If freedom is simply being able to do what you want, are animals freer than humans?

in freedom •  7 years ago 

Hello steemians! Welcome to my blog! For some days now, i have been writing 'philosophical question' articles and i think i will do more of it because there are many philosophical questions out there and it would be a good idea to explore some of these questions.

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Freedom has been a major topic for all human beings. There is this constant fear that the government might decide to stop 'protecting' the citizens or there would be a war and this will send us back to the state of nature as argued by Thomas Hobbes.

After reading about the history of how societies came into existence, it is clear that the history of all hitherto existing society is truly the history of class struggle - as argued by Karl Marx.

There is this constant urge by some power 'drunk' individuals to control humanity. This has been the major reason for wars, slavery and the clamour for freedom. Freedom is vital to human existence. Those in prison understand what it was to be free. This is why many human activists believe that freedom is non-negotiable.

But is freedom the ultimate goal of man? If it is, are those free human beings fully satisfied or have sense of satisfaction? 

If you look at animals living in the forest, they are 'free' considering the fact that they move from one place to another freely. They eat what they want and see also. All they do is eat, play, sleep, copulate, born and this continues in circles. Can this freedom be said to be a true freedom? 

As human beings, we need to wake up early in the morning to go to work, and there are laws that determine what is good or bad for us. These laws practically deny us of some freedoms even though these freedoms might be to harm others.

But animals is the wide do not have such constraints. They do things as they please. 

Now if by definition, you agree that freedom is doing what you want at any time, the power to act, speak, or think as you wants, then are animal freer than human beings?

I know we are considered rational beings and at the same time we are superior animals. But what do we mean by freedom when we use the word? Is it different from what they (animals) are enjoying?

What is your view on the topic of discussion? Do you think animals freedom and that of human beings cannot be compared? If you so think, then what is the difference between animal and human freedom.

Thanks for reading. Your boy @smyle the philosopher.

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Excellent topic

Glory to our faithful God

I would define freedom as the absence of control.

Then for most animals there are strong hierarchies within their group reducing their freedom to some extend.
The most severe limiting factors for wild animals are external. They need food and have to fight to survive. They cannot do whatever they want. So all in all they are not that free.

It is very hard to compare to humans because our freedom is taken mostly form our society, while animals freedom is taken by the need to survive. I would guess the freedom is about the same.

The freest species on this planet are certainly cats. They get food from us and don't give a sh** about anything else.

I think when it comes to humans, the definition of freedom should be different. We have the ability to reason, to feel, to love, to hate and these are the reasons we feel attached to our mothers, family, best friend, spouses. Such that we make some decisions to make them happy, not because they asked, its just been human. You cant just make a choice to leave your house or country when you want to, you have parents, or your own family to take into consideration. This single reason translates into various actions and motives for doing things. You need to work because you need to eat, and you probably have someone you are responsible for. Its not the animal kingdom where there is grass lying somewhere. If we must work, there has to be some sort of organization, where you have the head or something. If there will be organizations, there has to be a higher governing body, holding these organizations together. So, its a different ball game when it comes to humans. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Animals could be free but still restrained within their confined environment to some extent. While humans are also free depending on what area you are actually debating on. Humans could free in all ramifications but not free minded, i still call that freedom.
Humans are free because we can decide what to do with the animals and our mind is at large to do whatever.

This is quite imaginable..
In a real sense the main fact is just the sense of WILL that belong to we human ,
The will helps us in decision making,
Animals really act on their intellect. Within thrir community ,
The make advantage we have got is the ability to own and be owned.
Thanks

Animals have all the freedom. Humans don't. I think it's because we are rational as you mentioned.

My answer is No,animals not freer than humans, even when we are all animals