Abstract
Unlike other animals, human beings experience freedom in relation to moral responsibility. This freedom has two dimensions: internal, linked to the ability to think about what is right, and external, linked to the possibility of acting in accordance with this thinking. Freedom to act is distinct from mere choice, which is merely the selection between different options. Capitalism tends to structurally undermine this freedom to act, while preserving the appearance of freedom of choice. This manifests itself in the alienation of individuals as agents. Some objections to this analysis are examined, along with the implications for market structures and the economic decisions that flow from them.
