Mistie Laubach
PHL 100 – Intro to Philosophy
Journal 6 – What is Freedom?
Freedom is the ability to exert free will, to make choices. We’re limited of course by
various universal laws, such as physics (gravity a prime example), as well as certain
principles that govern our conduct (violence without provocation is generally frowned
upon the world over). Outside of the constraints of our environments and behavior norms,
we’re free to exert our free will. In this respect, I believe myself to be free.
There are a million instances throughout the course of a day where I exert my free will,
from when I choose to wake up in the morning, to the time I choose to go to bed (and
everything in between). Our environment dictates that I need to work, but even that is a
choice. I chose to work at my place of employment. Moreover I could also choose to work
somewhere different, or I could always choose to move off the grid and become
self-sustaining. It’s a simple trade of both labor and compensation – instead of earning
money for my labor, I would earn sustenance.
In retrospect, there are those in this world that are not free. They live in oppression, and
while they still have few opportunities to exert free will, the percentage at which they are
able to is minute. Maybe they’re lucky enough to be able to choose when they wake up,