Zhuangzi, a saint two thousand years ago, yearned for freedom. What he wants to pursue is a state of "nothing to do" and "windproof". Even if this freedom is not perfect, Zhuangzi has not been able to reach the state of "windproof" all his life. On the other hand, now, we should really reflect on what is true freedom.
There is a classic concept in philosophy, which is the dialectical unity of relative and absolute. The dialectical unity of relative and absolute is simply eight words-"There is no absolute, only relative". Nature and freedom also accord with this view. Freedom and restriction are relative, freedom will never be absolute freedom, but only relative freedom, and freedom must contain restrictions. Absolute freedom is just an illusion, a wish, and we can only flinch. What we want to pursue is actually freedom with some restrictions.
Even the Garden of Eden described in the Bible has no such absolute freedom. Adam and Eve are not absolutely free. They are also limited by God. They can't eat the fruit of the tree of good and evil. They are still bound.
Human society is constantly developing, and its process clearly shows human yearning for freedom. From primitive society to slave society, from slave society to feudal society, from feudal society to capitalist society and socialist society, and even socialist society, the most obvious change of human beings is the change of freedom and democracy. People who are slaves in slave society basically have no freedom, and even the whole person's thoughts are in the hands of slave owners. But in feudal society, people's freedom took a big step forward, but the emperor of feudal society also restricted people's freedom. In capitalist society and socialist society, people's freedom has reached an unprecedented height, but behind this, one thing is also developing quietly, that is, morality and law, freedom is developing and restrictions are also developing.
What does absolute freedom mean? It means to do whatever you want, which means to do whatever you want, but can people really do whatever they want? The answer is no, of course. In human society, people have morality and law, and morality and law restrict people's freedom. There are many things that people can't and don't want to do. Human beings are intelligent, emotional and rational creatures. Everyone has his own independent thoughts. If you want to do this, but the other person doesn't want you to do it, then he is limiting you. It can be said that as long as there are two people in the world, there will be constraints. What would the world be like without bondage? At that time, there would be no order in the world, killing, robbing and stealing … I think that society will soon perish.
Back to reality, in fact, we should not dream of pursuing freedom without restraint. We should pursue the freedom of coexistence of freedom and bondage. I think only such freedom will make our society more harmonious?