You're right. I guess one difference would be the part where the free software tell us "why".
But in practical terms, it is too complicated (ethics!), so all is down to copyleft or not, which I believe is what the parent comment was referring to.
Perhaps that's what we should be using: copyleft vs open source, instead of free software vs open source.
All copyleft software is free software, but not all free software is copyleft, since some free software may be distributed under permissive licenses that do not require derivative works to maintain the same freedoms or licensing terms.
The MIT License is a permissive free software license that isn't copyleft, as it allows proprietary modifications.
>This is a scan of the “Copyleft (L)” sticker on the back of the envelope mailed from Don Hopkins to Richard Stallman on 1984. The envelope contained a 68000 manual that Don borrowed from Richard, that he was returning. The sticker inspired Richard to use the word “Copyleft” for licensing free software.
>attention:
>READ NOTE BEFORE OPENING!
>Copyleft (L)
>The material contained in this envelope is Copyleft (L) 1984 by an amoeba named “Tom”. Any violation of this stringent pact with person or persons who are to remain un-named will void the warrantee of every small appliance in your kitchen, and furthermore, you will grow a pimple underneath your fingernail. Breaking the seal shows that you agree to abide by Judith Martin's guidelines concerning the choosing of fresh flowers to be put on the dining room table. Failure to break the seal on a weekday is […]
These are good definitions but the original post wasn't referring to people not taking into account the philosophical part of free software, unless it really meant "copyleft".
A permissive licence doesn't really transmit the intent of the author, philosophy or not (it doesn't really matter, the licence is the same).
A copyleft licence, on the other hand, backs the philosophy behind free software via the actual licence.
But you are right, it should be "copyleft vs permissive open source".
But in practical terms, it is too complicated (ethics!), so all is down to copyleft or not, which I believe is what the parent comment was referring to.
Perhaps that's what we should be using: copyleft vs open source, instead of free software vs open source.