Single Idea 9231

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 5. Freedom of lifestyle]

Full Idea

What counts as far as freedom goes is not causal independence, but autonomy. It is a matter of whether we are active rather than passive in our motives and choices, whether those are what we really want, and not alien to us.

Gist of Idea

Freedom needs autonomy (rather than causal independence) - embracing our own desires and choices

Source

Harry G. Frankfurt (The Reasons of Love [2005], 1.8)

Book Reference

Frankfurt,Harry G.: 'The Reasons of Love' [Princeton 2006], p.20


A Reaction

This is why setting your own targets is excellent, but having targets set for you by authorities is pernicious. These kind of principles need to be clear before any plausible theory of liberalism can be developed.