Concepts: freedom from, freedom to, religion and freedom, free thought, freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and of the media generally.
In the global west freedom probably relates in most people's minds to freedom of thought, speech, freedom of the press and the media generally then freedom from slavery. Although I've no doubt that many people's physical freedom is constrained by the domestic and economic situation that they find themselves in. Many women's freedom is constrained by a domineering husband. Among the poor in the Western world freedom is greatly limited by the need to 'make financial ends meet'. Similarly, in the developing world freedom is limited by the simple need to survive from day to day and year to year. For a person like me, who lives in a free country and is financially independent (certainly not wealthy) the concept of freedom relates mostly to freedom of thought and expression.
Contact: David K. Clarke – © |
Bungalla Solar Farm, Port Augusta, South Australia
|
|---|
|
Photo taken using my Mavik Mini drone, 2020/06/20 This is a stitch of five images, distorting the shape of the solar farm. Click on the image to see it in higher definition; I retain the original highest definition. |
|
We are free to do what we can to slow climate change - replacing fossil fuels with solar farms like this one - or even to pretend that climate change is not happening.
|
Free to be altruistic or selfishWe are free to consider the needs and wants of others, of other people, of other life on earth, or to just look after ourselves.Unfortunately one doesn't have to look very far to see that many of us choose the latter course. How many people consider the emissions that they will be responsible for when they buy a vehicle, choose to drive or cycle or take public transport, have an overseas holiday or consume unnecessarily? Religion and free thoughtFor hundreds or even thousands of years thought and the expression of thoughts have been heavily constrained by religion. Even during the Renaissance among the great thinkers it seems that it was just accepted that there was a God behind what they saw in the world. The existence of a god seemed to be just taken as a fact - without needing any evidence to support it. Where there is belief in a God or gods, then there is religion and constrain of thought.At any time and in any age, to believe in God is to limit one's free thought. I find it very difficult to understand how a scientist can also believe in some religious creed. He/she must somehow keep the two systems separate in their minds. In many Muslim majority countries people have to be very careful about what thoughts they express. Several hundred years ago it was the same in Christian majority countries. |
References/related pagesRelated pages on external sites...Related pages on this site...Freedom of speech in the public serviceMilestones in the development of human society; many involved unlocking the shackles that religion placed on free thought. What can (and should) we be doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? |
|
|