free thought, n.All

Free thought (n.) that ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠throws off reason's laws ends by destroying itself, as the state steps in and regulates thinking like any other trade.

Free thought (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the test: how far can our fellow beings, so proud of their freedom of thought, tolerate free thoughts?

Free thought (n.) refuses ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠whatever is merely given — by the state, by agreement, or by the heart — and demands to know itself as one with truth.

Free thought (n.) can ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠withstand any truth that strikes it — refusing inwardly, taking itself for the origin of what it receives; a face it cannot shut its ears to.

Free thought (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠more than rejecting authority: one's convictions being one's own does not free one from authority; only justifying one's starting point does, which only philosophy can claim.

Free thought (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not protected against tyranny: so respectful of fact it falls into the trap of the fait accompli — the freest thought in the world is also the most subservient.

Free thought (n.) with ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠its science will end, of course, in cannibalism: the tower of Babel built without us will end so, and then the beast will crawl to us and lick our feet.