4 ms·

If freedom is not an end for you, but a means, in what respect is it a means?

• jamesaguilar 13y ago
  Depends on what freedom you're talking about. To give one example, the freedom to vote is important to me because I think the world would get less fun if we had a monarchy or autarchy. But if there was evidence of some form of government where I didn't get to vote but I would be happier and more fulfilled? Happy to give democracy up if the evidence is convincing enough. Freedom of vote is not an end, it is a means to good governance. Similarly with most freedoms.
  • jeremyjh 13y ago
    That is simply a fantasy though. No one can ever credibly make such a guarantee. Instead what we have to rely on is the principal that given adequate individual freedoms society is mostly self-correcting. You will never get the most ideal outcomes but you certainly will not live in the worst possible world either. Free software no is different.
    • jamesaguilar 13y ago
      Hypotheticals are all fantasy. Calling mine that is a non-criticism. Also, there are some exemplars that make my view slightly less fantastic than you might say. Chinese governance is better than plenty of places that have universal suffrage, for example. > Instead what we have to rely on is the principal that given adequate individual freedoms society is mostly self-correcting. This principle has not been proved to my satisfaction.