differences - "Liberation" and "free"


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



Answer



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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