What iss true freedom, and is it attainable?

[Eltu]

Perhaps a more important question, is true freedom desirable?

If you use the anarchistic definition of freedom - the ability to act in any way desired without any artificial barriers - it has been the consensus among almost all civilizations and cultures to date that there need to be some restrictions of freedom in order to ensure happiness for the vast majority of people. The obvious example is our modern justice system which specifically limits the freedom of the individual to make sure that most people can live their lives without fear.

Whether this is a good thing or not is naturally up for debate, but the fact that it has let our societies survive thus far is probably something worth taking into consideration.



Of course, this is a societal perspective on freedom - one can also go the philosophical route and compare true freedom with free choice, which is a far less tangible subject. Whether we as humans and living beings have the freedom to make our own choices is an interesting question, and one that perhaps we will never find a clear answer to. Are our actions and choices our own? Are we slaves to a grander scheme beyond our comprehension? If nothing else it's an fascinating subject.