I see the word "freedom" everywhere these days. That got me thinking about what a big word it is--and how seldom we take it apart to see what's inside.

It seems to me that you can define freedom in two ways. The first definition is: You don't have to do anything you don't want to do.

Slavery is the exact opposite of freedom in this sense. So are developed totalitarian societies in which the state makes important life decisions for citizens, such as where to live and what type of work to do. The Soviet Union springs to mind as an example.

But there is more to freedom than the mere absence of slavery. You can also define freedom as: You can do what you want.

Most people I know carry this notion of freedom in their heads, even if they don't make it explicit, as in: "What do you mean I can't ride my motorcycle without a helmet--is this a free country or what?"

If you go by the second definition, however, no society is completely free. Even in America, you're not free to drive through a red light, shout "Fire!" in a crowded dance club, or even take a call on your cell phone at the movies. In short, you're never free to break the law. In countries like the United States, the opposite of freedom is not slavery but prison.

What's more, it's not just governments that limit people's freedom. Social norms do the job too, and even more pervasively. There may be laws against public nudity, but if all those laws were abolished tonight, you wouldn't wake up to a world in which nobody wears pants.

People often romanticize so-called primitive societies, but incorrectly. The ancient Hawaiians, for example, didn't just surf and work on their tans. They were bound by intricate rules ranging from daily life (men and women couldn't eat from the same pot) to social politics (commoners whose shadow fell across the sovereigns had to be executed).