Saturday 5 September 2020

Freedom

The Shield Of Time, PART TWO, 976 B.C.

Merau Varagan:

"'...we have desired to rule in order that our wills may be entirely free.'" (p. 44)

Can we be free at another's expense? (SM Stirling's Draka assert their wills against the wills of others.) Humanity is social so freedom needs to be cooperative, not coercive. Legally, rich and poor are equally free to spend as much as they want; economically, not.

Even if wills are free, motives are not chosen. Lives ruled by questionable or discreditable motives are not inwardly free (in my opinion).

I think that that completes my response to Varagan but, if I think of anything else, then I will add it over a poached egg breakfast tomorrow morning.

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I agree, complete and totally unfettered freedom is an impossibility. The people in any society or state, no matter how libertarian it might claim to be, has to accept SOME limitations and restraints on that liberty. If only to penalize crime, robber, violence to persons and property, etc.

Ad astra! Sean