Human Dignity and the Freedom to Choose

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Prof. James Otteson describes how the freedom to choose is a crucial element of human dignity. Part of what makes us human is having free will and the freedom to choose. Therefore, if you are to respect people as moral agents, you will abstain from restricting other individual's choices. This principle is especially applicable when you're fairly certain that they will make bad decisions.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• human
• dignity
• choice
• moral
• ethics
• philosophy
• free will
• libertarian
• learn
• libertyliberty
• video
• freedom
• educational

[MegaZeusThor]

I believe that all gods are myth (so I cringed slightly during parts of the video) but I still think the point here is well made.

[evilmindedsquirrel]

I believe that everyone should make their own choices and do what they think is best for them.

However:

Free will is something we all think we have, but in the end it is all based on the total of our experiences.

We think we do something without being influenced by others, but this is simple wrong. we dont know anything when we are born, everything is learned, therefore any decision that we base on any for of experience is learned behavior and comes form someone (or something) else.

[thejacobandjason]

@MegaZeusThor same here. well said.

[nickgoering]

There was a time I didn't believe in God. But I knew in my heart I had to repent. So I did, I felt bad for the thing I did that made me feel guilty, I didn't know why they were wrong, because I didn't feel I hurting anybody. But regardless I asked for strength and understanding. Faith is required, but a witness will be given to those that sincerely ask. Think why you are here, and why certain things make you feel guilty. The Lord is all knowing and loving he desires you to control yourself

[LucisFerre1]

Yeah, 'god' doesn't demand that you obey him...he's just going to fry you in hell forever if you don't. (That's called "terrorism" BTW).

PLEASE, spare me the dull wet thud of your religious ignorance.

[The3rdPlateau]

@evilmindedsquirrel But you could just as easily act against your learned behaviors, or even against your own perception of logical behavior. I actually make a point to do this in a random way every now and then...I guess it's just like, re-validating/asserting my free will to myself

[The3rdPlateau]

You call that classical liberalism...i think of that as the basis of traditional conservatism.

[Ravengaurd6]

@foamulator ABSOULUTELY!!! if they are initiating force, let loose your dogs of havok until you are either free of their grasp or having dsied in your struggle. the price of freedom is death,so you'd best be willing to pay.

[foamulator]

Here's my question: What if someones " beliefs" in religion , take away my freedoms? Do I have the right to fight that group? EX. islamic sharia

[mtanousable]

@evilmindedsquirrel Nonsense. One need only look at the growth of technology to see this is false. I, for example, choose to play video games in my free time. Where did I learn this behavior? My parents and teachers don't understand the technology, and view it as wasting time. Regardless of this, I chose this behavior, which no one I knew chose. Free will is something that does exist, or new ideas would never come into being - and it is clear they do. Someone had to be the first to do 'X'.

[Montfortracing]

@MrCarondoll Again, the Bible is not the sole teaching of Christianity because the Bible did not always exist in Christian history. Jesus did not give us a Bible, yet He is the word. So whenever we deal with a topic, whether it be sin or revelation or free will, the first question is not "is it Biblical?". The first question is "is it against Church teaching?". The Bible is a good start to know what Jesus said, but as John wrote in his gospel, not everything Jesus said was written.