Realms of Freedom~Chpt. 3.
Our philosophical examination of freedom continues. Here we go from the Greeks to Orwell, via Schopenhauer.
Socrates's notion of freedom was that it was something to be pursued internally, rather than externally. For Socrates, true freedom was found within the individual, and it was up to each person to find and cultivate their own inner freedom. This internalized approach to freedom meant that Socrates believed that one could never be truly free if they were not in control of their own thoughts and emotions.Plato, on the other hand, saw freedom as something that could be attained through knowledge. For Plato, knowledge was power, and with knowledge came the ability to make choices that were in line with one's true desires. This externalized view of freedom meant that Plato believed that true freedom required an understanding of the world around us and our place in it. Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher who argued that the only thing that mattered was achieving pleasure and avoiding pain. He believed that freedom meant being free from the constraints of society and the government. Schopenhauer was a German philosopher who believed that freedom meant being free from the will, which he saw as the source of all suffering. George Orwell was a British author and journalist who is best known for his dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. In this book, Orwell argues that freedom is the ability to say or think whatever you want, even if it's against the government.
We continue our philosophical investigation of freedom. I'd want to thank all of the teachers that helped me out when I was a teenager and made me read books like a rat. To continue with this research, I had to pause and ask myself, What really is freedom, and are we born free? Or were we meant to be free? In order to understand the notion of ourselves and how that self interacts with reality, we dispute the phony reality that is in this museification of the self. I will outline the principles of freedom found in major philosophical works in order to construct a framework to examine (and argue) if a fabricated version of ourselves may liberate us.
Greeks philosophers and their notion of freedom
The ancient Greeks philosophers were some of the first thinkers to really ponder the notion of freedom. For these great minds, freedom was not simply the absence of constraint but rather the ability to act according to one’s own will. This was a radical idea at the time and it’s still debated by philosophers today.
The Greek philosophers were a group of thinkers who revolutionized the way we think about the world. They were the first to develop a systematic approach to knowledge, and their ideas laid the foundation for Western philosophy.
Socrates was one of the most famous Greek philosophers. He is known for his Socratic Method, which is a method of asking questions to stimulate critical thinking. Socrates believed that true knowledge comes from understanding concepts, not from memorizing facts.
Plato was another famous Greek philosopher. He was a student of Socrates, and he founded the Academy, which was one of the first institutions of higher learning in the Western world. Plato's most famous work is The Republic, in which he outlines his vision of an ideal society.
Aristotle was another famous Greek philosopher. He was a student of Plato, and he went on to become one of the most influential thinkers in history. Aristotle's ideas about physics and biology laid the foundation for modern science. He also developed a system of logic that has been used by philosophers ever since.
The Greek philosophers believed that freedom was something that should be strived for. They thought that it was possible to achieve a state of complete freedom, and that this was the highest good that a person could attain. They believed that freedom meant being able to live in accordance with one's own nature, and that this was the only way to achieve happiness.
Most People in the Western world view freedom as something to be fought for and defended. The Greeks, on the other hand, viewed freedom as something that needed to be actively cultivated. They believed that by using reason and engaging in philosophical contemplation, humans could free themselves from the shackles of their passions and appetites. This would lead to a life of tranquility and contentment.
The Greeks also believed that political freedom was essential for human flourishing. They thought that humans were naturally social creatures and that living in a society where one is oppressed or enslaved is incompatible with a good life. Consequently, they advocated for forms of government that would allow citizens to participate actively in public life and have a say in how their society was run.
These beliefs shaped the Western world's view of freedom in several ways. First, they led to a greater emphasis on individual liberty. The Greeks believed that each person had the potential to live a good life if they were able to develop their reason and exercise self-control. This idea laid the groundwork for later libertarian thought. Second, the Greeks' belief in political freedom inspired later thinkers to advocate for democracy and other forms of government that protect people's rights. Finally, the Greeks' concern with cultivating inner peace led to a focus on mental health and well-being in the Western world, which is still evident today in our emphasis on self-care and mindfulness practices.
It is clear that the Greek philosophers had a very different notion of freedom than we do today. For them, freedom was not about being able to do whatever we want, but rather about living in accordance with our nature. We hope that by understanding their ideas, we can gain a better appreciation for the value of freedom and what it really means to be free.
Plato's notion of freedom
Plato believed that true freedom could only be achieved by living in harmony with the natural order of things. This meant living a life of virtue, which he believed was only possible by following the guidance of reason. Plato believed that the most important thing for humans was to develop their understanding and wisdom, so that they could see things as they really are.
Epicuro's notion of freedom
In his philosophy, Epicurus argues that the highest good is pleasure, and that the only thing necessary for happiness is freedom from pain. He believed that humans are not able to attain true freedom in their lives, but that it is possible to achieve a state of contentment and satisfaction. He was an ancient Greek philosopher who founded the school of Epicureanism. His philosophy focused on the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. Epicurus believed that humans are not able to attain true freedom in their lives, but that it is possible to achieve a state of contentment and satisfaction. He argued that the highest good is pleasure, and that the only thing necessary for happiness is freedom from pain.
Epicurus' philosophy was based on his belief that the physical world is all there is. He rejected the idea of an afterlife or any sort of transcendent realm, instead arguing that death is simply the end of our conscious experience. This means that our time in this life is all we have, and so we should make the most of it by pursuing pleasurable activities and avoiding those which cause pain.
While Epicurus' ideas may seem hedonistic, he was actually advocating for a life of moderation. He believed that too much pleasure can lead to pain, just as too much pain can lead to pleasure. The key is to find the right balance between these two extremes. This can be achieved by living a simple life and avoiding unnecessary desires.
Schopenhauer's notion of freedom
In his work, The World as Will and Representation, Schopenhauer argues that the world is driven by a single will: a will that is blind, irrational, and desires nothing but its own perpetuation. This will is what he calls the "thing-in-itself." It is the true nature of reality, hidden behind the appearances of the world.
According to Schopenhauer, our individual wills are expressions of the thing-in-itself. We are not free agents; rather, we are subject to the whims of this all-encompassing will. This can be seen in our compulsions and drives, which often lead us to act in ways that are contrary to our conscious desires.
However, there is one way in which we can transcend the thing-in-itself and achieve freedom: through art. By losing ourselves in art, we can momentarily escape the shackles of our individual wills and tap into the universal will that drives all things. In doing so, we can attain a higher level of understanding and compassion for all beings.
George Orwell's notion of freedom
In his famous novel "1984", George Orwell created a vision of the future that was at once frightening and prescient. In a world where freedom is a thing of the past, citizens are kept in line by a totalitarian government that controls every aspect of their lives. Orwell's vision of freedom is not one that most of us would want to live in, but it is a warning of what could happen if we're not careful.
Orwell's vision of totalitarianism was a political system in which the state held total control over the lives of its citizens. This system was characterized by a single party dictatorship, strict censorship, and a state-controlled economy. Orwell believed that totalitarianism was the most extreme form of government, and he warned that it could lead to a world where "everything is permitted."
Orwell's vision of freedom was shaped by his experience as a journalist and political activist. He believed that freedom was something that should be fought for and protected. His novel 1984 is a cautionary tale about the dangers of government control and the need for individuals to be aware of the threats to their liberty. Orwell believed that people should be free to think and express themselves without fear of repression or punishment. He also believed that governments should be accountable to the people they serve. His vision of freedom is one that is often misunderstood. His idea of freedom was not about the ability to do whatever one wanted, but rather the ability to be free from the control of others. In Orwell's view, freedom was something that could only be achieved through cooperation and working together for the common good. This is why he believed that socialism was the only system that could truly achieve freedom for all people, Orwell's definition of Democratic Socialism is based on the principles of equality, liberty, and fraternity. It is a political system in which the government is elected by the people and accountable to them. The economy is centrally planned and controlled by the state in order to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to prosper. In this type of society, there would be no class distinctions or privileges based on birth or wealth. Everyone would have access to education, health care, and other social services.
