Robyn Terri  +  139915 Wed, 21 Sep 05 12:10 AM I went along to a philosophy cafe' last week and this was the question being discussed. I was surprised at the variety of responses because I thought that everyone's views would be similar. Not so, and we were all living in the same culture. So I thought answers from here should be even more interesting. What is freedom ? Robyn Terri Joined on Sat, Apr 16 2005 Western Australia Full Member 323 Words don't have meanings, meanings have words.

	MrPedantic  +  140374 Wed, 21 Sep 05 11:04 PM Absence of concern, perhaps. MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris...

	Savvysavz  +  140375 Wed, 21 Sep 05 11:05 PM F - from Foes R - the Right to express ourselves E - from Economy decline E - in Exchange D - from Death O - from Oppression M - from Maladies   Savvy Savvysavz Joined on Tue, Aug 23 2005 French in no man's land Regular Member 549 Hell! There are no rules here! We're trying to accomplish something! (Thomas Edison)

	Radrook  +  142440 Wed, 28 Sep 05 03:42 AM First, let's make clear that total freedom for everyone leads to pandemonium and anarchy. The reason for this is that rights clash. That's why all freedom must be a restricted one in one way or another. For example: Freedom of speech, cannot include freedom to ignore a fair justice system and incite to riot or to interfere with a neighbor's right to sleep or his right to have a good reputation if he deserves one.     Radrook Joined on Sun, Jun 13 2004 Junior Member 99

	candy  +  147817 Fri, 14 Oct 05 02:47 PM I always think it's funny because to 'protect' freedom we need some (hmm...sometimes, a lot of) regulations. For example, freedom of speech is a basic right, but the 'right' is strictly controlled by rules and regulations in fact. Theoretically, should freedom have a right to be free from everything?   ...but if so, it will just cause a lot of troubles.... candy Joined on Mon, Sep 8 2003 Full Member 396

	Insider  +  151659 Tue, 25 Oct 05 06:38 PM I just in recent times realised for my self that, freedom is a feeling that is better to experience rather than look for definitions for, like I say it about LOVE all the time. PS. Greetings, fellows!     Insider Joined on Mon, Jul 18 2005 Auckland, NZ Junior Member 87 M.A.Q.

	Robyn Terri  +  152063 Thu, 27 Oct 05 12:32 AM I tend to agree with you Insider, I think freedom is more about how a person feels, than circumstances. I was listening to someone who said that she does not have freedom when she drives her car because of the rules she has to follow. However I feel freedom when driving a car because of those same rules. The road rules enable me to drive where I want in reletive safety. That safety would not be there without the rules. We both have the same restrictions when we drive. The difference is attitude. I once read a biography of a man who was in a terrible prison in a communist country. He experienced what he felt as freedom there because his mind was free to pray. Because his job was shoveling human excrement no one came anywhere near him, so he says he experienced the freedom and joy of being able to pray out loud and loudly. I think freedom does not depend on our environment, but our attitude. Robyn Terri