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What Freedom Means to Me

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Published: Mar 14, 2024

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Essays About Freedom: 5 Helpful Examples and 7 Prompts

Freedom seems simple at first; however, it is quite a nuanced topic at a closer glance. If you are writing essays about freedom, read our guide of essay examples and writing prompts.

In a world where we constantly hear about violence, oppression, and war, few things are more important than freedom. It is the ability to act, speak, or think what we want without being controlled or subjected. It can be considered the gateway to achieving our goals, as we can take the necessary steps. 

However, freedom is not always “doing whatever we want.” True freedom means to do what is righteous and reasonable, even if there is the option to do otherwise. Moreover, freedom must come with responsibility; this is why laws are in place to keep society orderly but not too micro-managed, to an extent.

5 Examples of Essays About Freedom

1. essay on “freedom” by pragati ghosh, 2. acceptance is freedom by edmund perry, 3. reflecting on the meaning of freedom by marquita herald.

• 4.  Authentic Freedom by Wilfred Carlson

5. What are freedom and liberty? by Yasmin Youssef

1. what is freedom, 2. freedom in the contemporary world, 3. is freedom “not free”, 4. moral and ethical issues concerning freedom, 5. freedom vs. security, 6. free speech and hate speech, 7. an experience of freedom.

“Freedom is non denial of our basic rights as humans. Some freedom is specific to the age group that we fall into. A child is free to be loved and cared by parents and other members of family and play around. So this nurturing may be the idea of freedom to a child. Living in a crime free society in safe surroundings may mean freedom to a bit grown up child.”

In her essay, Ghosh briefly describes what freedom means to her. It is the ability to live your life doing what you want. However, she writes that we must keep in mind the dignity and freedom of others. One cannot simply kill and steal from people in the name of freedom; it is not absolute. She also notes that different cultures and age groups have different notions of freedom. Freedom is a beautiful thing, but it must be exercised in moderation. 

“They demonstrate that true freedom is about being accepted, through the scenarios that Ambrose Flack has written for them to endure. In The Strangers That Came to Town, the Duvitches become truly free at the finale of the story. In our own lives, we must ask: what can we do to help others become truly free?”

Perry’s essay discusses freedom in the context of Ambrose Flack’s short story The Strangers That Came to Town : acceptance is the key to being free. When the immigrant Duvitch family moved into a new town, they were not accepted by the community and were deprived of the freedom to live without shame and ridicule. However, when some townspeople reach out, the Duvitches feel empowered and relieved and are no longer afraid to go out and be themselves. 

“Freedom is many things, but those issues that are often in the forefront of conversations these days include the freedom to choose, to be who you truly are, to express yourself and to live your life as you desire so long as you do not hurt or restrict the personal freedom of others. I’ve compiled a collection of powerful quotations on the meaning of freedom to share with you, and if there is a single unifying theme it is that we must remember at all times that, regardless of where you live, freedom is not carved in stone, nor does it come without a price.”

In her short essay, Herald contemplates on freedom and what it truly means. She embraces her freedom and uses it to live her life to the fullest and to teach those around her. She values freedom and closes her essay with a list of quotations on the meaning of freedom, all with something in common: freedom has a price. With our freedom, we must be responsible. You might also be interested in these essays about consumerism .

4.   Authentic Freedom by Wilfred Carlson

“Freedom demands of one, or rather obligates one to concern ourselves with the affairs of the world around us. If you look at the world around a human being, countries where freedom is lacking, the overall population is less concerned with their fellow man, then in a freer society. The same can be said of individuals, the more freedom a human being has, and the more responsible one acts to other, on the whole.”

Carlson writes about freedom from a more religious perspective, saying that it is a right given to us by God. However, authentic freedom is doing what is right and what will help others rather than simply doing what one wants. If freedom were exercised with “doing what we want” in mind, the world would be disorderly. True freedom requires us to care for others and work together to better society. 

“In my opinion, the concepts of freedom and liberty are what makes us moral human beings. They include individual capacities to think, reason, choose and value different situations. It also means taking individual responsibility for ourselves, our decisions and actions. It includes self-governance and self-determination in combination with critical thinking, respect, transparency and tolerance. We should let no stone unturned in the attempt to reach a state of full freedom and liberty, even if it seems unrealistic and utopic.”

Youssef’s essay describes the concepts of freedom and liberty and how they allow us to do what we want without harming others. She notes that respect for others does not always mean agreeing with them. We can disagree, but we should not use our freedom to infringe on that of the people around us. To her, freedom allows us to choose what is good, think critically, and innovate. 

7 Prompts for Essays About Freedom

Freedom is quite a broad topic and can mean different things to different people. For your essay, define freedom and explain what it means to you. For example, freedom could mean having the right to vote, the right to work, or the right to choose your path in life. Then, discuss how you exercise your freedom based on these definitions and views. 

The world as we know it is constantly changing, and so is the entire concept of freedom. Research the state of freedom in the world today and center your essay on the topic of modern freedom. For example, discuss freedom while still needing to work to pay bills and ask, “Can we truly be free when we cannot choose with the constraints of social norms?” You may compare your situation to the state of freedom in other countries and in the past if you wish. 

A common saying goes like this: “Freedom is not free.” Reflect on this quote and write your essay about what it means to you: how do you understand it? In addition, explain whether you believe it to be true or not, depending on your interpretation. 

Many contemporary issues exemplify both the pros and cons of freedom; for example, slavery shows the worst when freedom is taken away, while gun violence exposes the disadvantages of too much freedom. First, discuss one issue regarding freedom and briefly touch on its causes and effects. Then, be sure to explain how it relates to freedom. 

Some believe that more laws curtail the right to freedom and liberty. In contrast, others believe that freedom and regulation can coexist, saying that freedom must come with the responsibility to ensure a safe and orderly society. Take a stand on this issue and argue for your position, supporting your response with adequate details and credible sources. 

Many people, especially online, have used their freedom of speech to attack others based on race and gender, among other things. Many argue that hate speech is still free and should be protected, while others want it regulated. Is it infringing on freedom? You decide and be sure to support your answer adequately. Include a rebuttal of the opposing viewpoint for a more credible argumentative essay. 

For your essay, you can also reflect on a time you felt free. It could be your first time going out alone, moving into a new house, or even going to another country. How did it make you feel? Reflect on your feelings, particularly your sense of freedom, and explain them in detail. 

Check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays .If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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Freedom Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on freedom.

Freedom is something that everybody has heard of but if you ask for its meaning then everyone will give you different meaning. This is so because everyone has a different opinion about freedom. For some freedom means the freedom of going anywhere they like, for some it means to speak up form themselves, and for some, it is liberty of doing anything they like.

Meaning of Freedom

The real meaning of freedom according to books is. Freedom refers to a state of independence where you can do what you like without any restriction by anyone. Moreover, freedom can be called a state of mind where you have the right and freedom of doing what you can think off. Also, you can feel freedom from within.

The Indian Freedom

Indian is a country which was earlier ruled by Britisher and to get rid of these rulers India fight back and earn their freedom. But during this long fight, many people lost their lives and because of the sacrifice of those people and every citizen of the country, India is a free country and the world largest democracy in the world.

Moreover, after independence India become one of those countries who give his citizen some freedom right without and restrictions.

The Indian Freedom Right

India drafted a constitution during the days of struggle with the Britishers and after independence it became applicable. In this constitution, the Indian citizen was given several fundaments right which is applicable to all citizen equally. More importantly, these right are the freedom that the constitution has given to every citizen.

These right are right to equality, right to freedom, right against exploitation, right to freedom of religion¸ culture and educational right, right to constitutional remedies, right to education. All these right give every freedom that they can’t get in any other country.

Value of Freedom

The real value of anything can only be understood by those who have earned it or who have sacrificed their lives for it. Freedom also means liberalization from oppression. It also means the freedom from racism, from harm, from the opposition, from discrimination and many more things.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Freedom does not mean that you violate others right, it does not mean that you disregard other rights. Moreover, freedom means enchanting the beauty of nature and the environment around us.

The Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech is the most common and prominent right that every citizen enjoy. Also, it is important because it is essential for the all-over development of the country.

Moreover, it gives way to open debates that helps in the discussion of thought and ideas that are essential for the growth of society.

Besides, this is the only right that links with all the other rights closely. More importantly, it is essential to express one’s view of his/her view about society and other things.

To conclude, we can say that Freedom is not what we think it is. It is a psychological concept everyone has different views on. Similarly, it has a different value for different people. But freedom links with happiness in a broadway.

FAQs on Freedom

Q.1 What is the true meaning of freedom? A.1 Freedom truly means giving equal opportunity to everyone for liberty and pursuit of happiness.

Q.2 What is freedom of expression means? A.2 Freedom of expression means the freedom to express one’s own ideas and opinions through the medium of writing, speech, and other forms of communication without causing any harm to someone’s reputation.

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‘Freedom’ Means Something Different to Liberals and Conservatives. Here’s How the Definition Split—And Why That Still Matters

W e tend to think of freedom as an emancipatory ideal—and with good reason. Throughout history, the desire to be free inspired countless marginalized groups to challenge the rule of political and economic elites. Liberty was the watchword of the Atlantic revolutionaries who, at the end of the 18th century, toppled autocratic kings, arrogant elites and ( in Haiti ) slaveholders, thus putting an end to the Old Regime. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Black civil rights activists and feminists fought for the expansion of democracy in the name of freedom, while populists and progressives struggled to put an end to the economic domination of workers.

While these groups had different objectives and ambitions, sometimes putting them at odds with one another, they all agreed that their main goal—freedom—required enhancing the people’s voice in government. When the late Rep. John Lewis called on Americans to “let freedom ring” , he was drawing on this tradition.

But there is another side to the story of freedom as well. Over the past 250 years, the cry for liberty has also been used by conservatives to defend elite interests. In their view, true freedom is not about collective control over government; it consists in the private enjoyment of one’s life and goods. From this perspective, preserving freedom has little to do with making government accountable to the people. Democratically elected majorities, conservatives point out, pose just as much, or even more of a threat to personal security and individual right—especially the right to property—as rapacious kings or greedy elites. This means that freedom can best be preserved by institutions that curb the power of those majorities, or simply by shrinking the sphere of government as much as possible.

This particular way of thinking about freedom was pioneered in the late 18th century by the defenders of the Old Regime. From the 1770s onward, as revolutionaries on both sides of the Atlantic rebelled in the name of liberty, a flood of pamphlets, treatises and newspaper articles appeared with titles such as Some Observations On Liberty , Civil Liberty Asserted or On the Liberty of the Citizen . Their authors vehemently denied that the Atlantic Revolutions would bring greater freedom. As, for instance, the Scottish philosopher Adam Ferguson—a staunch opponent of the American Revolution—explained, liberty consisted in the “security of our rights.” And from that perspective, the American colonists already were free, even though they lacked control over the way in which they were governed. As British subjects, they enjoyed “more security than was ever before enjoyed by any people.” This meant that the colonists’ liberty was best preserved by maintaining the status quo; their attempts to govern themselves could only end in anarchy and mob rule.

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In the course of the 19th century this view became widespread among European elites, who continued to vehemently oppose the advent of democracy. Benjamin Constant, one of Europe’s most celebrated political thinkers, rejected the example of the French revolutionaries, arguing that they had confused liberty with “participation in collective power.” Instead, freedom-lovers should look to the British constitution, where hierarchies were firmly entrenched. Here, Constant claimed, freedom, understood as “peaceful enjoyment and private independence,” was perfectly secure—even though less than five percent of British adults could vote. The Hungarian politician Józseph Eötvös, among many others, agreed. Writing in the wake of the brutally suppressed revolutions that rose against several European monarchies in 1848, he complained that the insurgents, battling for manhood suffrage, had confused liberty with “the principle of the people’s supremacy.” But such confusion could only lead to democratic despotism. True liberty—defined by Eötvös as respect for “well-earned rights”—could best be achieved by limiting state power as much as possible, not by democratization.

In the U.S., conservatives were likewise eager to claim that they, and they alone, were the true defenders of freedom. In the 1790s, some of the more extreme Federalists tried to counter the democratic gains of the preceding decade in the name of liberty. In the view of the staunch Federalist Noah Webster, for instance, it was a mistake to think that “to obtain liberty, and establish a free government, nothing was necessary but to get rid of kings, nobles, and priests.” To preserve true freedom—which Webster defined as the peaceful enjoyment of one’s life and property—popular power instead needed to be curbed, preferably by reserving the Senate for the wealthy. Yet such views were slower to gain traction in the United States than in Europe. To Webster’s dismay, overall, his contemporaries believed that freedom could best be preserved by extending democracy rather than by restricting popular control over government.

But by the end of the 19th century, conservative attempts to reclaim the concept of freedom did catch on. The abolition of slavery, rapid industrialization and mass migration from Europe expanded the agricultural and industrial working classes exponentially, as well as giving them greater political agency. This fueled increasing anxiety about popular government among American elites, who now began to claim that “mass democracy” posed a major threat to liberty, notably the right to property. Francis Parkman, scion of a powerful Boston family, was just one of a growing number of statesmen who raised doubts about the wisdom of universal suffrage, as “the masses of the nation … want equality more than they want liberty.”

William Graham Sumner, an influential Yale professor, likewise spoke for many when he warned of the advent of a new, democratic kind of despotism—a danger that could best be avoided by restricting the sphere of government as much as possible. “ Laissez faire ,” or, in blunt English, “mind your own business,” Sumner concluded, was “the doctrine of liberty.”

Being alert to this history can help us to understand why, today, people can use the same word—“freedom”—to mean two very different things. When conservative politicians like Rand Paul and advocacy groups FreedomWorks or the Federalist Society talk about their love of liberty, they usually mean something very different from civil rights activists like John Lewis—and from the revolutionaries, abolitionists and feminists in whose footsteps Lewis walked. Instead, they are channeling 19th century conservatives like Francis Parkman and William Graham Sumner, who believed that freedom is about protecting property rights—if need be, by obstructing democracy. Hundreds of years later, those two competing views of freedom remain largely unreconcilable.

Annelien de Dijn is the author of Freedom: An Unruly History , available now from Harvard University Press.

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How Do We Define Freedom?

Reilience skills of communication and finding purpose and meaning are necessary..

Posted January 13, 2021

The New Oxford American Dictionary definition of freedom is the “power or right to act, speak or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.” What is your definition? What does the word "freedom" mean to you? How should freedom be exercised? And do you think that one of the purposes of the government of the United States is to ensure that people in this country have the freedom to act, speak or think as they want?

Realistically, there have always been limits to our freedom. One of the purposes of government is to make laws and to ensure that they are enforced. Relative to freedom, this means that we do not have the freedom to terrorize or endanger others. For example, we have laws against drunk driving. We have laws that require drivers and their passengers to wear a seat belt. In some states, there are laws that require a motorcycle rider to wear a helmet.

Freedom has traditionally been linked with the idea of responsibility. George Bernard Shaw expressed this succinctly, “Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.” It is an existential concept. To be free means that one has the burden of making choices and decisions. And in making those decisions and choices, we are responsible for both our own and others’ freedom.

The right to act freely and speak freely should end when it endangers others’ rights to do the same. This country is in crisis. Interestingly enough, it is a crisis over how we define freedom in this country. Each one of us needs to ask ourselves our definition of freedom and what limits, if any, should be imposed on our freedom.

This has been demonstrated clearly to us in the last few weeks, specifically in regard to the pandemic. Do Americans have the right to decide if they should wear a mask in public or if they should social distance? Many would say no. If the behavior endangers others, then they do not have the right to engage in it.

Restrictions on an individual's behavior as it relates to the health of other people is not new. If we recognize a public health danger to ourselves and others, we should act to eliminate it. This is why smoking in public places has been banned in most areas in this country. We do not have the freedom to endanger others.

Creating meaning and purpose in our lives and in our institutions is a critical part of being resilient, and God knows we need resilience at this point in time.

Ron Breazeale, Ph.D. , is the author of Duct Tape Isn’t Enough: Survival Skills for the 21st Century as well as the novel Reaching Home .

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What Freedom Means to Me

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Patriot's Pen Essay Contest is a youth essay competition, conducted nationwide, which gives students a chance to write 300 to 400-word essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme.  This year the theme is "What Freedom Means to Me" and Sublimity School had three 7th-grade students at the local awards ceremony held Nov. 10 at the Stayton Fire Hall.  Sublimity winners chosen by our local VFW post, are: Rachel Ptacek, 1st place; Mya Joyce, 2nd place; CharlyBeth Woodley, 3rd place.

These students' essays will now advance to the district level of competition for further consideration, potentially advancing to regional and national competitions. Below are the three essays:

The definition of freedom is, the condition of being free from restraints, but to me, freedom is more than that, freedom is having the right to be me and express myself. With the freedom our veterans have fought for, we really get to be ourselves. Freedom lets us talk how we want and explain about yourself to be how you want yourself. You can protest for what you believe is right and even if it's wrong you are able to express it. You can have a religion to follow what you believe in, not what you are forced to believe in. Not being afraid to say what you believe, because nothing bad will happen to you. If you do, it’s not a secret, is another great freedom we have. I also get to write how I want and about what I want to write about. The freedom of press. I can write fun or serious stories however I want to. Then I can share them and don't have to hide them like in some other countries. Another great freedom here is getting to go to school. In other countries, kids don't get to go to school, let alone girls. I learn a lot at school and it’s where I become myself the most. Without this freedom we would all be more alike, and not be able to be ourselves. Every morning I wake up, not having fears of whether or not I’ll live that day. I’m confident to act as my normal self. I have no fear of this because our future, present, and past men and women have fought to keep us safe. Not in the middle of wars and not worried for our lives. Allowing us to confidently live our day. It is all of these things that make us who we are, and with the freedom we have fought for, we really can be ourselves. So freedom might just be a word in the dictionary, but to me, freedom is getting to be one-hundred percent me. — Rachel Ptacek

To me, freedom means to be able to go to school, walk around, and do almost anything without worrying about the safety of yourself and those you love.  Unlike other countries, you don’t have to wonder whether you are going to live through the day. Technically, freedom means ‘the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint,’ but here in the United States of America, it means so much more.  To Americans and others living here, freedom is the right to be yourself.  We can practice any religion, such as Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim, or any others.  We may print or write whatever we want.  We can petition, if we feel necessary.  Americans can have whatever job we are qualified for.  We aren’t forced to have certain professions.  Anyone can get a free and formal education through high school. In addition, anyone, at any age, has the right to continue their education. The reason we are able to enjoy these freedoms is because of our military. I thank all former and current military men and women, who gave us this gift of freedom, which we, as Americans, are known for. I know that many other people do as well.  America is an amazing place to live, because of our freedom, and our military, who protect us every day. Many citizens of other countries immigrate here from places, such as Mexico and China.  My grandma,  Linda Lai, and my mom, Carol Joyce, came to America in 1972.  They came here because of the opportunities we have due to our freedom.  This wonderful thing that we were given in the Revolutionary War, which is protected by our military every day, is the reason that I am in America today. Therefore, every American citizen should be proud of this beautiful country. Without the liberties we have as a free country, we wouldn’t be in the same situations as today. Our flag, with its 50 stars and 13 stripes, represents our freedom. As long as this flag still flies, I know I’m free. I am so proud to be an American. God bless the U.S.A.! — Mya Joyce

Freedom is not just a word. The meaning behind it is much more. Freedom is the ability to express myself the way I want to. There is no uniform on how my life should be. With freedom I can choose my own moral compass, make my own decisions. Being in a country with freedom means I can choose my own religion. With freedom I can say what I want. Freedom to me means no one rules my life. I choose my own future. Choosing my own moral compass lets me believe what I think is right and what I think is wrong. I believe we have an amazing privilege to have freedom. I know our freedom did not come easy.  The veterans who fought for our freedom risked their lives for us. I am very familiar with what it’s like to have someone important to you fight for my freedom. My dad is veteran of the United States army. He served for seventeen years. He fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now my brother is in the military. Freedom means a lot to me because my family fought for it. I am very thankful for all the men and women who fought for my freedom. Being free lets me choose my own future. I can be anything I dream of. Since I am free I can do things other women around the world cannot. I can work, I can get an education, I am aloud to drive on my own. Being a free American means I can marry who I want. There is equality because we are free. Being free is a beautiful thing. I am thankful for everyone who fought or fights for my freedom. They fight for my rights. So when someone asks me what freedom means to me I will reply, freedom is my future, freedom is what my family fights for, freedom means everything to me. — CharlyBeth Woodley

The meaning of freedom today Analytical Essay

Introduction, personal freedom, sartre’s existentialist definition of freedom, equality and independence, karl marx on freedom, the practice of freedom, michael foucault on freedom.

In the contemporary society, people consider freedom a basic need in that person who is not free must be in a rough co-existence with him and others. It is therefore very important to exalt freedom, which begins with personal liberty to the sovereignty of nations.

The extent to which a person can be free as well as the exact definition of freedom has been subjected to philosophical discourses from time immemorial with renowned philosophers such as Karl Marx, Michael Foucault and Jean Paul Sartre having differing arguments in the matter. According to the school of thought that each one of them represented, the idea of freedom to them bears differing definitions and extends.

In order to come up with an agreeable and logical definition of freedom as it is in the contemporary society, people have critically analyzed the input of these philosophers and their definition of freedom in this paper with the intention of clearly understanding what freedom is according to the schools of thought they represent today.

As I reveal, the exact meaning of freedom must comprise of the different aspects such as personal liberty, the right to life, equality and independence from coercion and repressive conditions such as poverty, ignorance and diseases. Any meaning of freedom is wanting if it does not address the issue of personal liberty.

Freedom starts with a sense of self-control or rather self-ownership. In this case, reason influences the person’s sense of freedom. In a free state, every person receives an equal chance of exercising freedom at personal level. In this case, no other person influences another’s decisions and the extent to which he/she makes decisions remains strictly limited by him/her.

This is in other words to say that in a free state a person’s freedom is not limited as long as it does not impact negatively or limit the freedom of the other people. For instance, a person’s freedom cannot include enslaving other people. As a slave, a person is not free to make certain decisions, movements and interactions with other people in the society.

In a free state therefore, a person is not entitle to take the freedom of another person for personal interests since it is against their wish to be treated so. My fellow panelist Sartre concurs with my view of freedom despite his limited definition of the freedom.

According to Jean Paul Sartre, man is condemned to be free. This is without regard to whether he acts from external constraints to repress it or just follows his pragmatic decisions.

A person is free when s/he refuses to act in bad faith and instead follow what he is. For instance, when the waiter who knows really well that he is impersonating a waiter stops that and instead does what his freedom grants, he is at that particular moment embracing freedom.

By being a waiter, the person is only denying his or her own freedom. According to existentialism, one cannot claim that external forces shape his/her deeds or actions. For instance, the profession of a person cannot shape the person’s identity considering that the roles played in that profession are only as a matter of bad faith and will eventually cease.

Being aware of one’s significance in the process of doing the roles in the profession inform the choices that a person makes and that seem directed to the person’s sense of freedom. However, I stand to criticize his definition based on how limited it appears.

Sartre, as well as other existentialists, concentrates more on the intrinsic definition of self-freedom rather than giving a definition and an extent to freedom that one can put into practice in the contemporary society. He does not clarify whether a person is free or not clearly defined in that existentialists hold that in every situation a person has still the freedom of choice.

Having the freedom of choice is not that important and does not qualify as being the absolute meaning of being free. This is basically for the simple reason that even a person who is enslaved by another has the freedom to choose either to rebel or to show complicity but that does not mean that they are free.

In the contemporary society, a person is only free if any other person or condition can implement his /her thoughts and choices without any repression. The issue of equality of freedom constitutes the meaning of freedom.

Equality is very essential in any situation for a person to be free in the contemporary society. This ranges from political, sexual, racial as well as religious equality.

For people to consider another as free in a free state, he/she must go through an equal treatment with others regardless of their gender or any other affiliations. When a person is marginalized on the any of the above areas, their freedom is interfered with and eventually the person is deprived the necessity of being free.

With equality comes independence in making decisions as well as living without any coercion from anyone. This implies that the different types of independence that Karl Marx and others who embrace the Marxist school of thought argued mostly about.

Karl Marx in his Manifesto of the communist party conceptualizes freedom from an economic point of view. Marx conceptualizes freedom from an individualistic point of view whereby he argues that freedom is an individual’s collective use of reason to create a reconciled definition of personal and public freedom.

From this, Marx argues that a person who exercises freedom at the expense of the masses abuses it since the freedom of the majority is the one that matters. For instance, a person who owns means of production and abuses his employees for the sake of enriching himself and expanding his financial freedom by enriching himself is infringing the freedom of the others.

It is therefore clear from his arguments that Marx’s view of freedom is more informed by the social relations of people in the society. He argues that for a state to be termed as free there has to be a revolution whereby the proletariat overpower the bourgeoisie and own the means of production.

In that case, the majority would be free in that they will be in a position to cope with life without the fear of being oppressed by a powerful ruling class. However, I stand to criticize the view based on its one-sidedness.

Marx’s idea of the masses overpowering the ruling class, as a necessary precondition for their freedom, is one sided and has failed to hold on for a long time. This stands out because he fails to address other important aspects such as equality, the addressing of human rights and the dealing with other factors that lead to the oppression of people.

His address however on the issue of economic oppression holds until today as evidenced by workers rising up against their oppressive employers in the contemporary society and demanding for a fair exchange for their labor. This is because a person’s freedom seems abused if he/she faces oppression in any given situation.

The fact that in order to be completely free one must keenly be aware of the limits of his/her freedom is a very important factor to consider when defining freedom in the society today.

This is in the sense that other people’s freedom is as important as your freedom. A question arises as to whether a person has or should have the right to defend him/herself against coercion. This brings forth a quite interesting aspect of freedom regarded as the freedom of defense.

In most Free states where freedom of people seems held with dignity, always a system acts to differentiate acts of coercion as either offensive or defensive. In this case, whether a person acted in an effort to defend him/herself or was interfering with another’s rights is established. Foucault’s meaning today’s of freedom is wanting based on its failure to explain how one can free him/herself.

According to Michael Foucault, being free is a practice of the different practices of freedom. To him it is therefore a continuous process. Foucault emphasizes more on the practices of freedom over the process of liberation. He argues that it the practices of freedom that eventually upholds freedom rather than the process of liberation.

For instance, he uses the example of a colonized nation, which liberates itself from the colonizers. The society would still be in need of practices of freedom as they engage in building their own government.

One can clearly notice that Foucault’s works are in a way, skeptical about the extent to which people can free themselves. If people cannot stand out of the constraints of relations of power, knowledge and subjectivity, then to him their practices of freedom are simply on a small notion of resistance from within.

In order to answer the question of what one exactly means by ‘being free’ in the contemporary society, it is of great essence to be all-round while addressing the aspects of freedom.

The problem with the definitions and the answers that philosophers Karl Marx, Michael Foucault and Jean Paul Sartre presents is that they are in most cases one sided whereby they all aimed at addressing a single aspect within the complex issue of freedom. Therefore, it is arguable that one can summon their arguments to contribute to the broad definition of today’s freedom.

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• Jean-Paul Sartre's Views on Freedom
• Sartre on Human Condition
• Sartre's Philosophy of Existentialism
• Jean Paul Sartre: Bad Faith Concept
• "Existence Precedes Essence" a Term by Sartre
• Concepts of Sartre’s “Existentialism Is a Humanism”
• Relationship Between Body and Consciousness by Jean-Paul Sartre
• Nietzsche’s and Sartre’s Views on Morality
• Hell in Dante's Inferno and Sartre's No Exit
• Satre human freedom
• Nietzsche: Death of God
• St. Augustine. Solution to the Problem of Evil
• The Concept of Metaphysics and Nature
• Inequality's Philosophical Description
• “What Is the Meaning of Life?” in the Works of Gilgamesh and Agamemnon

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Home Essay Samples Life Freedom

What Does Freedom Mean to Me: a Privilege and a Responsibility

Table of contents, personal definition of freedom, dimensions of freedom, the impact of freedom.

• Mill, J. S. (1859). On Liberty. Longman, Roberts & Green.
• Arendt, H. (1969). On Violence. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
• Sen, A. (1999). Development as Freedom. Oxford University Press.
• Rawls, J. (1971). A Theory of Justice. Harvard University Press.
• Beauvoir, S. d. (1949). The Second Sex. Vintage Books.

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Narrative Essay: What Freedom Means to Me?

Have you ever thought what does the word “freedom” mean? I think it is quite an abstract thing which is different for each individual. For example, for me, freedom means doing something that I want if it doesn’t harm other people. However, it cannot be described in simple words, because the word itself contains numerous deeper meanings. It depends on the individual understanding of freedom, and each of us understands it in different ways.

Someone thinks that the freedom is connected with the right to say anything the person wants without a fear of being punished or restricted of doing so. Others think that freedom is connected in walking anywhere they want. Some people think that freedom is your right to choose the government. But no one can say, what is the freedom itself? And in my essay, I have decided to drive deeply into the issue of freedom definition and share my thoughts what does freedom actually means.

I agree that freedom is the right to speak and do everything you want, but only when it doesn’t limit others rights and freedoms. Numerous countries don’t have freedom for their citizens. People are not allowed to criticize their government and cannot freely express their opinion on public. And when they are trying to say something different from the opinion of their government they are being punished. There, people can be fined or imprisoned because of their will to have freedom.

When I hear the word freedom from others, I am thinking about the freedom of choice. This meaning of freedom is easy to understand. People usually connect it with the elections. When there are several politic parties to choose from the person experiences freedom when choosing the one he or she believes in most. Of course, there are countries where politics is connected with the criminal world, and their people don’t have freedom of choice because of corruption, and their choice was paid for by someone else. But there are people who in these countries fight for liberty and sometimes they are changing everything. Like it was in Georgia and then in Ukraine, because their people understood what freedom is and that the choices they made before were not right.

Freedom can also be connected with the right of opening your own business and gain the financial independence. You can produce goods and services and work on your own. But in corrupted countries, I think it is impossible to open your own business without criminal support. That is because the economy of such countries is not healthy and competition is not connected with marketing and advertising activities, but in real money, which you are ready to pay corrupted law enforcement officers and criminals to start your business and then maintain it. And countries, where freedom is respected, provide equal opportunities for all. In this particular case, freedom is joined with financial wellness.

There are also cases when freedom means the right to say “no”. If you don’t agree with the government decision, community decision or another person decision you can say “no”. You don’t need to follow these decisions and you will never be punished for that. But this works only in cases when your ideas and actions do not violate the law and won’t cause harm to the people around you.

So what does freedom mean to me? At my opinion freedom can be connected with not following standard our society has. Freedom is something beyond stereotypes and templates and real personal freedom is a strong opportunity to express yourself in any possible way. Tattoos, piercing, hair style or clothes, we are free to wear or do anything with our body, and this is our freedom of expression. People why are thinking beyond stereotypes understand and respect that freedom.

Freedom is a way of thinking and understanding world around us, and each person understands it in his or her own way, and of course all of us has an own understanding of it. And each of us in some cases needs to fight for this freedom.

I am also thinking that freedom is actions of individuals who don’t need to ask themselves “why?” and just do things they love to do. Freedom is the absence of borders; you can feel freedom in your mind and freedom around you. Imagine that you are at the mountain peak and the world is a small point at the bottom. Do you feel freedom surrounding you? I can bear that you are! That is the real freedom which has a smell of wind and mountains, the skies in front of you. Birds are free to fly anywhere, and I can say for sure that you can also choose your own route.

So freedom can be connected with anything, either actions or thoughts and each person free to express his or her freedom if it doesn’t limit or violates the rights of others. Freedom is around us, and our understanding of this word is different but always closely connected with people around us. Freedom to choose, freedom to do, understand, think, get or any other verb we can insert after the word freedom. It is great to have freedom and a lot of people are still fighting for their freedom. And I hope they will soon get it in one or another way. The world without freedom is too cruel to live in, and if I had no freedom, I would probably be depressed with its absence.

In American society, freedom is the basic notion which each person must understand. Freedom is our American Dream and it was never connected with material things. It is our freedom and freedom of our nation and we should never forget it.

“Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom – and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.” Benjamin Franklin

References: Mises Institute. (n.d.). Ben Franklin on Liberty. [online] Available at: https://mises.org/library/ben-franklin-liberty [Accessed 19 Dec. 2016].

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What Does Freedom Mean To You Essay

Freedom to me is the ability to do what I want, when I want, without having to answer to anyone. It’s being my own boss and making my own decisions. Freedom also means being able to travel and explore new places without worrying about money or work. To me, freedom is living life on my own terms and doing what makes me happy.

Freedom can have various meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Freedom is sometimes defined as a “political right.” In other situations, it may be defined simply as “the state of being free,” according to Merriam-Webster. Others may think of freedom as a precious gift that must be fought for.

Freedom, to me, is the ability to do what I want, when I want, without having to worry about the consequences. It is the ability to be myself and not have to pretend to be someone else. Freedom is being able to love who I want and not be judged for it. Freedom is also being able to voice my opinion without fear of retribution.

Freedom is important because it allows us to be our true selves. It gives us the ability to express ourselves fully and without restrictions. It also allows us to live our lives the way we want to, without interference from others.

These definitions are all for the same term, although their meaning vary. The word freedom can have various meanings, including as a political right, the quality or state of being free, and a struggle for liberty.

Freedom to some people can mean different things, but in general, it is a power or right that is not given by another person or authority, but one that is self-given. Freedom can also be seen as the ability to act and speak freely without restraint, as well as the absence of oppression. Freedom is a concept that has been around for centuries, and its meaning has changed over time.

Freedom, in my opinion, has the most conflict with the Merriam-Webster definition being “political right.” In order to exercise power, the government must take away liberties. The goal of a government is to establish control, and in order to establish control, it must limit freedoms.

In my opinion, the government’s ultimate goal is to have power over the people, and they use freedom as a tool to manipulate the people into submission. Freedom should be about having the ability to do what you want without interference, but instead it has become a means for furthering agendas.

When I think about what freedom means to me, I think about being able to do what I want without worrying about the government or anyone else interfering. Freedom to me is being able to live my life the way I want to without having to answer to anyone. Unfortunately, in today’s society that is not always possible. We are constantly being told what we can and cannot do, and our freedoms are slowly being taken away from us.

I believe that everyone should have the freedom to live their life the way they want to, as long as they are not harming anyone else in the process. We should all be able to pursue our own happiness without having to worry about the government or anyone else interfering. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Freedom is something that we have to fight for every day, and it is something that we should never take for granted.

This is not something that is wrong in any way since every society requires a structure to keep it together. However, because the state has been established to take away liberties, freedom should not be considered a “political right.” A less complex definition of this may be found in the condition of being free.

The got Freedom House Index. Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint, and the absence of a coercive force. Freedom encompasses both the ability to do things freely and being free from something.

The definition of freedom has changed throughout history, and even today there are different interpretations of what freedom means. For some people, freedom may mean being able to do whatever they want without any restrictions. For others, it may mean being free from oppression or being able to choose their own destiny.

Freedom is a complex concept with many different dimensions that can be explored. However, at its core, freedom is the ability to live your life in a way that you choose – without interference from others.

Freedom is important because it allows us to choose how we live our lives. It gives us the opportunity to make our own choices and to pursue our own goals and dreams. Freedom allows us to be ourselves. It is an essential part of who we are as human beings.

Without freedom, we would not be able to express our unique individualities. We would not be able to develop our talents and abilities. We would not be able to choose our own friends, or have any control over our own lives. Freedom is what makes us human.

This is because freedom is more than simply the “state of being free.” Although this phrase is an appropriate definition of freedom, it isn’t a moral definition. When Newman says that “habit of mind is developed, which endures through life and has the characteristics of freedom, equity, calmness, moderation, and wisdom” (Newman “Knowledge Its Own End”), he’s referring to this kind of freedom. There’s a better way to define freedom than what you’ve read here.

Freedom, according to Aristotle, is the power to act or not to act, and to do this for a specific purpose that you have chosen (Aristotle). Freedom is also different than independence. Freedom is the power to choose, while independence is being free from the influence of others. Freedom, then according to Aristotle’s definition, means “the ability to exercise choice” while independence implies “not being subject to restraint or control by others” (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy). So, freedom according to Aristotle is a more moral definition because it speaks of the ability to choose, and this is what we will use as our working definition of freedom.

There are different types of freedom. There is negative freedom which is the freedom from interference or constraints imposed by others. This type of freedom is often thought of as the more “traditional” view of freedom. And then there is positive freedom which is the ability to act freely in pursuit of a goal or good. So, positive freedom is more than simply being free from restraints, it is being free to act towards a specific end. Freedom, according to our working definition, then, is the ability to exercise choice unhampered by external constraints.

There are different ways to think about what freedom means. One way is to think about it in terms of rights. Freedom, in this view, is the right to do what you want without interference from others. Freedom of speech, for example, is the right to say what you want without fear of censorship or punishment. Freedom of religion is the right to worship as you please without interference from the state. Freedom of association is the right to associate with whomever you choose, and so on.

Another way to think about freedom is in terms of power. Freedom, in this view, is the power to do what you want without interference from others. This kind of freedom is often thought of as “freedom of action”. It is the ability to act freely in pursuit of your goals and objectives. Freedom of action includes both negative and positive freedom.

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2024 American Legion Post 403 essay contest winners named

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ROCHELLE — The 2024 Rochelle-area American Legion Essay Contest is complete. The topic was “What does freedom mean to me?”

In the eighth year of this program, it was a banner year. Almost every area school participated, and the Legion had a total of 90 essays. The program is for grades seven & eight (American Legion Competition Class III), freshman & sophomore (American Legion Competition Class II) and junior & senior (American Legion Competition Class I).

For American Legion Competition Class III, St. Paul Lutheran, which has participated every year, contributed 25 essays. Eswood, which has also participated every year, had 15 essays. Back this year was Kings with 20 essays, Steward with 19 essays and Creston with five. There were six essays at Rochelle Township High School for American Legion Competition Classes I & II with several of these students having been involved with the program since seventh grade.

Winning top honors in each class were: Class I: first place, Jessica Nguyen; Class II: first place, Magdalene Good; and Class III: first place, Makenzie Johnson. These winning essays were forwarded to the 13 th District of the American Legion for competition at that level.

First and second places were named at all participating schools:

RTHS – Class I: First - Nguyen; secnd place - Aiden Ramsey. Class II: First place - Magdalene Good; second place - Kathryn Groves.

St. Paul: First place - Makenzie Johnson; Second place - Andrew Eyster.

Eswood: First place - Nolen Schweitzer; Second place - Chyenne Somers.

Kings: First place - Preslee Sanders; Second place - Kenna Beck.

Steward: First place - Morgan DeLille; Second place - Benjamin Hayes.

Creston: First place - Jasmyn Mascote; Second place - Caroline Montgomery.

Thanks to all students for their participation.

A very special thank you goes out to the Rochelle Culver’s Restaurant. They have been a supporter of the veterans of the Rochelle area, the American Legion Post 403 and this program since its start-up. Every year they provide every student who submitted an essay with a free scoop of custard. Please thank them for their generosity.

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