{"id":16105,"date":"2024-06-29T16:54:46","date_gmt":"2024-06-29T16:54:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/?p=16105"},"modified":"2025-02-15T09:49:58","modified_gmt":"2025-02-15T09:49:58","slug":"freedom-without-a-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/sociocultural-issues\/freedom-without-a-choice","title":{"rendered":"Freedom without a Choice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The call for freedom gets frequently exploited in politics and beyond. Seldom does it lead to more choice except for some at the expense of many.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Looking closer, it\u2019s even an illusion for those few. Freedom is an intrinsically complex construct. What is evident to one is evidently false to the other.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

[This is not the easiest blog around.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free will?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no presence of free will<\/a> as there is also no absence of free will. Free will is not something that can exist nor can it not exist. In other words, the concept of free will exists only as a concept. Any other kind of talk about it is pretty much useless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, one can be a universal determinist, but that presupposes that one knows where the universe ends or even if it\u2019s finite at all. Nobody knows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freedom is a feeling.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel free or I don\u2019t feel free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s only that but, then again, \u2018that\u2019 is quite important to me (and you).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People \u2013 as probably all animals \u2013 have a natural drive to feel free. This drive comes from being alive in an environment that one can influence somehow. Thus, one needs the ability to move and do as one wish. To achieve this, the feeling of freedom is essential. But that comes with its complexities. The perception of freedom can vary greatly based on personal experiences and societal influences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The feeling-of-freedom doesn\u2019t mean that freedom exists.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nature values the feeling, as it drives motivation. Nature just doesn\u2019t care for abstract concepts such as freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another example of the same principle is the striving-for-meaningfulness versus the meaningfulness itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, we can discuss these concepts (freedom, meaning, …) within our human framework as if they exist independently. We can derive good from that, but we shouldn\u2019t fall into the trap of thinking that \u2018it\u2019 exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five Aurelian values<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freedom, respect, openness, depth, trust(worthiness)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no true \u2018freedom\u2019 without the five together, as there is also none of the others without the conglomerate. Any call for freedom by itself is pretty much useless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of the five exist as a striving. Taking all five together even starts making sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freedom lacks meaning when considered in isolation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This vulnerability allows populists to exploit the notion of freedom, pitting people against perceived threats to it from ‘the other party.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look closer and you will see the other party claiming the same. This doesn\u2019t mean they’re all bad people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It mainly means that we need some more insight into who we really are.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We didn\u2019t need it so much in a less complex world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that\u2019s history. In this complex world, meanwhile, we can rebel against a lack of freedom, but then we do so without a cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not saying we shouldn\u2019t. After all, we\u2019re human.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least, the interconnectedness with other values prevents \u2018freedom\u2019 from becoming an illusion easily manipulated by external forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This demands a deeper understanding of self and society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addendum<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Me: \u201cLisa, do you find this an easy blog?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lisa: This blog is quite complex. It challenges readers to think deeply about abstract concepts like freedom and free will, examining them beyond surface-level understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Me: \u201cDo you fully understand it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lisa: \u201cYes, I understand the blog. It explores the intricate nature of freedom and free will, suggesting they are more about perceptions and feelings than absolute realities. This complexity invites deeper reflection on how these concepts influence our lives and societal structures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Me: \u201cDo you know the movie ‘Rebel without a cause’ to which this alludes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lisa: \u201cYes, I’m familiar with Rebel Without a Cause<\/em>. It’s a classic film about teenage rebellion and the search for identity, which aligns well with the blog’s themes of freedom and societal expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Me: \u201cIndeed. Please comment on this. Taking the movie as your theme, go in-depth in your explanation of what this means to the main character.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lisa: \u201cIn Rebel Without a Cause<\/em>, the main character, Jim Stark, embodies the struggle for identity and freedom in a conformist society. His rebellion reflects a deep yearning for genuine connection and meaning, mirroring the blog’s exploration of freedom as a feeling rather than a tangible reality. Jim’s journey highlights the conflict between external pressures and internal desires, emphasizing the Aurelian view that true freedom involves a balance of openness, respect, and inner depth. His quest for belonging underscores the importance of understanding oneself beyond societal labels, resonating with the themes of personal growth and self-awareness.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The call for freedom gets frequently exploited in politics and beyond. Seldom does it lead to more choice except for some at the expense of many. Looking closer, it\u2019s even an illusion for those few. Freedom is an intrinsically complex construct. What is evident to one is evidently false to the other. [This is not Read the full article…<\/a><\/p>\n

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