Fair Is Better Than Free
Everyone wants to be ‘free’, but slavery isn’t the problem so what do they mean?
Very few people seek ‘true’ or ‘total’ freedom; the ability to move mountains, breathe underwater, jump to Mars, or create new worlds in 7 days. We understand these aren’t attainable.
“Freedom from other people” is perhaps a desirable goal, but even this isn’t thought to its logical conclusion:
-
You are ‘free’ to grow your own food, but you will never eat a pineapple.
-
You are ‘free’ to live in the wilderness, but you will never enjoy a hot shower.
-
You can be ‘free’ from all unpleasant human relationships, but you will never have thought-provoking conversation, or sex.
A truly ‘free’ society would permit theft, murder, and rape.
Search for ‘free’ role models, such as the philosopher Diogenes. He lived in society and he was free. He lived in a barrel.
You, I, and most people do not want a truly ‘free’ world.
Fair Is Better Than Free
I would love if, for me, everything was free and I was free to do whatever I wanted.
But I would loath a world where the same freedoms existed for everyone else…
Truly ‘free’ is not sustainable. Even the most generous business, landlord, or friend cannot give for free for very long.
Humans Need To Work Together…
… and therefore we will never be free from each other.
When most people dream of ‘freedom’, their dream is actually to be able to interact fairly with others to get what they want.
I am not ‘free’ from a business when I can buy their services. I am transacting with them, fairly.
I am not ‘free’ from the power company when the electricity is running. (In fact, I am more dependent than before.)
Perhaps, fairness is freedom.
The typical dream of freedom, which is in reality the ability to transact with others for what one wants, is simply transacting so fairly with some people that you can transact fairly with other people. It is hardly ‘freedom’ at all…
It is not unique to want to be ‘free’, but perhaps it is naïve.
Perhaps it would be more beneficial to focus on being fair.