What is freedom?

This is just a short note for today. I am very interested in this topic and plan to write a book about it one day. But one has to start somewhere, right?

Before discussing freedom, it seems helpful to define it. Although this seems quite obvious, it is far from simple. Freedom from something, like oppression, or freedom to do something, like publish a blog? Freedom for an individual, a group, a society, or the nation?

I’m not going to suggest my own definition today. Perhaps one way to begin thinking about it is to reject definitions that do not work. But what does it mean for the definition to not work? Let’s agree that it does not work if it violates a rule of logic, or an example could be provided of something that clearly belongs in the category but does not conform to the definition, or it describes something that could not exist for obvious reasons. Fuzzy, I know. What is clear? What is obvious? But let us not indulge in an infinite regression.

I was talking to a colleague last week. He is French, spent some time in the US, and now lives in France. Somehow, our work-related meetings always turn into a discussion of all kinds of topics having little or no relation to work – infinitely more enjoyable that way. I mentioned to him that I am interested in the topic of freedom but find it very complex, starting from a basic definition. He said the definition is simple – it is freedom for every person to live their life how they want to live their life.

And that seems to be just the kind of definition that does not work. I mean, as an ideal, it is OK. But in practice, first of all, society will impose some restrictions on the freedom thus defined. If a person wants to live their life stealing and killing, society will have to stop that. Second, restrictions will be imposed by the person’s abilities, skills, and specific circumstances. One might want to live their life in luxury and good health, but not everyone will see it happen. So if a freedom thus defined is severely restricted by the rules of society and the natural limitations of the individual, does the definition still work? I don’t think so.