For centuries, the West has celebrated the collapse of hierarchy as a triumph of freedom. The end of feudalism, the emancipation of women, and the ascent of meritocracy were seen as milestones in our escape from inherited rank. Yet in the age of the gig economy, millions now find themselves without fixed roles, institutions, or identities. Critics across the political spectrum argue that today’s world no longer provides a sense of place or purpose. Noam Chomsky notes, “In a feudal system everyone has a place — maybe a rotten place, but some place,” while voices on the right call for a return to authority, order, and tradition.
Is the erosion of place and purpose simply the price of freedom? Or do human beings need a clear status within a hierarchical social order to flourish? More radically, could we imagine a way to recover belonging without returning to the rigid orders of the past?
Is the erosion of place and purpose simply the price of freedom? Or do human beings need a clear status within a hierarchical social order to flourish? More radically, could we imagine a way to recover belonging without returning to the rigid orders of the past?
