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Freedom. I would define it as the ability to be in any state at any given time. This freedom however is infringed upon by out side forces. We can be restricted by several varieties of influences in the physical, mental, emotional/psychological, and social arenas. For example, gravity and other basic laws of physics restrict us in a physical manner, while ignorance of an available option can mentally inhibit a person’s freedom.
I feel that this concept is applicable when discussing responsibility and the free will (or perhaps the lack there of) of a person. The first two, mental and physical, are the more commonly excused of these such as in cases where one forgets something or a person is simply no physically able to accomplish a given tack. However, the others, emotional/psychological and social, seem to be less considered when it comes time to assert that one is worthy of blame. These influences can either come from an imprint left from some past experience or from pressures present during the time of an action of some sort. The shooting scene in The Stranger can serve as a good example of a situation in which many do not consider such things. I feel safe in saying that there would be many out there that felt that Meursault was a “senseless murder[er]” and well deserved his death sentence.
While it may be easily to pass Meursault off as just a murderer with a poor reason for it, have they not considered that perhaps this event was out his control to some extent? The novel states that it was caused due to Meursault’s discomfort from the intense heat and sun exposure. Sure, it may sound like a ludicrous excuse, but it seems reasonable enough to me. I would compare the reflex to that of some one who might snap back a sharp comment due to frustration and irritation. His emotional state from the conditions could be seen as having limited his freedom in the scenario. In addition to the psychological aspect, his state as a sociopath could have inhibited his ability to reason through the potential repercussions of his actions because of his lack of concern for them. This would be considered a mental or social restriction that has been placed on him.