Can One Be Poor And Free - 1260 Words

Can one be poor and free? The question of whether one can be poor and free has been, and still is highly contested. There are convincing arguments for both sides of the issue, and these arguments hinge on one’s definition of freedom. In this essay I will be using several arguments to prove that one can be poor and free, but that being poor makes you inherently less free. First I will discuss Van Parijs’ definitions of freedom, and Hayek’s disagreements. I will use Berlin’s ideas around freedom to show fundamental faults within Hayek’s arguments. I will then use Cohen’s work to prove that being poor severely restricts one’s freedom. This essay will demonstrate to the reader that although being poor does not make you completely unfree, it does have severe impacts on one’s freedom. Phillipe Van Parijs argues that there are two ways of thinking around freedom, formal freedom and real freedom. Van Parijs defines formal freedom as one having security and self-ownership. Real freedom on the other hand is formal freedom with opportunities. Van Parijs then goes on to explain that the opportunity, what makes freedom real is not something that can be seen as either present or absent, but instead is something that is constantly shifting. Real freedom is therefore on a spectrum. Van Parijs states that the aim of a free society should therefore be â€Å"a society whose members are maximally free.† This means that a society where the most people have the most freedom, while understanding thatShow MoreRelatedFree Clinic Project Essay1191 Words   |  5 PagesHealthcare system provides services to those who can pay for them; unfortunately, not all people can afford to have insurance and get medical care when they need. There are many poor people who are left behind this system and something needs to be done in order to provide these people with appropriate care and equal opportunities. 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