Freedom Definition Debate

Discussions center on the philosophical meaning of freedom, particularly whether it includes the right to restrict others' freedoms and the balance between individual liberties and societal restrictions.

📉 Falling 0.5x Politics & Society
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20
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#1936
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Keywords

COVID US freedom freedoms user experience liberty deny away people restrictions society person free

Sample Comments

znpy Oct 9, 2020 View on HN

You're not accounting for, uhm... freedom. /s

davexunit Aug 11, 2016 View on HN

The freedom to deny freedom to others is not freedom.

vlehto Apr 11, 2018 View on HN

So it's about freedom, not what you would do with that freedom?

bregma Feb 1, 2024 View on HN

It wouldn't be restricting your freedoms, just your ability to exercise them.

jrockway Mar 9, 2010 View on HN

The ability to take away other people's freedom is not freedom.

matthewmacleod Aug 2, 2017 View on HN

Not really. There are very few people who consider 'freedom' in that sense to be an absolute right; the argument is merely about which restrictions are acceptable, and which are not.

131012 Jan 11, 2021 View on HN

It depends on how you value freedom.

nojito Jul 1, 2022 View on HN

There's no difference. Freedom is freedom. Adding qualifications to it inherently makes it less free.

fallingfrog May 10, 2018 View on HN

The only freedom that nobody should have is the freedom to take away somebody else's freedom.

davexunit Nov 7, 2017 View on HN

The freedom to deny freedom to others is not freedom. Society at large, particularly in the US, is having trouble with this notion.