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the word freedom
This was discussed in 1944 at Magdalen
"Our converse turned on the difficulties of discovering what common factors
if any existed in the notions associated with freedom, as used at present.
I don't believe there are any, for the word has been so abused by propaganda
that it has ceased to have any value for reason and become a mere emotional
dose for generating heat. At most it would seem to imply that those who
domineer over you should speak (natively) the same language - which in
the last resort is all that the confused ideas of race or nation boil down
to; or class, for that matter, in England" (Tolkien "Letters" 93).
The point Tolkien was making was that the word itself has been overused to the point where
it has lost its meaning. This sounds like a very interesting discussion. We have no record as to
what Charles Williams said to him in response.
C.S. Lewis had his own view on the concept of freedom, "the very idea of freedom
presupposes some objective moral law which overarches rulers and ruled alike.
Subjectivism about values is eternally incompatable with democracy. We and our
rulers are of one kind only so long as we are subject to one law" (Christian Reflections 81).
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