Being homeless means not being free − as Americans are supposed to be
Being homeless means not being free − as Americans are supposed to be
To be homeless is a condition in which a person’s freedom is profoundly compromised. And that’s un-American, says a philosopher.
The last time Americans were free was about 600 years ago. Everything after that has been liberty, not freedom.
whats the difference?
One has freedom; one is granted liberty.
I asked ChatGPT and it said:
"Liberty" and "freedom" are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they can have slightly different connotations:
-
Liberty: This term is often used in a political or legal context. It refers to the state of being free within a society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. Liberty is more about the presence of formal or systemic conditions that allow for individual choice. It's often related to the concept of rights, such as civil liberties.
-
Freedom: This is a broader term that refers to the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Freedom encompasses both personal and political aspects. It's more about the absence of constraints and can refer to mental or spiritual states as well as physical or political conditions.
In summary, while both terms deal with the concept of being free, liberty often has a more formal or legal context, often associated with the collective conditions set by a society, whereas freedom is a more general concept that can apply to various aspects of life, including personal, mental, and political domains.
-