Freedom is defined as the right or the power to act, think, and speaks as individual desires. Humans tend to fight for freedom collectively, especially if the most influential individuals trigger its influence. An analysis of human psychology indicates that people act independently and always strive to abide by the decisions that maximize their self-interests. Desire is a strong emotion of dreadfully hoping and yearning for something. According to philosophers, desire is a strong emotion in a human being since it acts as a motivational aspect, thrusting them to do things they would rather not (Ruben & Robert 239). Freedom, on the other hand, is the ability to act without being monitored or constrained. Theoretically, a person is said to have freedom if he/she can do what he/she desires without being interfered with by any external forces. When a person is deprived of freedom, he/she is said to have been enslaved. During the 19th century, slaves were denied their freedom. They were not allowed to take their freedoms and take actions as they please unless instructed by their masters. Currently, the wrongdoers in society are being denied their freedom by being restrained. Therefore, this study seeks to explore the question, can one will or desire their freedom without willing the freedom of others?
In the survival of the fittest phenomena derived from Charles Darwin’s evolution theory, human beings struggle for their lives just like any other animals. Depending on their situation, they can do what it takes to survive, including killing. Historically, this was proven during the evolution times when the weak were extinct, and the strong dominated the ecosystem. The same case applies to freedom. Since human beings value their freedom, they are willing to do what it takes to protect it. They will appreciate their freedom without doing the same to others. For ages, humans have applied egoism and utilitarianism based on convenience. For example, human activities usually identify themselves to the weak, the discriminated, and the less fortunate in the society with sole aim of agitating for their rights and freedom. This shows the desire to will others freedom for an individual self.
According to the “The Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin, organisms that best fine-tune to their environment are the one that stands the peak chances of surviving and reproducing. Similarly, regardless of how it affects other people’s freedom, an oppressed human being will always crave for his/her freedom. This will provoke him/her to take action that cement the fact that one can crave his/her freedom over others. As seen in the United States and other developed countries, the struggle against racial discrimination is still on. The blacks believe that the whites will enjoy their freedom so much that they forget that blacks are humans apart from the difference in skin color. Thus, they deserve to be granted their rights to freedom. This is clear proof of survival for the fittest and that a human being can, in some circumstances, choose his/her freedom over that of others. The narrative of the survival for the fittest best fits politicians who only advocates for the rights of the less privileged in the society with an aim of gaining fame, and enjoying certain freedoms at the expense of the majority rights and freedom.
The human’s competitive nature also plays a vital role in proving that human beings indeed will have their freedom over others. Competition occurs when two or more parties strive to gain a particular thing or to achieve a specific goal that cannot be shared. Coemption occasionally leads to rivalry and disputes among the competing parties. Human beings are competitive by nature. The same way living organisms co-existing in the same environment compete for scurs resources such as food, water, and sometimes mate. During the evolution period, human beings competed for food and mate. It was a matter of life and death. They occasionally had to bout to death to win themselves a mate or food supply. An average human being had to refine their skills his/her skills, such as fighting and hunting, to increase their chances of reproducing. Currently, humans are exhibiting their competitive nature in job places where they go all-out for promotions and complements. Some strive to gain superiority in society.
This being the 21st century, superiority in the society that significantly affects an individual’s competence is no longer determined by fighting or hunting and gathering skills; instead, is determined by how deep your pockets go and rank an individual has. The competitive nature of a human being has turned man into a vicious animal, with everyone craving the spotlight on society. Humans have gone to an imaginable level with everyone trying to be the superior in society to be heard or respected. Apart from superiority and spotlight on community, human beings also compete for financial freedom. They work tirelessly to gain financial freedom. As bad as it sounds, some even kill for money. This shows that competition has turned man into a vicious animal who no longer will the freedom of anyone except his own.
The temperament with pleasure principle is yet another area where human beings have unveiled a deep-rooted desire for their freedom at the cost of others. According to psychology, temperament denotes the steady individual alterations in conduct that are biologically based and moderately sovereign. Human beings exhibit temperamental traits characterized by neuroticism, sociability, impulsivity, and so on. Pleasure, on the other hand, is the feeling of joy, satisfaction, and delight. Where there is pleasure, there is no pain. The human being, just like other animals, finds pleasure entertaining and worth seeking; thanks to this, they can do anything in their power to experience it.
According to psychologists, a person’s temper is formed when the individual is a toddler, and it never undergoes any transformations; instead, it only advances as time goes by. It serves as a means of determining how one would react in different situations. Human beings exhibit four types of temperament. The sanguine temperament which is the common one and is characterized by individual showcasing talkative and active traits. The other kind of temper is Phlegmatic, which is the contrary of sanguine. The other type of temperament is Chloric. It is the scarcest of the four. Finally, the fourth type of temperament is Melancholy. Temper is a vital part of human emotions, and judgment plays a critical role in our day-to-day lives.
According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality, the term pleasure principle refers to the driving force that pushes an individual, especially kids, to seek immediate gratification of their needs and wants. The condition is characterized by a state of tension and sometimes anxiety. When temperament and pleasure are fused, it can be disastrous. As we all know, some needs just can’t be met, and due to that, the outcomes can be violence and devastation. How does the temperament and pleasure principle make someone desire his / her freedom more than the way he wills for others? Thanks to the pleasure principle, human beings may request an argent gratification of their essential needs such as food and water at some point in their lives. This deep drive will trigger their temper when their requests are not met and thus making them vicious. If it is freedom the individual is seeking, this might cause him/her to will/desire his freedom without willing that of others.
In conclusion, human beings are beings of desires and cravings. The human brain never stops desiring freedom. Being denied freedom is a punishment. This is evident since, in the 21st century, prisoners are punished by being denied their freedom. Freedom is a very emotional aspect of an individual’s life; one can go to a possible extent to defend their freedom. When such forces as pleasure principles, temperament, and survival for the fittest are involved, the animal instinct of a human being is provoked, resulting in brutal reactions. This may result in individuals such traits as self-centered and aggressive. At this point, a human being can desire his/her freedom over that of others. So, the answer is yes, a human being can will/desire his/her freedom over others. Given the condition, one can at a point end up killing his/her fellow human being to ensure he/she has taken hold of his freedom. Well, human beings are different in terms of how they think and behave. We all react differently in different situations, but the situation cannot be blamed for our inhumane actions. Just like human activists tend to fight for the freedom of the most vulnerable members of the society, so no one can desire their own freedom without willing the freedom of others.
Works Cited
Douglas, Yellowlees, and Andrew Hargadon. “The pleasure principle: immersion, engagement, flow.” Proceedings of the eleventh ACM on Hypertext and hypermedia. 2000.
Orlie, Melissa A. “The desire for freedom and the consumption of politics.” Philosophy & social criticism 28.4 (2002): 395-417.
Ruben, Robert J. “Redefining the survival of the fittest: communication disorders in the 21st century.” The Laryngoscope 110.2 (2000): 241-241.