Single Idea 20324

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 4. Responsibility for Actions]

Full Idea

I become free by incessantly broadening my worldly orientation, by limitlessly visualising premises and possibilities of action, and by allowing all motives to speak to me. ...The more the totality determines my vision the freer I know I am.

Gist of Idea

My freedom increases as I broaden my vision of possiblities and motives

Source

Karl Jaspers (Philosophy [1932], vol.2)

Book Reference

'Existentialism', ed/tr. Solomon,Robert C. [Modern Library 1974], p.153


A Reaction

This matches my naturalistic view of responsibility for actions, which are those performed by the 'full' and knowing self. I note that freedom comes in degrees for him, so he presumably don't believe in absolute freedom. It is wholly subjective.

Related Idea

Idea 20323 Freedom needs knowledge, the possibility of arbitrariness, and law [Jaspers]