# Vrijheid tot kwaadꜛ

Intuïtief hebben we de neiging te stellen dat in een volmaakte wereld iedereen het goede doet. Maar is dat een voldoende eis? Een wereld waarin mensen het goede doen vanuit de verkeerde redenen is niet volmaakt. In een volmaakte wereld doet men het goede, niet uit angst, dwang of gebrek aan keuze, maar uit vrije wil. Zo paradoxaal als het moge klinken, in een volmaakte wereld zijn mensen in staat het kwade te doen.

Comment
  Showing that perfection implies freedom, and that true freedom implies the possibility of evil.
C
  Let us see what the Bible has to say on this subject. One of the reasons for men's creation is that we might honour God by praising Him and doing His will — and I am sure the Koran will agree. So, what does it mean to honour God? If I am being praised, or people do my will, does that honour or dishonour me?
M
  It is honourable.
C
  Now suppose I pay someone to praise me, or I hypnotise of force him to do so, would it still be an honourable thing? Or if I had a tape recorder praising me all day, would that be honourable?
M
  No, it wouldn't. The praise would be devoid of sincerity.
C
  So clearly the praise per se is not enough in itself. What else is needed?
M
  The one praising must do so from his own free will and inclination.
Comment
  This took a bit of prodding and helping to get out, but that was good: it made him think the issue through and become really convinced.
C
  Suppose I built a robot that could only do what I wanted it to do, and it would do my will and praise me, would that honour me?
M
  No, it wouldn't, because it would not be free.
C
  So if I want to be honoured by someone doing my will and praising me, I should give this person (or robot, or whatever) the possibility to go against my will, and to refrain from praising me, maybe even to curse me.
M
  Yes, that seems to be the case
Comment
  Here again, he needed some time to think through and reject other ways out of the dilemma.