A Clockwork Orange

Clockwork Orange is essentially a story against use of force to suppress free will and raises many questions about virtue and morality. I feel that virtue can be certainly be taught but not by altering brain chemistry or brainwashing a person but by exposing him to acts of kindness and virtue that might help him make better decisions for himself. What makes a person moral is his ability to choose right over wrong and good over evil. The absence of evil doesn't make a person any better than the next one. It is the ability and courage to do the right thing when presented with both options that makes a person moral. Even though I fully agree that violence must be removed from society, I cannot endorse use of scientific techniques to alter brain chemistry. However I will definitely support a rehabilitation program that would help suppress a person's urges to choose evil over good. This program must not play with the mind of the subject but simply use techniques like suggestion to alter his way of thinking. This is because as much as we might support free will; we cannot allow criminals to rob our homes, gang rape our women and hurt our community in the name of free will. Free will must be taken away from people who cannot make positive use of it like anything else. It is like parents taking away their teenager's car after a drunk driving incident or grounding him after seeing poor grades. Free will is a privilege when exercised in public and hence it must be used with caution so as to not hurt others. Yes societal peace is more important than use of violent free will. It must be understood that if free will is being exercised properly, it cannot be taken away since even the government doesn't have rights. This is because positive use of free will doesn't hurt anyone than thus government has no reason to go against the person. It is like using credit cards at public places. Having a credit card is a privilege not a right but banks demand that you use it properly without accumulating debt. However if you fail to follow the rules, they have every right to cancel you card and take away the privilege. This is the case with free will as well. If it is used without hurting anyone or violating any laws, government won't interfere but if it becomes violent than by all means, government can and should intervene. No one should be allowed to be violent in the name of free will.