Thinking Through It

Thinking Through It

The Dilemma About Freedom: The Conflict Between the Individual and Society

So, what is the problem with freedom? It depends on how you look at it.

Alejandro Betancourt's avatar
Alejandro Betancourt
Jun 27, 2022
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Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel from Pexels.

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” — Nelson Mandela

The conflict between the individual and society is not a novel topic. It has been discussed and debated since the times of Plato and Aristotle.

It is impossible to have both freedom and equality, as these concepts are often at odds with each other. The dilemma about liberty stems from the fact that to have freedom, one needs to give up some of their rights for the greater good of society, which can cause inequality.

But, if one chooses equality over freedom, they will be giving up their rights for the greater good of society.

The main reason why this dilemma exists is that both groups can’t be satisfied at once. It is a matter of choosing one or the other.

Some people believe that the individual should be sacrificed for the good of society, as this is what will bring about the most significant amount of …

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