Case Study 4

John Locke (1632-1704) offers the following thought experiment to expose the illusion of absolute freedom:

A man is sleeping in a room. As he wakes he comforts himself that at anytime he is free to leave. He continues to doze, sure in this belief. But all the time the door of the room has been locked, and there is in fact no way out. The man has slept under the illusory belief that he was free when in fact he never was.  Here is a full discussion of this example:  locke on free will.pdf

Question:

Suppose the man wakes and tries the door, expecting it to open. When he discovers he is locked in is he, nevertheless, in any sense free?

Discuss and make notes of the thoughts arising…