Freedom

What freedom exactly are we talking about? It is a difficult concept to render. In theory at the exclusion of law, we are able to do as we will, within realm of possibility for animals of our stature. However the most fundamental bindings I find on us are the ones we put on ourselves.

To begin, Civilization necessitates servitude. With civilization comes power, as a social species we can only accomplish so much as an individual, as soon as we are plural and working together, our power over the world increases. Thus in a way, new freedoms are gained, we may do things previously beyond our reach by physical capacity. However, old ones are lost, as we are now responsible for the people with whom we are cooperating.

Morals, whether instinctual, conditioned, imposed by law or mere consequences imposed by others, will come into play. It is a contest of powers, even if we decide to regard no code, our power over others is limited by their power over themselves. I may not simply go up to my neighbor and make him dance, he has that power over himself. We are limited in our ability to control others. As they attempt to hold power, land, personal space, property, rights, they take away our power. All human beings limit each other's freedom in providing competition. Even in the absence of laws, respect, ethics or any other restraints, this principle still remains.

Human advancements are simply an extension of this principle, though we are capable of accomplishing even more. Trade gave us more opportunity as we contacted other cultures, but it also opened us up to the competition in between states. Inventions such as the internet which aid communications grant us expanded power of interaction, but further limits our personal capacity to control others as they gain the same opportunity.