Georg Simmel: Individual Freedom

Individual Freedom: Georg Simmel

Adult Great Books Program, First Series, Volume 2, 1985

Discussion Questions

1. Simmel says [page 201] that “…what we regard as freedom is often in fact only a change in obligations; as a new obligation replaces one that we have borne hitherto, we sense above all that the old burden has been removed.” He seems to be saying that “freedom” is only fleeting, a temporary illusion. How does he justify this conclusion? If he is right, what is the point of trying to become “free?”

2. One of Simmel’s three “forms” of obligations is slavery? [page 202] What are the other two? Is slavery really a form of “obligation?”

3. Why, to Simmel, is money so valuable as a means of exchanging goods and services? [page 211] Do you agree? Why or why not?

4. How does money create individual freedom?

5. Simmel advocates that a full capital payment is much better that “money levy with regular occurrence”. [page 205] He would probably greatly dislike installment debt (e.g., mortgages, credit card, etc.). Is he right? Why or why not?

6. What does Simmel mean when he says that “man is the objective animal?” [page 208]

7. To Simmel, how are things like books, art, culture, etc. different from “other goods and services”? [page 209] Do you agree or disagree? Why? What does it have to do with freedom and money?

8. What separates man from other animals, according to Simmel? [page 208] Is he correct?

9. How does the division of labor in modern, industrial societies impact the role of personality in managing interpersonal transactions? [page 214]. Why is it different in large, urban areas vs. smaller towns?

10. How does money lead to impersonal relations between people? Is that good or bad? Why?

11. Simmel’s view seems focused on freedom “from” vs. freedom “to”. Is there a difference? What would Simmel say?

BONUS QUESTIONS!

12. Why don’t animals use money? How would Simmel answer this? How would Darwin? Which has a better response?

13. Marx, in our “Alienated Labour” reading, said that industrial workers experience four types of alienation: work product, work processes, “species-essence” (human nature), and other people. Simmel seems to celebrate the freedom that money provides in that it allows people to transact without having to deal with the personalities of other people. Do you agree with Marx or Simmel? Why?