11: The Crisis of Freedom

On today’s show, Chong and Dan address the idea of freedom, its promises and perils. We start with a popular definition of freedom ("I can do whatever I want, and not be subject to anything else") and trace its roots to the Existentialist philosophy of the 20th century. We then discuss examples of how this idea is expressed in (Western) society and culture, before tackling the problems with it. Rather than focusing on freedom, should we instead be thinking more carefully about the constraints and aspirations we wish to live by?

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Show notes

Freedom - definition and roots (06:13)

• Pop culture definition
• Existentialist philosophy - "existence precedes essence"
• Freedom to (do whatever I want); freedom from (any constraints)

Existentialism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Examples in society and culture (18:13)

• Disney - Frozen and Zootopia
• Advertising
• Rick and Morty (Season 1, Episode 8)
• Natasha Bedingfield - "Unwritten"

Youtube - Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten (Official Video)

The problems with existential freedom (33:26)

• No such thing as freedom from everything and freedom to do anything
• Pursuit of freedom can be at odds with good/evil and human nature
• The paradox of freedom - more freedom is not an unambiguous good

Conclusion (54:13)

• A cautionary tale of desiring freedom from Dante's Inferno

Wikipedia - Dante's Satan