The Meaning of Freedom

To most reasonable people, freedom means more than just ‘free to do whatever I want’. Taken literally, that approach would produce anarchy—every man, woman, and child for himself or herself. Fortunately, none of us has to live that way (unless you’re reading this in Somalia or a similar disaster area).

Certainly freedom does mean the right to do as one pleases—to think, believe, speak, worship (or not worship), move about, gather, and generally act as you choose—but only until your choices start to infringe on another person’s freedom.

This still leaves a great deal of latitude. There is a long list of things that one can say, and say freely, for example, that excludes shouting “Fire!” in a crowded theater.

One way to think of this is the difference between “freedom of” (or “freedom to”) and “freedom from”—a point eloquently made by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his State of the Union Address delivered on January 6, 1941:

We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.

The first is freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way—everywhere in the world.

The third is freedom from want—which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear—which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor—anywhere in the world.

That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation.

via ieet.org

Comments

[Faith Barndt]

I have learned much about freedom, and the lack of it, when I met Mesut. I always believed the United States was the only truly 'free' country in the world. I have learned that we impose our "freedoms" on everyone else, as long as they follow OUR beliefs. I went to Turkey, and yes things are very different than the US, but they have certain ways of doing things that we do not. Christians believe their way is the only way to believe. I love hearing the imirs say prayers 5 times a day. How many Christians actually stop what they are doing in their busy day to pray to God? I absolutely abhor emails that lump all Muslims in one group (terrorists out to kill everyone else); I abhor when people say Muslims can never change their hearts because that limits God's power. In some ways, our own prejudices take away our freedoms and those freedoms which all the world should be able to embrace freely as well. I love my country; I love the freedoms I enjoy; I also wish those same freedoms for all the peoples of this world. Everyone is entitled to be free. I love your definition of what freedom IS NOT. We have lost our perspective of what freedom is. How sad for us.

[Anastasia]

How right you are, Faith! I sometimes feel greed and selfishness lead to the loss of basic freedoms such as freedom of expression and freedom from want. To me the true meaning of freedom lies in respect for everyone regardless of race, colour or religion. Only by respecting others and their beliefs can we really enjoy our own personal freedom.

[Lakis Ioannou]

Hi Faith. I agree with you and I don't think there was one single American president since Roosevelt's freedoms who did not try to impose on other countries so-called freedoms through violence - Cuba, Serbia, Cyprus, Iraq to mention only a few. And it's a fact that violence breeds violence. Obama seems very different, though. He has an open mind and respects other nations and I have a feeling that he will strive for peace in the world and respect of basic human rights.

[Lakis Ioannou]

Anastasia, you are absolutely right. Respect is the key word. I only hope that one day all Turkish troops will leave Cyprus and that all refugees will go back to their homes so that we can all live peacefully in a free country.

[walid]

Habebti.
Freedom.To me.
Is doing what ever some one wants,without hurting himself or hurting others.Doing what is right for every one,not for some.Indipendancy,is not freedom to do what ever some one feels doing even to spoile his/her COUNTRY,by the name of Freedom.God Bless.

[Agnes]

You're right. Freedom without sanity is trouble.

[Agnes]

.... oops, where did my comment go?

[Anastasia]

I've recently changed my comments settings to being approved before posting. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to work on the new TypePad as they are already posted on the dashboard before being approved by the owner! I thought that TypePad would have some kind of automated message (like in the old TypePad) telling commenters that comments must be approved by the owner- since they offer the option in the settings! I'm sure that great team on TypePad will take that into serious consideration.

[Anastasia]

Freedom is sometimes defined as a lack of resistance or restraint. A wheel turns freely if there is little friction in the bearing.....

[Anastasia]

Definitely! Freedom, to my mind, lies in making our decisions while at the same time we respect others.

[Anastasia]

Freedom is a state of mind and was first introduced as such by Pericles who set the foundation for the world in 450BC - "Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it." Us Greeks have the courage to defend it. The world knows already that Cyprus is an exclusively Greek island with many minorities living on it. This said all Greek Cypriots respect the voice of the minorities. The Turkish troops , though, are not minorities. They are the invaders. Like you, I want them out of my country!

[Christina]

I feel free when:
1. I do WHATEVER I like in my private life without giving in to family or friends pressure - because I feel that no one is responsible for my personal choices except me!If they are right, let me learn my lesson by myself

2. When I can raise my voice to disagree with my government without fearing to lose my job! With Papandreaou on the lead...I'd rather shut up!How ironic! He is supposed to be a socialist!

3. When I visit a greek island and contemplate that infinite blue unique in the world.

4. When I talk to people in the street - yeah I feel free because I can communicate with anyone, because in Greece there are no strangers. One for all and all for one...isn't that freedom?

5. Like most American presidents, Roosevelt said some big words, some great meaningless speeches. At least I feel free to express my opinion!

What a great post!

[Laura]

While reading an article on China's endless literary inquisition in The Guardian, the following quote caught my eye:
"Freedom of expression is the basis of human rights, the source of humanity and the mother of truth. To block freedom of speech is to trample on human rights, to strangle humanity and to suppress the truth." - Liu Xiaobo

[Constantinos]

Freedom without limits is anarchy. Do whatever I want but without hurting or harming others in any way. Freedom of speech...yes but without using offensive language. Freedom from fear, yes but every country should invest on high-tech armaments for defense against an eventual war. Freedom is meaningless if we don't apply certain rules and constraints.

[Anastasia]

I feel exactly that same kind of freedom whenever I visit a greek island. I haven't visited all of them - there are so many! But I hope I will one day.

[Anastasia]

In so far as that freedom of speech occurs in a civilised environment, I agree.

[Anastasia]

You've got a point, Constantinos and I couldn't agree more.