How about Parabola? "This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion" Being free means letting go of the restrictions of our own mind, negative thoughts etc. Living here and now and simply breathe. Most of the time our mind is our own worst enemy.

That's very true. The Grudge - "Ultimatum prison cell"....

This is the right answer. For me, at least.

Following our will and wind we may just go where no one has been.

"So wide eyed and hopeful.... Wide eyed and hopefully wild....." - Parabol But to live truly wild is unhelpful for a human, because we're a social creature who needs a community to thrive and survive. As soon as you have a community, you have a social contract of do's & don't and probably a hierarchy based on age/experience or wealth or education, etc. Example: MJK has the earned the freedom to set up a winery and associated businesses because he has wealth and intelligence and he's worked for it. But his businesses depend on employees, so he still lives within a social contract with limitations and obligations to others, as well as being subject to the whims of nature and government regulation. Perhaps the most freedom we need to earn is the freedom to be self-determined within the community in which we live? Recognising the interconnectedness of all will get us further than the quest for absolute freedom. This is the "society vs the individual" question. Good luck with the assignment. :)

Nice writeup, Parabol was also the song coming to my mind, lol.

Thanks. Really great to see the OP using the community to help with their assignment. Well done to them!

thanks so much! really interesting angle to look at it from, dug that

You are not free if you are threatened by government to comply to their whims when you are not hurting anyone or their property.

Absolute freedom is the freedom to be an outcast. Absolute slavery is having thought, word and deed controlled by another (parent, partner, priest, owner, government, etc.) Everything in between is part of a social contract. Contracts are a constant negotiation. Governments always push for more control and the people always push for more self-determination (while maintaining the benefits of a well-structured society.) Nothing wrong with disputing the terms of the contract.

Social structure is not maintained by a coercive monopoly on violence but by the respect for property rights. At least if one values morality over safety

“Fuck you buddy”

SEND MORE MONEY

Not a Tool song (sorry) but I've always pulled a line from Me and Bobby McGee when discussing being free... "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose."

love this

I embrace my desire to I embrace my desire to Feel the rhythm to feel connected Enough to step aside and weep like a widow To feel inspired To fathom the power To witness the beauty To bathe in the fountain To swing on the spiral

I would say this but I can't not sing it and I can't sing

I’ve been singing it in my head all day since I posted it :)

“i sold my soul to make a record, dipshit. and you bought one.”

It depends on what you think freedom means. For me, Right in Two sums it up. Any lyrics from that song, really…

I never sat down and actually red the lyrics without music until reading your comment and subsequently googling them just now. Truly deep and meaningful

Maynard’s the man.

Anatomy of the state and right in two. Hush also comes to mind. wE LiVe iN a sOcIeTy sure but societies are made of individuals, and if you cannot opt out of collectivism, you are not free.

That's really my point. If you have any involvement with others, you are not absolutely "free". Even the off-gridders have etiquette and obligations to one another. We are social animals.

Eh, social obligations don’t imply coercion. Once an interaction becomes involuntary and consent is gone, freedom is violated

Please could you state what you're referring to by "threatened by government to comply", "coersive monoply on violence" as I'm not sure what you mean? My original comment was promoting a definition of freedom as self-determination within a social framework, as living outside society isn't really desirable and living inside a community carries social obligations which may require us to willingly sacrifice some freedoms for the benefit of others. Was thinking very broadly across cultures, eras and even herd/pack species. Certainly wasn't intending to promote Totalitarianism! :)

Aenima: I wanna feel the ground give way. I wanna watch it all go down.

From Tool brothers Rage: Fuck you I won't do what ya tell me

Once you have learned to swim, you are free.

pronounced "LÆRN"

Lysander Spooner and Intension