Pros And Cons Of Freedom In Minority Report

For humanity to prosper, a balance between order and freedom must be achieved. Throughout history, most conflicts can be broken up into categories of order versus individual freedom. For example, the American revolution, the English and colonists representing the sides of order and freedom respectively. This is seen, as well with the civil war, and again with World War II, and most recently with the Cold War. Both sides have benefits and drawbacks, some worse than others. Without regulation, safety comes into question; yet without free choice, citizens might be forced to bend to their government’s will. This is explored in Minority Report with the concept of the precrime division. This is on the side of order, or the common good. On the other hand, there is John after being targeted by precrime on the side of freedom, or individual sacrifice (against it, rather). Before John is accused of murder, everything seems as if society has been perfected, all citizens are safe thanks to the precogs, and John Anderton himself sees the system as flawless. Order rules

This brings up the question of how a safety measure can be used to suppress people rather than simply improve their lives. Anderton’s freedom is dependent upon his decision to kill a man he doesn’t even know. John had believed that precrime was a great system, but couldn’t even see it as a necessary evil, as it made it possible for those in high places, such as Burgess, to get away with murder. Thus, John concludes that the loss of freedom without mens rea or actis rea is not right. Without precrime safety levels drop, and individual freedom will be secured. Giving a government, or even just one person, the ability to imprison anyone without real reason or the power to get away with murder, outweighs that of the possibility of preventing all