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> But it's ridiculous to say a homeless person is "free" because the cops don't arrest and harass him for speaking his mind. Shouldn't we rather say that he is
by Bromskloss 9y ago
> But it's ridiculous to say a homeless person is "free" because the cops don't arrest and harass him for speaking his mind.
Shouldn't we rather say that he is free, but that there are _other_ things lacking in his life?
Let's not load the word _freedom_ with everything that is good in this world. Being free doesn't guarantee having happiness, food, clothes, friends, health, a successful career, and so on. If we want to talk about all that, there is probably a better word for it. Besides, what word would we use in its place?
- didibus 9y agoWell, I think you're just reinforcing their point. If freedom doesn't give you anything good, such as food, clothes, friends, health, career, etc. Then what's the point? Freedom used to mean these things, it was a way to see that you were in charge of your destiny in a realistic way. That the opportunities would be there, if you were only willing to take them, no one would stop you, you could be anything you wanted if you just walked the part. If that's not true anymore, if freedom no longer leads to happiness, comfort and health, then maybe its time to go back to the drawing board.