America is the land of the free, but what do we mean by freedom? I have often contemplated two possible definitions.
1. Freedom means that I, as independent agent, am free FROM the influence of other people’s will. In other words, what I choose to do is my business.
2. Freedom means that I, as interdependent agent, am free TO shape the course of my life among others. In other words, what I choose to do is everyone’s business.
The first is a statement of irresponsibility in which I can do anything or nothing. My universe of action is or should be, unbounded. The second is an assertion of responsibility in which I must answer to myself and others for the consequences of my actions. My universe of action is bounded.
Which theory of freedom is more useful—-freedom FROM or freedom TO? Can these two views co-habit our minds or are they contradictory?
Now….Does having more choice make us more free?. The following provocative video clips present two very different answers to this question. Both are compelling.
Tomorrow or the next day I will post my thoughts on these two videos and on the broader question of the nature of freedom.
