[MD] Mill: Quality & what is freedom?

[Michael Hamilton]

David,

I think that was a very insightful post. I esecially like thsi part:
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Of course, making choices implies being aware that there are
different possible futures available to choose between. So how
free you are depends on your grasp of what is possible, being
stuck with common sense or what counts for normal behaviour
in your society may be making you a lot less free than you could be.

In this way you are limited by the reach of your imagination.
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I think that imagination is one example of DQ in action - the creation
of new static patterns of value. Having a "grasp of what is possible"
is particularly vital. I think it implies something like
open-mindedness. If we constantly jump mechanically from one static
pattern to another, we become blinded to new possibilities. A good
"grasp of what is possible" involves not just a wide static
repertoire, but also involves remembering to just stop and take a look
around occasionally. That way, the possibilities can just flood in
from time to time.