Originally Posted by shygrneyzs
Well the Master is not a free man either. If not for his slaves, he would have to go back and rely on his own self and others to gain what he needs to survive. There is some thought that the slaves are more the Master than the Master. A man cannot master what he does not have. He could try to master himself, wouldn't that be a switch? But some could not succeed - they only know to control someone else, not themselves.
Would the last man on earth be free? There are ways he would be free. Freedom from oppression, freedom from taxes, freedom of speech and religion, free to be naked all day if he choses, free to go from one place to another without being searched or told he cannot cross a border, freedom from all and any law - who would be there to enforce? Is he going to self police himself? He would have to depend on himself for all his needs, that is a freedom in that he can provide the way he wants to. No societal constraints.
What he would not be free from is his own moral conscience. Unless he redefines his conscience, changes his own rules. He would not be free from responsibility, in fact, he would have more responsibility, since his own survival is solely on him.