Editor's Blog Feb 08th 2012
THE PRICE OF REAL FREEDOM
Are we really free? The political philosopher and economist Phillipe Van Parijis, coined the phrase Real Freedom.
According to Phillipe Van Parijis to have real freedom, an Individual must meet the following criteria
- Not be prevented from acting on their will.
- Posses the resources or capabilities to actually carry out their will.
As members of society we cannot generally meet the first condition, we all have jobs to go to, we all have someone we have to answer to. From the restraints of relationships, family and friends and their needs we are also excluded from the first benchmark. Government and law will restrict our freedom even more.
On the second criteria, only the rich would be able to meet this condition and only if they had never had to work for it. And even then they would have to pay taxes that again infringes on real freedom.
So who is really free? Short answer, in today’s world, no one is. But there is one place where we can be free and that place is your mind, if only for short periods of time, whilst juggling whatever restraints modern living throw at you.
Do not become a drone, seek enjoyment wherever you find it, and test the boundaries of modern constraints as often as possible, live on the edge and within your means, do something childish at least once a day and most importantly free your mind.
Ed.
