Political Freedom

The purpose of this work is to discuss and explain the nature of political freedom. The approach is interdisciplinary, drawing from social theory, history, and law, as well as philosophy and political theory. The argument presented defends a view of political freedom as a social norm that has gained great prominence in those places where it has emerged through time as a social mechanism that supports social order and brings security to social life. Regarded as a social norm, political freedom promotes the toleration of the religious, cultural, ideological, and moral differences that generate normative conflict throughout society. The resultant understanding of political freedom therefore defends a distinction between political and personal freedom and separates the idea of political freedom from the individualism with which it is normally associated in most philosophical literature. The argument also indicates why it is appropriate to regard political freedom as a central virtue of social justice.

Enters a colloquy composed of various theoretical viewpoints on the philosophical/theoretical literature on political freedom Openly challenges the dominant individualist views, and by extension Pettit's republicanism Elaborates upon a normative dimension to the notion of political freedom that is not presently fully appreciated by more sociological encounters with the subject

Autorentext

Craig L. Carr is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the Hatfield School of Government, Portland State University, USA. He has published several books and numerous articles in the areas of political and legal philosophy, constitutional law, and American politics. His more recent books include Liberalism and Pluralism, and Orwell, Politics, and Power.

Inhalt
Chapter 1. Introduction: The Good of Freedom.- Chapter 2. Agency and Social Ontology.- Chapter 3. The Metaphysics of Social Being.- Chapter 4. Personal Freedom: The Action Model.- Chapter 5. Personal Freedom: The Culture Model.- Chapter 6. Political Freedom.- Chapter 7. Political Freedom and Social Justice