Does Freedom exist in the world?

[dream431ca]

Use the poll to answer the thread question, then discuss it if you wish.

In this day and age it is difficult to walk down a street without being watched by CCTV cameras and picked up by remote sensors. Most of these devices are for our protection..but at a cost.

Some people believe that this is an invasion of privacy, and others think that it's necessary to protect us from the countless things that could kill us at any moment. Some people believe we are sacrificing our freedom to make a safer world.

But what is freedom? Is freedom the ultimate goal of human society, or is it entirely an illusion? Are governments using freedom to control the civilian population of a country or do the governments really want to get to point that no country has borders, everyone can do whatever they want?

Is freedom a mistake? a laps in human judgment?

 

[Slacker]

I smell a drama bomb!

 

[bigburpco]

Freedom is an illusion sounds cool.

 

[poo poo head]

* War Is Peace
* Freedom Is Slavery
* Ignorance Is Strength

 

[Raziaar]

100% freedom is a terrible thing. You can't allow people to go around doing WHATEVER they want... otherwise they could impact on other peoples lives. I enjoy the freedom that I have in my life currently. It's not perfect, but its better than it could be other places on the planet.

Therefore I didn't pick any of the answers, because you have not one that equates to what I think.

 

[MTG_Maro]

Freedom is what you think it is. But 100% freedom could be better called Anarchy, I think.

 

[Absinthe]

Freedom to a degree is what is best. Total freedom not only allows people to commit heinous acts, but is also entirely impossible. Just think of the many limitations (physical and otherwise) that are set not only by physics itself, but also other individuals.

I find the observation of public avenues and affairs to be entirely legitimate. Privately? Unless there is enough evidence suggesting reasonable intervention (like if you were planning to hurt other people), your business is yours and only yours.
The individual's freedom is limited by those of others, and vice versa. Constitutional democracies such as the United States (ignoring recent transgressions) are what people should aim for.

"Freedom" itself is whatever the **** you want to make of it.

 

[Hazar]

I think everyone has complete freedom. There are definently consequences for what you do and that's how it should be... but that's not restricting your freedom.

 

[Absinthe]

I think everyone has complete freedom. There are definently consequences for what you do and that's how it should be... but that's not restricting your freedom.

That's true... sort of. I know I don't have the freedom to fly to the moon by my lonesome.

But yes, you can pretty much do anything within a reasonable, physical capability. It's the reprecussions that matter most.

 

[Hazar]

yes you can... you can go to kennedy space center hijack a shuttle and try to take off

OR

you could pay the people who won the X prize $10000 or whatever to take one of the first commercial space flights or whatever....

you have the freedom to attempt to do anything you want

 

[Absinthe]

My freedom sort of ends when I get shot trying to hijack a shuttle.

UNLESS AH FIAR WITH MAH LAZAR BEAMS

 

[K e r b e r o s]

In this day and age it is difficult to walk down a street without being watched by CCTV cameras and picked up by remote sensors. Most of these devices are for our protection..but at a cost.

Well dream431ca, those Cameras are they're to ensure looters are caught on tape or if a violent activity happens to occur in the area at least Law Enforcement will have video documented proof of what went on.

It's for your protection -- they're not spying on you, but on people who would refuse to be productive toward society.

 

[15357]

Freedom is what the establishment says that you can do, Protection is what the establishment does with the things you can't do.

 

[Darkwolf]

* War Is Peace
* Freedom Is Slavery
* Ignorance Is Strength

Ignorance is Bliss... sorry, been listening to Alan Parsons...

Ahahaha. Freedom is an Illusion.

 

[Raziaar]

I think everyone has complete freedom. There are definently consequences for what you do and that's how it should be... but that's not restricting your freedom.

Heh... so basically you have the freedom to do whatever you want... but other people have the freedom to stop you.

Still that gets evil very quick when you allow governments to do whatever they want... especially those with very little checks in place(United States). Even though I don't think our country is that evil. Just to some degree.

 

[Jintor]

Ultimately, there is the freedom to take the consequences.

 

[kirovman]

If we're talking about political freedoms, rather than physical freedoms, then you're free to do things which don't threaten the powerful's grasp on power.

Everything is a power struggle, and freedom is an illusion until you can personally become absolutley powerful.

 

[Danimal]

Complete freedom could potenitally turn to chaos.

 

[PvtRyan]

If you want freedom, buy a planeticket to the jungles of Africa or the Amazones and live free, because it certainly won't ever be possible in a civilization. Freedom means no restrictions. Rules are restrictions. Logically, freedom knows no rules. Society without rules is not possible. Therefor, freedom in society is not possible.

 

[kirovman]

If you want freedom, buy a planeticket to the jungles of Africa or the Amazones and live free.

But... but... what about Law of the Jungle?

D:

 

[Tr0n]

If you want freedom, buy a planeticket to the jungles of Africa or the Amazones and live free, because it certainly won't ever be possible in a civilization. Freedom means no restrictions. Rules are restrictions. Logically, freedom knows no rules. Society without rules is not possible. Therefor, freedom in society is not possible.

Ryan wins.

 

[Glirk Dient]

Complete freedom = chaos. IMO freedom means being able to choose the way you are governed. Things like freedom of speech, press, religion are only freedoms we choose to give ourselves. Yet we do not have absolute freedom, it is restricted in some cases because we choose it to be. Freedom is entirely possible.

 

[theotherguy]

Once we reach The Singularity, freedom will be attained, because everyone will have infinite power...however we'd all probably get wiped out after the first few seconds of technological singularity.

 

[Stigmata]

Everyone is free to attempt anything they want, at all. You are free to love, you're free to hate, you're free to steal, murder, consume, destroy, and create. The only obstacles are those created by your mind, and the minds of others.

Let's say you want to kill someone at your school/workplace. What's stopping you from doing just that? People. You have the freedom to try and kill him or her. But he/she has the freedom to defend him/herself. Co-workers/students have the freedom to hold you back, help you out, watch in shock, or go about their business. The administration has freedom to fire/expel you, charge you criminally, or overlook the incident. The police force has the freedom to charge you, charge the victim for some reason, ignore the incident, and shut down the school/workplace.

Then again, all the people working for the administration, the police, or those who stood by, all have the freedom to attempt whatever THEY want to within their own bounds.

Another thing to consider: Freedom is omnipresent, but always held within the bounds of probability. If you want to go eat an orange, chances are high that you will make it to the orange and successfully consume it. If you want to fly to the moon, you can try all you want - and you may actually succeed - but the chances of you succeeding are unimaginably small.

 

[Cole]

In this day and age it is difficult to walk down a street without being watched by CCTV cameras and picked up by remote sensors. Most of these devices are for our protection..but at a cost.

Some people believe that this is an invasion of privacy, and others think that it's necessary to protect us from the countless things that could kill us at any moment. Some people believe we are sacrificing our freedom to make a safer world.

But what is freedom? Is freedom the ultimate goal of human society, or is it entirely an illusion? Are governments using freedom to control the civilian population of a country or do the governments really want to get to point that no country has borders, everyone can do whatever they want?

Is freedom a mistake? a laps in human judgment?

Of course there is freedom.
Just because I am being video taped does not mean I do not have freedom. Because I have freedom, but so does whoever is video taping me. Just because I am being video taped, ok....my freedom is now severly limited I can't...uhhh..what can't I do that I couldn't do before?

Freedom has it's ups and downs.

 

[Tr0n]

Freedom fries exist.

 

[nofx]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VxQuPBX1_U

I hate the way when there is a potentially good philosophical topic posted on the forums people always manage to ruin it. =/

 

[Asus]

The ultimate freedom I care about is what I do and think. Sorta like what Stigmata was saying. Our mind is our own. Same with what I do, whether I choose to act out against an oppressor or be compliant. It would be my will. If some government outlawed something that I really care about. I probably wouldn't stop. If I went to jail or something then so be it. But I'd still continue when I have the chance.

On the other hand willingly limiting what I do as part of a society I don't see as taking away any freedom. Going in a different direction, similar comparison can be made with the difference between a servant and a slave. They might be doing the work but one is willing and the other is enforced.

I would prefer privacy over protection.