What is the meaning of freedom?
Wordnet says:
- the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
- exemption: immunity from an obligation or duty
Wikipedia has very nice explanation of Freedom, and interesting content linked to it. The article about Liberty is also interesting.
The French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau asserted that the condition of freedom was inherent to humanity, an inevitable facet of the possession of a soul and sapience, with the implication that all social interactions subsequent to birth imply a loss of freedom, voluntarily or involuntarily.
Freedom is available at various levels – freedom to do what you feel right, freedom of speech, political freedom, free software, financial/economic freedom, freedom in relationships, freedom from life and death.
Some from Houghton Mifflin; freedom means:
- The condition of being free of restraints.
- Liberty of the person from slavery, detention, or oppression.
- Political independence.
- The capacity to exercise choice; free will: We have the freedom to do as we please all afternoon.
- A right or the power to engage in certain actions without control or interference.
Would like to end this post with a quote from Rousseau:
Man is born free but everywhere he is in chains.
The Social Contract, Jean-Jacques Rousseau