Essays on Freedom
The nature of freedom entails the ability to act or change based on one’s own terms. It is a concept that refers to being independent and their lack of restraint from others. Freedom develops the idea that human beings are able to make their own life choices and create their own life path. This perspective has caused much debate and controversy amongst different philosophers. In Epistemic Injustice: Power and the Ethics of Knowing, Miranda Fricker introduces the concept of epistemic injustice and develops this term through the ideas of testimonial and hermeneutical injustice. Contrarily, in The Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus examines the concept of freedom in relation to the absurd. Fricker and Camus, in their works, develop their understanding of the issue of freedom in different ways.
Through their works, the philosophers Fricker and Camus, develop their views on the issue of freedom. In Epistemic Injustice: Power and the Ethics of Knowing, Fricker defines the injustices that diminish the freedom of an individual. Fricker believes that the prejudices and judgments instilled in the minds of the listener “cause him to miss out on a piece of knowledge” (Fricker 17). With this, the credibility of the speaker is inaccurately assessed and judged by other individuals. The idea of epistemic injustice, or the diminishment of one’s knowledge, is shown to block an individual’s freedom. Through these prejudices, individuals begin to make choices based on the views and interpretations of varying concepts defined by the overall society. On the other hand, in The Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus describes the absurdity of the world and how this causes individuals to obtain false freedom. By believing that everyone has a purpose in life, individuals are stuck in the cycle of trying to attain a goal they can never accomplish. Although individuals believe that they have to freedom to make their life choices and direct their lives towards a certain goal, this concept is false due to the fact that an individual’s existence is meaningless.
Therefore, Camus believes that the only way to obtain freedom is to recognize the absurdities of the world and to experience life as it is without any preconceptions or prejudices. Through this, freedom is experiencing the present, without the misconception of a future goal or purpose in life. As seen in both of these works, Fricker and Camus have extremely differing views on the concept of freedom. While Fricker believes that one’s freedom is restricted by prejudices and judgments, Camus believes that freedom is restricted by the false hope of meaning in life. Although these ideas differ greatly, these philosophers both seem to agree with the idea that a society's preconceptions limit an individual’s capability to understand and acknowledge what their freedom is.
For many people, today’s digital era represents the era of new freedom and opportunities from everyday struggles. Smartphones, social media, TV shows are one of many daily activities people enjoy despite the evident lack of productivity each activity creates. Neil Postman, a social critic, foresaw …
Milton Friedman succinctly explores the relationship between political freedom and capitalist economy, more so in regards to whether indeed freedom is related to capitalism. One thing that comes to the attention of any reader of Milton’s piece is whether capitalism paves ways of freedom. In …
Introduction Khilafat Movement (1919-24) was a religious-political campaign launched by the Muslims for having possession of the Ottoman Caliphate or Khilafat-e-Usmania and for not letting the Muslim holy places go under the control of the Non-Muslims. ‘Khalifa’ is an Arabic word derived from the root …
Without education, there can never be true freedom. Although your body may be free, your mind will remain confined by ignorance. Education frees your mind to the wonders of the world and allows you to think for yourself. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick …
Course: Moral Issues in Business Date: October 19, 2010 Export Capital for Production Abroad The export of goods and services is a common business which takes place all over the world, and at the same time it raises many ethical and moral issues. Exporting capital …
The basic idea of the four freedoms has changed drastically from the times of the 1940s to the current time we are living in now. In the 1940s, the freedoms that people were promised to receive weren’t for all people of different races and they …
Existential Therapy: Death, Freedom & Self-Awareness Some people rely on others to validate who they are, and to give them meaning. However, they must realize that they are alone in this world and they must find meaning from within themselves and not from others. Nevertheless, …
Freedom Writers Reflection The movie “Freedom Writers” has many differences and similarities between various cultures. In Mrs. G’s classroom there are several mixed cultures and gangs in the class. Each of the cultures sit with what is their culture and gang. None of the cultures …
In capitalistic system, consumers have the complete freedom regarding their consumption. Consumers are at full liberty to buy whatever products and services they choose and are able to afford. It is the consumers who dictate what are to be produced and in what quantities. This …
In the case “Freedom of Expression in the Workplace” Barbara Hill is an employee at American Plastic Products Company. In order to do her job Barbara has to walk down a hallway to a meeting room at least once every day. On the walls of …
Living an economy with high levels of economic freedom reflect areas that have Geiger incomes, longer life expectancies and less unemployment. (Economic freedom 2011) The Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with the Wall Street Journal publishes the Index of Economic Freedom. This publication reveals the results …
The close proximity to Eugene ensures a steady flow of customers. MGSG is a start-up grower and distributor of exotic salad greens for restaurants and individual consumers. MGSG is located in Blue River, Oregon and serves the southern Willamette Valley.M6SG’s objectives are to develop a …
Donald Woods is an editor of the Daily Dispatch, a Journal in East London, South Africa. One morning he gets news of a police raid in the black township Crossroads which lies in Cape Town. He also gets photos of the raid and he decides …
Freedom of the Press – liberty to print or to otherwise disseminate information, as in print, by broadcasting, or through electronic media, without prior restraints such as licensing requirements or content review and without subsequent punishment for what is said. Freedom of the press or …
Study guide the economic environment 1) The recent global economic financial crises have led to proposals of more or less regulations? 2) Income, purchasing power, market size, and market type are all key elements of the political or the economic environment? 3) From the sass …