FREEDOM

IN MODERN SOCIETY
Lecturer: Dr. Wong Sai Ming, Simon
GFVM1035 - Lecture 1
2023/2024 First Semester
Hong Kong Baptist University
What is Freedom?
Is it something unique to humans?
How short is freedom
gained by the cherry blossom
released from the branch
- Germain Droogenbroodt
 Are the falling cherry blossoms free?
Or their freedom is merely something we project on them?
 They are not only dying…
They are also subject to the force of gravity,
the wind, and the buoyancy of air.
 They are my cats.
I allow them to do whatever they want to do.
Are they free?

On the other hand,

they seem to be limited by their “cat nature”.
Can they choose not to act like a cat?
Have you ever met a cat who does not want to be a cat?

How about humans?

What is Freedom?
Is it only about the absence of any constraints?
 Freedom is often seen as something “good”.
We sometimes put the blame on the lack of freedom,
when we are not living a life that is good enough.

I do not have time to work out…

I do not have time to read…
I do not have time to visit my parents…
I do not have time to take care of myself…
 Again, is freedom possible only when
we are not under any restraints?

Can a human being be entirely free from

any principles or constraints?

Does freedom come with its own risk?

 In this course,
you will get to know
A Philosophical Concept of Freedom
which you can apply in your daily life.
Is Freedom
always what we want?
You are free now…
but you lost your love…
Sometimes we give
up our freedom
willingly
When you
do not want to be free…
We often do not know what to do with our freedom…
We encounter different
Problems of Freedom
in our daily life
 An unavoidable fact of human life:
All our actions are affecting the freedom of others.
 We often do not know what to do
when we have a conflict of freedom with our peers…
We sometimes think that certain actions are not good,
but at the same time it seems that
people should be left free to do those actions…
 Should they enjoy the freedom?
If they are considered nuisance, who is to be blamed?
The performers? The audience? Or the society?
Should we enjoy the freedom to do
immoral but legal things?
Should we enjoy the freedom to do
moral but illegal things?
What is Freedom?
Is it an illusion?
 An asteroid in space
under no external influence

This is freedom?
Isn’t your brain governed by the same laws of nature?

Why do you think your freedom is real?

 Beautiful girls Food

Luxury houses Getting promoted

Cars Getting an A

What if desires for external objects

determine your will? Are you free?
 Politician A’s good Philosopher A’s good

Politician B’s Philosopher B’s

good good

Culture A’s Religion A’s

good good

Culture B’s Religion B’s

good good

What if you are free to choose what is good?

Are you free?
 Politician A’s good Philosopher A’s good

Politician B’s Philosopher B’s

good good

Culture A’s Religion A’s

good good

Culture B’s Religion B’s

good good

What if conceptions of the good

determine your will? Are you free?
Maybe quite the opposite?
 What is good What is good

What is good
What is good

Maybe this is Freedom?

Our will determines what is good,
not the other way around.
What is Freedom?
Is there a general principle
with respect to the use of freedom?
 What am I What do I
allowed to do? want to do?

What should I do?

Three Questions about Freedom

The three questions will help you consider
all problems of freedom in
a more comprehensive and clearer manner.
 External Freedom
What am I allowed to do?

• Politics in a narrower sense

• Political philosophy in a narrower sense
• Legal system
• Legal philosophy
• ……
 Internal Freedom
What do I want to do?

• Often ignored by political philosophers

• Left to each individual
• Internal determination of our will
• Not enforceable by external laws
• Cannot be coerced to want something
• Autonomy
 Moral Freedom
What should I do?

• Moral philosophy
• The foundation of all duties
 External Internal
Freedom Freedom

Moral Freedom

Practical Philosophy
Considers the three questions
at the same time and as a whole
 Freedom is not just about:
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of assembly
• Freedom of religion
• or the Empirical Concepts of Freedom
but also requires:
• the basic principles behind
the different uses of freedom…
• or a Philosophical Doctrine of Freedom

However, we often try to solve empirical problems of freedom

without understanding the basic principles of freedom.
 The Four Theories Covered in this Course

• Kant’s Moral Freedom

The proper use of internal and external freedom
grounded on a practical law of our will

• Berlin’s Negative Freedom

The absence of interference (or the presence of
available options)

• Republican Conception of Freedom

Non-domination or independence from arbitrary
power

• Mill’s Harm Principle

Utilitarianism and the Harm Principle
Next Lecture:
Freedom, Ethics and
Philosophy