Freedom!

In a major work of his life, in 1941, Erich Fromm (March 23, 1900–March 18, 1980) explored the idea of freedom in his book Escape from Freedom.
Fromm explores the idea of positive freedom, which compels is to escape to it, and negative freedom, which drives us to escape from it.
Fromm writes:

Modern man, freed from the bonds of pre-individualistic society, which simultaneously gave him security and limited him, has not gained freedom in the positive sense of the realization of his individual self; that is, the expression of his intellectual, emotional and sensuous potentialities. Freedom, though it has brought him independence and rationality, has made him isolated and, thereby, anxious and powerless. This isolation is unbearable and the alternatives he is confronted with are either to escape from the burden of his freedom into new dependencies and submission, or to advance to the full realization of positive freedom which is based upon the uniqueness and individuality of man.

I find this quote so deep and meaningful. Its was just as relevant then as it is today, more so in light of technology addiction (the topic of conversation this year). That the same anxiety that leads to addition could lead to positive freedom is also a good reason to keep hope.

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