What is Freedom For? - One Piece Philosophy (Analysis)

The same societal issues born from modernist existentialism have bled into every institution. Academia, Churches, Government, etc. It says, "Do what is accepted and legal. Only be restricted from wronging others". A confusing and poisoned philosophical suicide that tries to remove the individual from the whole and the whole from the individual. A sick group produces a sick individual. A healthy group produces a healthy individual. My counteractive and unmoving answer is, "Do what is RIGHT despite its presumed admissibility and legality. Refusing to do harm to others must necessarily be paired with refusing to do harm to yourself."

“Do whatever you want; just don’t hurt anyone.” Are words to live by.

I actually never got the impression that One Piece is about morals or being a good person. It's always felt like it's about being the best version of yourself and sticking to what you truly believe. Hence the difference ways of being a pirate, just like there's different kinds of justice. Everyone is free to persue the path that feels true to them. Even if it's difficult. Which is why for example, Garp was willing to let Ace die. Luffy doesn't fight these other pirates because they are objectively bad. He fights them because they happen to be standing in the way of his dream or the dreams of his friends. He's liked captain Kidd well enough and that dude was the typical "bad" pirate. Luffy even rejects the idea of being called a Hero. Yes they give him a funny reason, that being he doesn't want to share meat, but I think it's because he doesn't do what he does because it's "good". He does it because it's what he wants to do. Whether it's good or bad will depend on others to decide. He just happens to act in a way that feels "just and moral" to us the audience.

This is so true, its one of the many reasons I like One Piece fr. One of my favorite characters, who I think is the other side of a natural viture, is Kuma. While Luffy is a great example of viture and freedom, Kuma is viture and willing sacrifice. Kuma, especially with his backstory reveal, is pretty much what Oda evisions as a someone who is naturally a viturous man of faith. Kuma lived his whole under oppression, but never once did that make him a bitter person. He stayed the good man he has always been, and he did so in spite of his chains. He held faith in the ideals of Nika in his heart and passed those on to people around him to where even Bonney exhibits them without even realizing. He naturally and without hesitation loved Bonney, and didnt hold her mothers death against her. He sacrificed his life for her without a second thought if it meant she got to live. I also like how Kuma was essentially Luffy's shadow throughout his life. While Luffy shined brightly, Kuma was like his moon which reflected him. He protected Luffy in his most helpless times pre-time skip, and even before he died he gave his robot self the mission of protecting the Sunny till Luffy came back. Either way I think Oda did a great job in putting things like this into his story for people to think about.

I really love that One Piece's philosophy shows how characters can be ignorant but still have a balance with those you love. Luffy knows nothing of ethics in most scenarios, but he trusts his friends because of their good nature, and trusts their judgements on things he couldn't care less about learning. He didn't care about Fishman Island's story of slavery or racism, but he fought for them because Nami and Jimbe cared deeply for it. Nobody can know everything, but with respect and care for good moraled people, even Luffy could be a kind and caring person.

I always love a One Piece analysis

Dang I gotta watch One Piece now don't I?

this needs way more views

Growing up in school I was verbally abused by bullies and when I told them to stop they said they had “freedom of speech” Whenever they’d get in trouble with teachers or have some freedom taken away, they would talk back and bully and their friends would victim blame for getting in trouble and having their “freedom” taken away, and then again I didn’t tell on them as much as I should have and they got off the leash

wow, epic video, so underrated

Great video

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.

Great discussion, I was excitedly waiting for your thoughts on this topic. My interpretation of Freedom in One Piece is: Being free of oneself and the concerns of others, while chasing your dream, will eliminate desire in search of freedom. My take on Luffy's Dream: Luffys' Dream is gathering everyone under a shared dream "Joy". (a giant party) Connecting morality into faith is a bit off to me, but I respect your view on your faith. Thank you for the video and looking forward to your thoughts on the OP ending. Cheers. ☕👈

"Show me my freeist future". This aged so well.

AMAZING VIDEO. I was literally just looking for a One Piece & it’s “Freedom” analysis video and I came across this. God’s will right here, definitely got a new subscriber !

woah. 5 minutes in and i'm just wondering why this got low views? this is nice. thank you for this

Time to finally watch one piece

23:02 Garph: He may be the Pirate King, The Messiah, A liberator , somehaw the chosen one but never a heroe.

You said the straw hats don’t have morals around 10 minutes in. I think that’s completely false, evidence being sanji vs women, nami and kids. They definitely have morals