Freedom is not a goal, but a direction
Perhaps there is some definition of freedom in mathematical terms in which the total scope of decision-making autonomy is maximized over all citizens?  The barbarian example would yield a low tally, as the leaders of a hoard are &quot;free,&quot; but their subordinates have little decision-making capacity.  In terms of the limitations of personal freedoms, the boundary might lie where the diminishment of others&#x27; freedoms exceeds the diminishment of one&#x27;s own if restrained.  (E.g. killing someone eliminates all of their future decisions, but preventing a murder eliminates only one decision for the potential murderer?)