Definition Essay: Are We Really Free?

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Americans pride themselves on living in the “land of the free.” But what does freedom really mean? And to what extent are we really free? Freedom could be defined differently depending on an individual’s culture, country, and religion. Therefore, the definition of freedom might not be as clear as someone might think it is. Many people would think of freedom as an essential right that every human being has. Freedom could be defined as to be allowed to act according to a person’s own will. It can also be understood as the state in which a person is not being enslaved or imprisoned by another person. I believe that we cannot be entirely free to do whatever we please because this might endanger another person’s well-being. For example, if someone drinks alcohol to the point they are drunk and then decide to drive, then that person is putting in danger the life of other people because they might cause a car accident and kill an innocent person. Thus, I support the harm principle: we have the right to be free to do whatever we want as long we do not harm others. With that being said, I believe that we should be free to consume what we want but with some restrictions. Some of the restrictions I believe should be applied if we have the freedom to consume what we want such as drugs is to …show more content…
An adult knows better than anyone what is best for themselves. Therefore, if a person decides to voluntarily consume drugs, then the government must respect their sovereign decision. If we believe in self-determination and self-responsible behavior, we must recognize the right of persons to consume any substance they want. If we consume drugs and we behave as responsible and law-abiding citizens, don’t we have the right to not be disturbed by the government? If we consume drugs and break the law, don’t we have the right to be treated as perpetrators of a

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