Society vs Individual Freedom

This cluster centers on debates about the social contract, where participating in society requires accepting collective rules and limitations on personal freedoms in exchange for benefits, with discussions on opting out or refusing compliance.

📉 Falling 0.4x Politics & Society
3,679
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#4752
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
1
2008
8
2009
25
2010
36
2011
43
2012
84
2013
150
2014
90
2015
126
2016
158
2017
243
2018
216
2019
260
2020
319
2021
434
2022
464
2023
405
2024
285
2025
314
2026
18

Keywords

US wikipedia.org WAR U.S society rules live set rules individuals decide want government want live force societies

Sample Comments

user3939382 Aug 27, 2023 View on HN

Society doesn’t will its will be imposed?

funcDropShadow Jul 19, 2024 View on HN

The society didn't decide that we want this. The society didn't decide that we want something else.

elmar Jan 19, 2016 View on HN

Looks like people don't like the concept of a society without government :)

ay Nov 7, 2021 View on HN

The agreement to be a part of the society is an infringement on personal freedoms by definition - individuals agrees to constrain their behaviors to a set of rules, in return getting the benefit of scale.A healthy society by definition aims to maximize the sum of benefit minus the inconveniences of constraints.In the old days of the village life one could forfeit the impacts to their personal freedom, abandon society and go live in the forest on their own.Unfortunately the modern socie

jhgb Dec 15, 2021 View on HN

Just because "society" is doing something doesn't mean that you have to. Society lies, steals, murders, rapes, but I don't have to.

growse Jan 3, 2024 View on HN

Nope. You want to live in a society, then you abide by that society's collectively decided rules. You're not the only one impacted by your decisions.

otterley Sep 29, 2021 View on HN

You do understand that the price of living in a society is that not everybody just gets to do whatever they want, right?

aperrien Sep 22, 2016 View on HN

If you don't want to consent to paying for the benefits of living in a particular society, then don't be part of that society.

bheadmaster Apr 4, 2024 View on HN

> We as a society have decided for youWhich implies that someone else had the freedom to decide what's good for you. Society is just a bunch of other people.

Nobody forces you to participate in society.