Amazing article as usual, Jesus! Something that comes to mind whenever people argue against gun control is the concept of freedom. "Freedom" is thought of as a core value of the U.S. Yet, when I hear freedom mentioned, it is often regarded in terms of freedom from restrictions and controls, freedom from regulation. Is this freedom though?
A concept that stuck with me from my Bioethics of Disability class is how just freedom from restriction or 'liberty' is insufficient as a basis for human rights and flourishing.
If all freedom was just a lack of restriction, then a rock would be free. There are no laws forbidding what a rock can or cannot do, may or may not own. This rock however, cannot actually do anything at all. This rock is in fact not free.
To me freedom means not just 'liberty' but the ability to do the things one desires. It is to live a healthy and safe life and to pursue one's happiness -- if you will. If we are scared of our children being gunned down in their classrooms, if we are getting sick from a virus while dealing with an expensive and dysfunctional healthcare system, are we free? If one must sacrifice one's physical or mental health to make a living, are we free?
If the rights we had afforded to us only removed all restrictions. We perhaps are more like rocks after all. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Amazing article as usual, Jesus! Something that comes to mind whenever people argue against gun control is the concept of freedom. "Freedom" is thought of as a core value of the U.S. Yet, when I hear freedom mentioned, it is often regarded in terms of freedom from restrictions and controls, freedom from regulation. Is this freedom though?
A concept that stuck with me from my Bioethics of Disability class is how just freedom from restriction or 'liberty' is insufficient as a basis for human rights and flourishing.
If all freedom was just a lack of restriction, then a rock would be free. There are no laws forbidding what a rock can or cannot do, may or may not own. This rock however, cannot actually do anything at all. This rock is in fact not free.
To me freedom means not just 'liberty' but the ability to do the things one desires. It is to live a healthy and safe life and to pursue one's happiness -- if you will. If we are scared of our children being gunned down in their classrooms, if we are getting sick from a virus while dealing with an expensive and dysfunctional healthcare system, are we free? If one must sacrifice one's physical or mental health to make a living, are we free?
If the rights we had afforded to us only removed all restrictions. We perhaps are more like rocks after all. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯