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What is the difference between liberation and free?
Are spiritual liberation and free will the same?

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Please make your question more clear, preferably with examples. Is this a question about philosophy or about language? – ShreevatsaR Feb 12 '11 at 8:08
language, when to use which. what the difference. – user3780 Feb 12 '11 at 8:12
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Well, one is a noun and one is an adjective, so they are not exactly parallel. If you're asking for the difference, you must have a few examples where you think they are similar (and it's confusing which word to use): include those examples in your question. ("Spiritual liberation" and "free will" are philosophical concepts with a range of meanings; so unless you specify exactly what your intended meaning is, no one can say which word to use.) – ShreevatsaR Feb 12 '11 at 8:20

3 Answers

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These are two questions. First: What is the difference in meaning between "liberation" and "free"? Let's exclude the part of speech aspect. Free can be a verb or an adjective. Liberation is not a verb (the verb would be "liberate"). In terms of usage, liberation usually has a more formal or ideological meaning i.e. liberation from political oppression or liberation of prisoners-of-war.

Free may be substituted for liberated in the examples I just gave. It retains the same meaning. However, free has other meanings as well. It is often used to express a service or product that is gratis, provided at no cost, free of charge, no money required to obtain.

Regarding the second question: Spiritual liberation is the same as free will in some belief systems, but not in others. As ShreevatsaR stated, you must provide some clarification. The question, as it is currently phrased, is about philosophy or religion, not language.

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Liberation can mean:

  • freeing a country, a city, or people from enemy occupation.
  • releasing someone from a state or situation that limits freedom of thought or behavior.
  • freeing someone from rigid social conventions, especially those concerned with accepted sexual roles.

Free can mean:

  • Not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes; subject neither to foreign domination nor to despotic government; not or no longer confined or imprisoned.
  • Not physically restrained, obstructed, or fixed; unimpeded.
  • Not subject to or constrained by engagements or obligations.
  • Given or available without charge.
  • Using or expending something without restraint; lavish.

Spiritual liberation and free will have different meaning, as will is generally understood as a deliberate or fixed desire or intent; liberation implicates a change of status (e.g., from without freedom to with freedom) that is not implicit in free will.

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Your question does not have sufficient context for a good answer, but in general, discussions about free will refer to the ability of a person to make a decision without being coerced into it, whereas spiritual liberation would suggest more of personal progression, from a state of spiritual repression to a freer state.

Lacking proper context, there not much else that can be said.

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