Definitely! Freedom is complex and multi-faceted.
What I meant is that, whatever the definition of “freedom”, I suspect “suffering” takes precedence.
Some anecdotal evidence:
I (think I) would prefer to live under a tyranny or behind bars, than in excruciating pain. A higher proportion of people living in excruciating pain (be it physical or psychological) want to end their lives, and do end their lives, than prisoners for life or citizens in autocracies do, right?
Punching someone in the face (ie causing suffering) feels worse, and I think is punished more severely, than holding them for an hour or keeping them locked inside a room the whole morning (restricting freedom).
Think what we do in advanced nations to reduce our #suffering in contrast to what we do to increase our #freedom — individually and as a society. I would argue that more of our public spending, R&D, political discourse, economic activity, social advocacy, individual decisions, purchases, etc is aimed at suffering less than at having more liberty.
WDYT?
