33 Gamma Forums

Humans are social animals. In order to live in a society, we need a common set of rules. Without rules, will we degenerate into selfish creatures who care nothing for each-other? If that's the case, what is a free man? One could argue that only a fully self-reliant individual who lives in complete isolation from other human beings is truly free. Otherwise it becomes necessary to conform, at least in part, to society.

This is an old philosophical problem: where on the freedom vs order scale do you want to be? Too much order, and men feel smothered. Too much freedom, and it's every man for himself. Is there an ideal balance, or do different groups need different degrees of freedom?