
Okay, I think I see what you're getting at a bit better now. I'll address the first part first:
1.) I don't actually find that example very pertinent if we are talking about freedom over one's self that doesn't directly harm others. Yes, the guy drilling the hole isn't using the drill to kill his neighbor, but if the point of his drilling is to sink the boat then he is essentially murdering everyone aboard. That's very different from your original example of a drug abuser who is shooting dope and the fact that he is hurting or killing himself saddens and hurts his family. While yes, he is hurting his family emotionally, he isn't subjecting them to what he is doing to himself. Does that make sense? They can choose to walk away from him and let him kill himself if that is what he wants to do, whereas the people on the boat would die alongside the idiot drilling a hole in the bottom of it and they have no choice in the matter, aside from restraining the guy with the drill, which they should definitely do.
2.) I see what you are getting at, but the way I see it "true" freedom would entail the freedom to do whatever you please regardless of the consequences to yourself or others. I don't encourage this, of course, but that means if you decide you want to ram the guy off the road who just cut you off and then shoot him in the face then that is your freedom. It was also the other driver's freedom to cut you off and to defend himself if you retaliate. It's anarchy essentially, and it's why anarchy doesn't really work. Anarchy/total freedom might work if we could guarantee everyone would behave in a beneficial way for society, but unfortunately we can't.
1.) I don't actually find that example very pertinent if we are talking about freedom over one's self that doesn't directly harm others. Yes, the guy drilling the hole isn't using the drill to kill his neighbor, but if the point of his drilling is to sink the boat then he is essentially murdering everyone aboard. That's very different from your original example of a drug abuser who is shooting dope and the fact that he is hurting or killing himself saddens and hurts his family. While yes, he is hurting his family emotionally, he isn't subjecting them to what he is doing to himself. Does that make sense? They can choose to walk away from him and let him kill himself if that is what he wants to do, whereas the people on the boat would die alongside the idiot drilling a hole in the bottom of it and they have no choice in the matter, aside from restraining the guy with the drill, which they should definitely do.
2.) I see what you are getting at, but the way I see it "true" freedom would entail the freedom to do whatever you please regardless of the consequences to yourself or others. I don't encourage this, of course, but that means if you decide you want to ram the guy off the road who just cut you off and then shoot him in the face then that is your freedom. It was also the other driver's freedom to cut you off and to defend himself if you retaliate. It's anarchy essentially, and it's why anarchy doesn't really work. Anarchy/total freedom might work if we could guarantee everyone would behave in a beneficial way for society, but unfortunately we can't.
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"We all are to some extent [agnostic]... So yes, I'm an 'agnostic', in as much as I don't actually know what happens when I die. I choose to operate under the assumption that God does not exist. I have no need for God in my life, the concept of a 'God' feels incredibly made up to me. It is not requisite for my every day living. For some people it is. They are 'theistic agnostics,' I am an 'atheistic agnostic.'" - Cara Santa Maria
"We all are to some extent [agnostic]... So yes, I'm an 'agnostic', in as much as I don't actually know what happens when I die. I choose to operate under the assumption that God does not exist. I have no need for God in my life, the concept of a 'God' feels incredibly made up to me. It is not requisite for my every day living. For some people it is. They are 'theistic agnostics,' I am an 'atheistic agnostic.'" - Cara Santa Maria