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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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On Freedom summary
Timothy Snyder
Explore Freedom’s Deeper Meaning Beyond Resistance and Control
21 mins
Brief summary
On Freedom examines the concept of freedom through various lenses—political, personal, and social. Timothy Snyder urges us to reimagine freedom as a collective endeavor, essential for securing democratic institutions and enriching individual lives.
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On Freedom
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What does freedom mean?
When considering the definition of freedom, or what it looks like in the real world, there tend to be two perspectives. Let’s call them positive freedom and negative freedom.
Negative freedom occurs when barriers are removed. For example, when certain restrictive laws are taken away, or when we’re liberated from oppression, we supposedly experience more freedom.
In 2023, the author visited villages in Ukraine that had been freed from Russian occupation. While these places are no longer under immediate threat, Snyder questions whether the people are genuinely free.
For instance, in Yahidne, survivors of the Russian invasion emerged from a cellar after a brutal occupation. But just because these people are no longer imprisoned underground does not mean they’re truly free. Real freedom requires more than the absence of violence; it depends on a support system – family, volunteers, a trustworthy government. It requires having a future where children can safely play, where the community can rebuild lives and not just homes.
These are just some of the reasons why negative freedom – "freedom from” something – isn’t true freedom. True freedom is positive freedom, which is about creating the right conditions for people to thrive, to pursue their purpose in life, and to live in dignity.
Freedom can’t be inherited or granted by a government. Instead, it must be built and maintained by people, for people. It's not just the absence of oppression, but a positive presence of good structures – physical, moral, and social – that allow us to realize our potential.
In this light, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to stay in Kyiv is a good example of what true freedom looks like. Many people assumed Zelensky would flee when Russia invaded. In doing so, he’d have exercised his freedom to escape, or so they thought. But Zelensky displayed a positive freedom that’s not only about the absence of barriers but about presence, commitment, and will. That’s closer to real freedom: not escaping something bad, but embracing your ability to stay and fight for what’s right.
In the sections that follow, we’ll look at the five essential elements to freedom. They are: sovereignty, unpredictability, mobility, factuality, and solidarity. Then, in the last section, we’ll look at how a government can support these principles and help to promote a free society.
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What is On Freedom about?
On Freedom (2024) challenges us to rethink what it means to be truly free in a world increasingly dominated by political and economic tyranny. It weaves together history, philosophy, and urgent contemporary issues, illustrating how our pursuit of freedom is intertwined with the structures that support it. It inspires people to reflect on their role in safeguarding democracy and creating a more equitable future.
Who should read On Freedom?
- History and political buffs
- Fans of democracy
- Students of sociology and economics
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