19, 1941 in Washington DC Hugh David Politzer (born 31 August 1949) is an American theoretical physicist. Frank Anthony Wilczek (born May 15, 1951) is an American theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate.
- Political philosopher Gerald MacCallum designed the following concept of freedom, allowing for its 'fleshing out' into many different conceptions: "X is free/not free from Y to do/not do/become/not become Z. "
- Freedom from government and Church - Christian anarchism. Christian anarchism is any of several traditions which combine Anarchism with Christianity.
References
- ^ Wolf, Susan, Freedom Within Reason
Bibliography
- Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics, Book III.
- Augustine (Saint), On Free Will.
- Hobbes, Thomas, Of Liberty and Necessity.
- Hume, David, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding.
- Mill, John Stuart, On Liberty.
- Plato, The Republic.
- Schiller, Friedrich, Letters upon the Aesthetic Education of Man. ISBN 1-4191-3003-X
- Wolf, Susan, Freedom Within Reason, Oxford: 1990.
- Berlin, Isaiah, Four Essays on Liberty. London: Oxford University Press, 1969.
See also
External links
- Freedom Fries Media
- Sovereignty and Freedom
- Psychological Freedom - Freedom from the inner shackles
- Freedom of Will — an article by Rav Michael Laitman. Political freedom is the absence of interference with the sovereignty of an individual by the use of coercion or aggression Anarchism is a Political philosophy encompassing theories and attitudes which support the elimination of all compulsory Government, i Golden Liberty ( Latin: Aurea Libertas; Polish: Złota Wolność) sometimes referred to as Golden Freedoms, Nobles' Democracy Liberty, the freedom to act or believe without being stopped by unnecessary force Anarchy (from αναρχία anarchía, "without ruler " may refer to any of the following "Absence of government a state of lawlessness Christian anarchism is any of several traditions which combine Anarchism with Christianity. Parametric determinism refers to a Marxist interpretation of the course of history formulated by Prof There are several Non-governmental organizations that publish and maintain assessments of the state of freedom in the world according to their own various definitions of Leo Strauss (September 20 1899 &ndash October 18 1973 was a German -born Jewish-American political philosopher who specialized in the study of classical Inner peace (or peace of mind) refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at Peace, with enough Knowledge and Understanding Self-ownership (or sovereignty of the individual, individual sovereignty or individual autonomy) is the moral or natural right (aka Freedom of a person The Philosophy of Freedom, the fundamental philosophical work of the Philosopher and Esotericist Rudolf Steiner, focuses on the concept of
- Freedom Theory
- Free Will article from Catholic Encyclopedia
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