O medo de ser livre

The contemporary antiliberalism stems from a disdain for individual self-governance rather than compassion for the weak. Étienne de La Boétie's 1548 inquiry into voluntary servitude highlights how people often accept oppression due to a fear of autonomy. This fear is not rooted in the failures of open societies but in the existential burden of personal responsibility. The classical liberalism that liberated individuals from feudal constraints also imposed the weight of self-determination. Many prefer to delegate their lives to a paternalistic state rather than confront their own actions. The article critiques the conflation of poverty with inequality, arguing that while poverty is a tangible issue, inequality is merely a statistical measure. It asserts that wealth is created in a free market, countering the myth that state intervention fosters prosperity. The rise of illiberal sentiments in both the U.S. and Europe reflects a collective retreat from freedom, driven by a desire for…