Man of Ethics
Gold Member
- Feb 28, 2021
- 4,682
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I am not trolling! I am not against Freedom. I acknowledge that suppression of Freedom is Evil. But Freedom is also Evil.
Freedom is Evil because it guarantees that some individuals will make wrong and harmful choices. Suppression of Freedom is Evil because suppression of Freedom is Evil. Finding the Lesser Evil is an open question in each specific case.
Humans have limited resources and conflicting interests. Thus any Freedom given to Humans will be used by some in a wrong way. I do not want to make this another thread about Free Speech -- I will discuss some other Freedoms.
Freedom of Ingestion leads many people to harmful practices. Most of my 157 kg are of avian origin. Almost everyone agrees that criminalizing unhealthy diet would be an act of Tyranny. Thus suppression of Freedom by criminalization of unhealthy diet is Greater Evil relative to Freedom of unhealthy diet. Other substances are much more harmful then fat and sugar. Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and some light narcotics are an example. Would it be more evil to ban these substances or not? This is debatable ad infinitum. An extreme example of a harmful substance is Fentanyl. It would be much Greater Evil to allow Fentanyl to be sold then to prohibit it's use.
Freedom to own dangerous objects leads to people using these objects to harm themselves or others. Some harm is intentional, such as assault with a weapon. Some harm is accidental, such as motorcycle crash. The Criminally Insane are frequently forbidden to use any pen, spoon, fork, or toothbrush which can be made into a stabbing weapon. Normal and free people must have much more freedom. Almost everyone agrees that prohibiting free and normal people from using knives and cars would be wrong. Suppression of Freedom by criminalization of knives and cars is Greater Evil relative to Freedom of citizens owning knives and cars. Motorcycles have accident fatality rate which is about 30 times as high as cars. Guns have been used in 572,000 murders and suicides in USA 1999-2016. I strongly support banning guns, while many strongly disagree. I would not oppose banning motorcycles. This is debatable ad infinitum. Almost everyone agrees that no private citizen should own any weapon of mass destruction, a nuclear reactor, or a large airplane. Almost everyone agrees that drunk driving or driving without license should be a crime. It would be much Greater Evil to allow possession of extremely dangerous items and drunk or dangerous driving then to prohibit them.
Freedom to consume and use resources leads people to leave others without resources they need. Each one of us would be happy to be the owner of all resources of Humankind, and even that would not be enough! Anyone's Freedom to use and consume a resource suppresses others Freedom to use and consume that resource. Each Society is faced with the problem of division of resources. Many Wars have been fought for resources. This is a subject of many endless conflicts and arguments. What would be the most fair division of resources? In my opinion, rich people should pay high taxes. In my opinion, everyone should have a right to Food, Shelter, and Medical Care. Many people strongly disagree.
Thus, we conclude that both Freedom and suppression of Freedom are evil. What is the greater Evil? In countless cases it is Freedom. In countless other cases it is suppression of Freedom. In countless more cases this subject can be debated ad infinitum!
Freedom is Evil because it guarantees that some individuals will make wrong and harmful choices. Suppression of Freedom is Evil because suppression of Freedom is Evil. Finding the Lesser Evil is an open question in each specific case.
Humans have limited resources and conflicting interests. Thus any Freedom given to Humans will be used by some in a wrong way. I do not want to make this another thread about Free Speech -- I will discuss some other Freedoms.
Freedom of Ingestion leads many people to harmful practices. Most of my 157 kg are of avian origin. Almost everyone agrees that criminalizing unhealthy diet would be an act of Tyranny. Thus suppression of Freedom by criminalization of unhealthy diet is Greater Evil relative to Freedom of unhealthy diet. Other substances are much more harmful then fat and sugar. Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and some light narcotics are an example. Would it be more evil to ban these substances or not? This is debatable ad infinitum. An extreme example of a harmful substance is Fentanyl. It would be much Greater Evil to allow Fentanyl to be sold then to prohibit it's use.
Freedom to own dangerous objects leads to people using these objects to harm themselves or others. Some harm is intentional, such as assault with a weapon. Some harm is accidental, such as motorcycle crash. The Criminally Insane are frequently forbidden to use any pen, spoon, fork, or toothbrush which can be made into a stabbing weapon. Normal and free people must have much more freedom. Almost everyone agrees that prohibiting free and normal people from using knives and cars would be wrong. Suppression of Freedom by criminalization of knives and cars is Greater Evil relative to Freedom of citizens owning knives and cars. Motorcycles have accident fatality rate which is about 30 times as high as cars. Guns have been used in 572,000 murders and suicides in USA 1999-2016. I strongly support banning guns, while many strongly disagree. I would not oppose banning motorcycles. This is debatable ad infinitum. Almost everyone agrees that no private citizen should own any weapon of mass destruction, a nuclear reactor, or a large airplane. Almost everyone agrees that drunk driving or driving without license should be a crime. It would be much Greater Evil to allow possession of extremely dangerous items and drunk or dangerous driving then to prohibit them.
Freedom to consume and use resources leads people to leave others without resources they need. Each one of us would be happy to be the owner of all resources of Humankind, and even that would not be enough! Anyone's Freedom to use and consume a resource suppresses others Freedom to use and consume that resource. Each Society is faced with the problem of division of resources. Many Wars have been fought for resources. This is a subject of many endless conflicts and arguments. What would be the most fair division of resources? In my opinion, rich people should pay high taxes. In my opinion, everyone should have a right to Food, Shelter, and Medical Care. Many people strongly disagree.
Thus, we conclude that both Freedom and suppression of Freedom are evil. What is the greater Evil? In countless cases it is Freedom. In countless other cases it is suppression of Freedom. In countless more cases this subject can be debated ad infinitum!