Freedom

I recommend you read my previous essay on consciousness before you read this. As I would be incorporating parts of it into this essay, and I won’t repeat, so go ahead. In this essay, I will discuss about freedom, the concept of it, and of course my opinions on freedom. Why am I interested in this topic? You see, there is a trend of people claiming to stand for freedom, the freedom illustrated here is usually freedom from authority and so and so, or freedom to do whatever we want, and so and so. Extreme versions may include anarchism and atheism. Yes, some atheists are atheists for freedom, as they view God as an oppressor (even if they are God as well, read my essay). Well then, let’s dissect the concept piece by piece.

First, let’s talk about our traditional concept of freedom. Freedom from authority, either an artificial or natural authority. This includes rules, Gods, the natural laws, and so on. We are naturally wired to love this type of freedom. Which is why there is a natural dislike towards authority, such as the government, parents, or teachers. At an extreme version, God. It is ironic how we used to want authority, because we need a guide, we need someone to help us, someone that is experienced, to serve as our guide. Authority gives us a strict guidelines and we just follow it, it’s easier than having to think for ourselves, right? However so, it seems the times have changed.

Nowadays, people want to break free from that authority, they want freedom as they believe they are capable enough. It is a desire of pure autonomy and independence of the self. Of course, freedom is a double edged sword, you can be independent or you can fall astray and become a degraded being. Let me explain, I’ll take this from my personal observations, it may not be true for others, but hear me out. As I live out my life in school, I see that many of my colleagues are disrespectful towards the rules, and they express a common desire to break out of their misery. A good example is viewing the study and the programs as a sort of torture and pain, basically something negative. Or perhaps, general disrespect towards God in the form of being noisy in the chapel and church. Another thing, general disrespect of the nation by protesting about morning assembly and so on. Let’s take a closer look.

If one is protesting against an authority that genuinely causes more harm than good, I would support them. However, you can see that the things my colleagues are protesting against aren’t necessarily harmful. The study and tasks in my school are hard, but they are meant to train students for a harsh world. Respecting God and the nation is something that you do a priori, unless your nation is founded upon excruciatingly barbaric ideals, that’s another story. Especially in Indonesia, where independence is gained by blood and not money, I personally believe that you have to respect those who made your life possible. God, well that’s quite obvious, again read my previous essays. So what are my colleagues trying to escape to?

What I see is a devolution into immorality and degeneration. Their freedom is more of freedom to do whatever they want. But is there not a certain purpose that directs them? Yes there is, and it’s called, “happiness”. Many times I notice, they dislike the authority, as it hinders them from comfort, and things that usually make them happy. Such as friends, gaming, and other stuff that usually makes them happy. They felt that their freedom to reach such happiness has been hindered by the authority. As such they behave the way they behave. Ironically, in their quest for freedom, they become slaves. In my observations, my colleagues devolve into an anarchic chaotic mess, without any order any direction, each doing what maximizes their personal happiness. In the absence of authority, they become uncivilized folks, and contradictively they are most unfree in such state. Of course, not all of them act uncivilized, I know some folks that would maintain their ideals and civilized order in absence of authority. As such, I will explain why the anarchic mess is not freedom.

Notice how they all chase “happiness”, but this blind desire of ecstasy and euphoria is the proof of their chains. As I have proven, consciousness is not intrinsic to the organic vessel it inhabits, this body is merely a means of interacting with the rest of the world. Termination of such body only means we lack means of interaction, or at least it is reduced to a great extent. As such, we should be able to control our body. Of course, the flesh has its own tendencies, most notably the dopamine mechanism, responsible for happiness. When we go for a blind no authority freedom, we have fallen victim to our own flesh. We fail to recognize the true nature of our self, and we accept our organic vessel as our de facto self. Which is why we become binded by the desires of the flesh. We become slaves of the flesh and thus, we surrender our freedom for an illusory freedom. And now, I’ll tell you my opinion of freedom.

True freedom is achieved when we acknowledge that we are more than flesh. That we have power to choose contrary to our flesh. That is in a sense, true freedom is freedom from the flesh. In that case, we behave not by our flesh, but by our true logical mind, we do what is right and not what feels good. To illustrate further, I’ll serve some analogies. If one blindly follows the rules, without understanding the meaning of those rules then they are not free either. As they did so because of the decision of others, and not theirselves. On the contrary, if one follows the rules because they found that it is right, and they understood the meaning of it, and it is by their own decision, they are free. Similarly, if one uses their freedom to act disrespectful towards God, are they free? No, as they act based on the desires of their flesh, and not their own. But what if one uses their freedom to help others regularly, or perhaps criticize an unfair system? In such case, if their intentions are pure, and they act because they had decided that it is right to do so, then they are free.

Freedom is not the freedom to do anything you want, freedom is independence and autonomy from the flesh. That means to make rational decisions based on what is right and not what feels good. To make a responsible decision. Freedom is when you act based on your own mind, and not others or even your flesh. However so, tying back to the topic of consciousness. Since everyone is in the end, the same being, it does not mean to reject authority or reject others, or to become completely independent, being free simply means that when you do something, you do it because you know it’s good and it’s right. Not because someone else told you, even if they did, the final decision is in your hands. Do you still need others? Yes you do, figures of authority? Of course, but they are all there to help you, not force you. The ultimate decision lies on your mind, not your flesh or the government, that is all I have to say.