^^^^^
CB: It's in a binary with the realm of necessity.
In fact, the realm of freedom actually begins only where labour which is determined by necessity and mundane considerations ceases; thus in the very nature of things it lies beyond the sphere of actual material production. Just as the savage must wrestle with Nature to satisfy his wants, to maintain and reproduce life, so must civilised man, and he must do so in all social formations and under all possible modes of production. With his development this realm of physical necessity expands as a result of his wants; but, at the same time, the forces of production which satisfy these wants also increase. Freedom in this field can only consist in socialised man, the associated producers, rationally regulating their interchange with Nature, bringing it under their common control, instead of being ruled by it as by the blind forces of Nature; and achieving this with the least expenditure of energy and under conditions most favourable to, and worthy of, their human nature. But it nonetheless still remains a realm of necessity. Beyond it begins that development of human energy which is an end in itself, the true realm of freedom, which, however, can blossom forth only with this realm of necessity as its basis. The shortening of the working-day is its basic prerequisite.
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/subject/hist-mat/capital/vol3-ch4 8.htm
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Yes! This is a fine quote from Marx and sums up his stance on the question of freedom. Freedom for human beings begins when they have *disposable time*, when they aren't required to do the *necessary work* e.g. mining, the production of foodstuffs and so on. And the *class struggle* over the control of the social product of labour and the *time* which is necessary to produce it is key.
http://www.iww.org/projects/4-Hours
This explains why socialism for Marx means common ownership/control of the means of production and the land by the associated producers themselves. With that control, the realm of disposable time/free-time/freedom can be increased as various forms of wasteful production for profit are eliminated.
Thanks to Eubulides for asking the question and to Charles for answering it.
Mike B)
An injury to one is an injury to all http://www.iww.org/
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