Freedom through choice

Freedom through choice
Freedom
Freedom emanates from free will. It can be argued that freedom starts with the internal acknowledgement that we are able to make a choice , a supposition perhaps that "I" exists . Without dwelling too much on the philosophy of decision making, and understanding that the majority of normal people are able to make everyday cognitive decisions, then how do those decisions empower us?
Let's look at the simple action of purchasing a lottery ticket. We do not have the freedom, power or choice to decide to win the lottery; we can only choose to buy a ticket which, if we win, can then empower us and give us freedom. The choice of the winner is not the winners' choice. But yet it is! The ticket was purchased with the power of individuality, the choice, the freedom, the opportunity, and the evolved society that enabled the prize winning organization. The decision theory behind buying a lottery ticket is complicated at best, it is gambling and yet many millions of people are prepared to make that decision, and find it an easy one to make. According to a study by Carnegie Mellon University It is the belief that wealth will provide more options, greater choices, and thus lead to greater freedom by increasing status.
Choice
Whether it is for the individual, the family, the local community; the town, city, borough, county, state, country, continent or planet. To retain, create or to be given choice, is to have freedom. The decision making process is regarded as an interaction with the variables that make up the decision, whether it is for you or someone else. Every decision that is made has an opportunity cost. That cost can sometimes only be determined at a future date and can only be reckoned with at the time of the decision. Decisions have to be made, therefore, based on moral and practical reasoning.
These morals are founded and seated in our societies and civilisation. Democracies are commonly recognised as purveyors of freedom. They bestow equality and choice upon humans. Also, most decisions made do not have to be written in stone, but may be adjusted, or even reversed should circumstances change. Many individuals feel that they cannot go back on their decisions for various reasons. Whether it be pride, fear of "losing face," stubbornness or a firm belief that you did make the right decision at the time. Deluded or false decisions can usually also be remade. Again, it is man's inner limitations which deny him the freedom to remake the choice.
Who has the power?
Some choices may not appear to be free choices. For instance, sophism can sometimes appear to create a logical dichotomy. This can be a false state created by the Sophist which limits choices, thus eroding freedom. Decisions are being made on this planet every split second of every single day and it should be understood therefore that there will be a number of different types of cognitive minds with varying values and morals making these decisions. Motivated by different reasoning. Reasoning created by differing values, ideas, beliefs, genetics, falsehoods, confusion, misunderstanding, purity, impurity, delusion, distortion, truth, opaqueness and clarity. How do we trust such decisions? Are we qualified to judge decision makers or indeed to make decisions for ourselves or others?
There is a growing school of thought that flexibility built in to decision making in today's complex world is not only of benefit but absolutely necessary. And so it is for ourselves. It is this flexibility which we may use in special ways to empower ourselves and others around us when we make decisions. We must provide as much freedom as possible, maintain or improve , avoid abuse, diminish collateral damage, show compassion, understand the nature of the risk, maintain adherance to our values; and yet, overall, still make the right decision.
Legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus. We are slaves of the law in order that we may be able to be free.
Freedom through Choice.
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