The Fetishism of Freedom and Pay-to-Play Autonomy
In capitalist ideology, freedom is thoroughly subjected to fetishism. Originally, freedom meant an “inner strength”—the fortitude to establish one’s own laws without succumbing to external pressure. Capitalism, however, has perverted this concept into “the state of being able to buy whatever one wants.” Within this worldview, those without money become “unfree beings” because their options are limited, while those who grasp wealth are revered as “truly free beings” because they receive a moratorium on all the system’s taboos. Ultimately, freedom has degenerated from an inherent human attribute into a paid service traded in the marketplace.
‘Enforced Retirement’ Under the Guise of Economic Freedom
Paradoxically, the “economic freedom” people so desperately crave does not aim for a complete break from the system, but rather the highest tier of captivity within it. The wealth they dream of is an “eternal vacation”—a state where they can infinitely enjoy the pleasures provided by the system without ever having to labor (struggle) again. Yet, as discussed previously, true freedom resides in the process of confirming one’s existence by challenging the impossible. An ego that achieves economic freedom and loses the necessity to struggle is, in essence, undergoing a “comfortable castration”—slowly degenerating mentally within the most luxurious room designed by the system.
The Disappearance of Responsibility Concealed by Ideology
The reason capitalism injects the formula “Freedom = Wealth” into our minds is clear. It ensures that instead of agonizing over their lives or questioning the contradictions of the system, subjects channel all their energy exclusively into the act of making money. The absurdities encountered on the path to acquiring wealth, as well as the emptiness that follows its acquisition, are neatly concealed beneath the sweet rhetoric of “economic freedom.” People believe that becoming rich will solve all existential anxieties, but what they actually face after obtaining wealth is a hollow self, utterly incapable of answering the question: “What am I living for?”
Conclusion: The Illusion of ‘Having’ Rather Than ‘Being’
Ultimately, freedom within capitalist ideology remains in the realm of having rather than being. Instead of proving who they are, people try to validate their freedom by displaying what they possess. Yet, freedom achieved through ownership is volatile and fragile—a transient liberty that vanishes the precise moment its object is lost.
A truly free person twists the grammar of the system and writes their own narrative even without capital. On the other hand, those addicted to capitalist freedom are seized by the terrifying dread that their very existence is erased the moment their bank account balance drops.
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