“The price for personal liberty is collective responsibility.”

Rich Roll, The Rich Roll podcast (episode 942)

Reflections

There is a cost to individual freedom, and that cost is collective responsibility. Personal liberty demands a sacrifice for the collective good. When individual rights are not weighed against the health and well-being of the collective, disruption to the system occurs, and both parties suffer the consequences.

We must remember: There is no separation between the individual and the collective. Biologically speaking, more than half of the human body is not human. Trillions of microscopic organisms — bacteria, viruses, and fungi — coexist within and on our bodies.

Under ideal conditions, these microorganisms live in and amongst us in harmony and with purpose. A diverse, balanced ecosystem of microorganisms endows us with superpowers, making our bodies stronger, more capable, and more resilient in the face of the external world. If we fail to make choices that nourish this community of microbes, our health ultimately suffers. 

This idea of the interdependence of the individual and the collective extends beyond the human body. As inherently social creatures, our survival depends on our ability to cooperate with other humans. Over the course of evolution, we’ve learned that we’re stronger as a group. The growth of mankind is evidence of the strength of the collective; proof that when we work together, anything is possible.

Human well-being is also intrinsically linked to the health of the natural world. Our prosperity is inseparable from the flourishing of non-human life. This is beautifully portrayed in Carbon: The Book of Life. In his book, Paul Hawken writes:  

“Eighty percent of the biomass on the planet is comprised of plants. Using the energy of sunlight, plants transform carbon dioxide and water into glucose, the sugar molecule that runs the world [. . .] The plant’s ability to adapt, generate, and thrive surpasses that of the animal kingdom. Creatures, large and small, including us, depend entirely on glucose made from plants for sustenance and nourishment. Remove glucose from our diet, and every part of our body declines and shrivels. Writes Zoë Schlanger in The Light Eaters, ‘Every thought that has ever passed through your brain was made possible by plants. This is crushingly literal. All the glucose in the world [. . .] was manufactured out of thin air by a plant.'”

He goes on to say:

“Our relationship with the biosphere will determine what lies ahead for humanity. Bending the arc away from blatant degeneration toward ecological recovery depends upon knowledge and respect for the world of plants. Maybe awe is the proper term. They represent [. . .] the starting point for our breath and life. We might ask, ‘What is more important to the planet, plants or people?’ If the plants leave, we follow — within days. If we go extinct, plants thrive, and the remnants of our civilization will be covered over by trees, roots, and vines. We like to think we are the most important organism on the planet, a delusion we may want to reconsider.”

With an awareness of the interdependence of life, it becomes obvious that true freedom is not the unchecked pursuit of desire, but the moral exercise of choice, guided by restraint and concern for others. Let us not forget: The compassionate choice is the best choice as it promotes the flourishing of all life on Earth.