Forces of Enslavement and Liberation: The Dual Nature of Human Freedom
The answer to your question can be formulated as follows. There are circumstances and forces that can enslave a person, as well as those that contribute to his liberation.The factors of enslavement include the influence of material and social environments, where the human spirit is subordinated to systems of economy and economic regimes. As stated in one source: "But the human spirit can be enslaved in various ways by material life and the economy it creates. The human spirit can be in a state of servitude not only to the natural environment but also to the social environment. Capitalism and socialism represent abstract ideals..." (source: link txt).Another perspective emphasizes that it is the symbolized realities, rather than objective reality itself, that can enslave a person, when he involuntarily submits to external exposure: "The subject falls under the power of his own act of exteriorization. This is the basis of a person’s enslavement by society... It is the symbols, not the realities, that enslave him." (source: link txt).There are also specific circumstances, such as the inaccessibility of basic necessities. One example is the problem of bread, where the deprivation of fundamental living conditions becomes a means of enslavement: "You can solve the problem of freedom by depriving a person of bread. ... Here, bread becomes a tool for enslaving a person. All three temptations rejected by Christ serve to enslave people." (source: link txt).Furthermore, external physical conditions—such as the properties of the surrounding environment (light, humidity, temperature, pollution)—affect human life, thereby creating specific conditions in which a person can become dependent: "Light, humidity, temperature, radiation, chemical pollution—these all influence human life. ... these and other environmental factors play a key role in determining living conditions." (source: link txt).Alongside the circumstances that lead to enslavement, there are forces that contribute to the liberation of the individual. First and foremost is the human ability to change one’s life through personal effort, setting an example of responsible and patient behavior, where a personal example can influence one’s surroundings: "A person can change the circumstances of his life through patience and his own example. ... His example can correct other people who behave improperly." (source: link txt).Moreover, an important aspect is the idea of creative, free action, where each action can be seen as an opportunity to create something new, to transcend established limits: "Every human action can be described in two ways: ... there might be an action that triggers subsequent events, yet it is free and uncaused. It is possible to bring about outcomes through freedom." (source: link txt).There is also an understanding of freedom as a gift of life, providing the possibility to shape one’s own existence, where a person chooses his path and can ascend to higher realms while remaining the master of his destiny: "Power is but a means to freedom and an instrument of freedom. Yet this freedom itself can neither be diminished nor increased by anyone or anything: it is inherently a part of being human..." (source: link txt), and also: "Freedom is a talent given to us by God; an instrument with which one must know how to work, creating one’s own life and happiness. By sacrificing it, we betray God Himself. True freedom must be cherished as life itself..." (source: link txt).Thus, a person’s enslavement is facilitated by both external forces—economic, social, and natural conditions, as well as the deprivation of essential needs—and internal processes, where the individual loses control over his own will, falling under the dominion of symbols and social structures. Conversely, liberation is achieved through personal initiative, creative and free action, and the ability to use the gift of freedom wisely to actualize oneself and transform the surrounding reality.