5 ms·

Everybody just loves the word "freedom," like it's some magical super-juice which is the be-all and end-all of the American experience. We will all be free of

Everybody just loves the word "freedom," like it's some magical super-juice which is the be-all and end-all of the American experience. We will all be free of obligation, pain, responsibility, and any other positive or negative thing soon enough. Instead of the pursuit of freedom, we should dedicate ourselves to obligations that honor ourselves and others. You don't really want "freedom," you want an obligation that you're excited about, you want a responsibility you're eager to take on, you want a job you love doing, you want a relationship that resonates with your values. Everyone shorthands this to "freedom," and sooner or later that becomes the goal instead of the individual obligations you're now able to pursue.

hkmurakami 13y ago
I came to similar conclusions as the OP a few years ago but called it "flexibility" instead of "freedom". Or you might call it "the freedom to choose", which I think is quite different from vanilla overarching "freedom"
Blahah 13y ago
Once you have had your freedom forcefully removed, maintaining it becomes a major source of happiness. > You don't really want "freedom," you want an obligation that you're excited about, you want a responsibility you're eager to take on, you want a job you love doing, you want a relationship that resonates with your values. Absolutely this. "Freedom" encapsulates the state where you are able to pursue those smaller goals without other people or circumstances preventing you. That is something worth seeking. But it's always worth keeping in mind what you want the freedom for.
Cookingboy 13y ago
The more successful people can do things they want to do, and the most successful people can avoid doing things they don't want to do, I guess that in itself is freedom. Money purchases a lot of options, and on the surface, they are either freedom or provide the illusion of freedom.
theorique 13y ago
You don't really want "freedom," you want an obligation that you're excited about, you want a responsibility you're eager to take on, you want a job you love doing, you want a relationship that resonates with your values. And if those things are freely chosen by you, isn't that a good thing? Living your life as a doctor because that was where you were directed by your parents, rather than as the teacher you dream of being, is not where most people want to be. Freedom to choose valuable ways to make a contribution, is good. Freedom as ability to flit randomly from A to B to C, with no obligation or responsibility, is useless.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
brentm 13y ago
Freedom to me in the context of earning great amounts of money is more related to an inner freedom. It's the freedom that allows your inner voice to say "ok we did this". And it's the one that allows you to feel like you're parents, friends, family, etc will know that all of the hours you've spent were actually worth something.
mekoka 13y ago
In theory you would be right. In practice, not so much. Can you go about those obligations you love without having obligations imposed upon you by society, by governments, by life in general, whether you want them or not? I doubt it. Freedom the way the author describes it is still a significant proxy to happiness, the ability to exert options with your life. Money in turn is the nearest proxy to such freedom, as it extends those options and your ability to apply them.
menubar 13y ago
I define freedom as choice. You can choose what you want to do rather than being bound to someone else's agenda.
crusso 13y ago
Instead of the pursuit of freedom, we should dedicate ourselves to obligations that honor ourselves and others Says you. I appreciate the freedom to sit at home and play a video game on a Saturday without feeling compelled to meet the needs of others.
- officemonkey 13y ago
  Sounds like you're honoring yourself. Carry on.
  - crusso 13y ago
    Sounds like you have issues where you feel the need to control others.
    - officemonkey 13y ago
      Sounds like you have issues where you project a lot.

hkmurakami 13y ago

I came to similar conclusions as the OP a few years ago but called it "flexibility" instead of "freedom". Or you might call it "the freedom to choose", which I think is quite different from vanilla overarching "freedom"

Blahah 13y ago

Once you have had your freedom forcefully removed, maintaining it becomes a major source of happiness. > You don't really want "freedom," you want an obligation that you're excited about, you want a responsibility you're eager to take on, you want a job you love doing, you want a relationship that resonates with your values. Absolutely this. "Freedom" encapsulates the state where you are able to pursue those smaller goals without other people or circumstances preventing you. That is something worth seeking. But it's always worth keeping in mind what you want the freedom for.

Cookingboy 13y ago

The more successful people can do things they want to do, and the most successful people can avoid doing things they don't want to do, I guess that in itself is freedom. Money purchases a lot of options, and on the surface, they are either freedom or provide the illusion of freedom.

theorique 13y ago

You don't really want "freedom," you want an obligation that you're excited about, you want a responsibility you're eager to take on, you want a job you love doing, you want a relationship that resonates with your values. And if those things are freely chosen by you, isn't that a good thing? Living your life as a doctor because that was where you were directed by your parents, rather than as the teacher you dream of being, is not where most people want to be. Freedom to choose valuable ways to make a contribution, is good. Freedom as ability to flit randomly from A to B to C, with no obligation or responsibility, is useless.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

brentm 13y ago

Freedom to me in the context of earning great amounts of money is more related to an inner freedom. It's the freedom that allows your inner voice to say "ok we did this". And it's the one that allows you to feel like you're parents, friends, family, etc will know that all of the hours you've spent were actually worth something.

mekoka 13y ago

In theory you would be right. In practice, not so much. Can you go about those obligations you love without having obligations imposed upon you by society, by governments, by life in general, whether you want them or not? I doubt it. Freedom the way the author describes it is still a significant proxy to happiness, the ability to exert options with your life. Money in turn is the nearest proxy to such freedom, as it extends those options and your ability to apply them.

menubar 13y ago

I define freedom as choice. You can choose what you want to do rather than being bound to someone else's agenda.

crusso 13y ago

Instead of the pursuit of freedom, we should dedicate ourselves to obligations that honor ourselves and others Says you. I appreciate the freedom to sit at home and play a video game on a Saturday without feeling compelled to meet the needs of others.

officemonkey 13y ago
Sounds like you're honoring yourself. Carry on.
- crusso 13y ago
  Sounds like you have issues where you feel the need to control others.
  - officemonkey 13y ago
    Sounds like you have issues where you project a lot.