Escape From Freedom

Fromm’s third chapter analyzes the historical development of notions of human freedom and the individual. Fromm shows how the modern idea of individuality traces its origin to the end of the Middle Ages in Europe, when a transition from a feudal society to a capitalist society ushered in new freedoms.

Fromm argues that the Middle Ages are fundamentally characterized by its “lack of individual freedom,” as within a feudal society, each person “was chained to his role in the social order” (57). Members of feudal societies were born into a certain social role (for instance, knights, lords, or peasants) and were expected to remain in that role for their entire lives. Although people’s lives were determined by their occupation, Fromm notes that individuals only sought to work the necessary amount to make a concrete contribution to their society and not for the sake of amassing money. At the same time that feudal society’s strict social order limited a person’s life choices, such ties to the community also offered individuals a sense of belonging and kept them from becoming isolated.

The rise of capitalism and the market led to the dissolution of Europe’s feudal society and its strict social order.