A Theory of Freedom

A Theory of Freedom

Author: Philip Pettit

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2013-05-31

Total Pages: 265

ISBN-13: 0745668151

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This innovative approach to freedom starts from an account of what we mean by describing someone, in a psychological vein, as a free subject. Pettit develops an argument as to what it is that makes someone free in that basic sense; and then goes on to derive the implications of the approach for issues of freedom in political theory. Freedom in the subject is equated with the person's being fit to be held responsible and to be authorized as a partner in interaction. This book is unique among contemporary approaches - although it is true to the spirit of classical writers like Hobbes and Kant - in seeking a theory that applies to psychological issues of free agency and free will as well as to political issues in the theory of the free state and the free constitution. The driving thesis is that it is only by connecting up the different issues of freedom, psychological and political, that we can fully appreciate the nature of the questions involved, and the requirements for their resolution. The book does not not seek a comprehensive reach just for its own sake, but rather for the sake of the illumination it provides. A Theory of Freedom is a ground-breaking volume which will be of wide interest to scholars and students in political philosophy and political science.


Book Synopsis A Theory of Freedom by : Philip Pettit

Download or read book A Theory of Freedom written by Philip Pettit and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2013-05-31 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This innovative approach to freedom starts from an account of what we mean by describing someone, in a psychological vein, as a free subject. Pettit develops an argument as to what it is that makes someone free in that basic sense; and then goes on to derive the implications of the approach for issues of freedom in political theory. Freedom in the subject is equated with the person's being fit to be held responsible and to be authorized as a partner in interaction. This book is unique among contemporary approaches - although it is true to the spirit of classical writers like Hobbes and Kant - in seeking a theory that applies to psychological issues of free agency and free will as well as to political issues in the theory of the free state and the free constitution. The driving thesis is that it is only by connecting up the different issues of freedom, psychological and political, that we can fully appreciate the nature of the questions involved, and the requirements for their resolution. The book does not not seek a comprehensive reach just for its own sake, but rather for the sake of the illumination it provides. A Theory of Freedom is a ground-breaking volume which will be of wide interest to scholars and students in political philosophy and political science.

A Theory of Freedom

A Theory of Freedom

Author: Stanley I. Benn

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 1988

Total Pages: 364

ISBN-13: 9780521348027

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A radically unorthodox theory of rational action is the central idea in a reformulation of Kant's ethical and political thought, wherein rational action can be determined simply by principles, regardless of consequences.


Book Synopsis A Theory of Freedom by : Stanley I. Benn

Download or read book A Theory of Freedom written by Stanley I. Benn and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1988 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A radically unorthodox theory of rational action is the central idea in a reformulation of Kant's ethical and political thought, wherein rational action can be determined simply by principles, regardless of consequences.

A Social Theory of Freedom

A Social Theory of Freedom

Author: Mariam Thalos

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2016-03-17

Total Pages: 278

ISBN-13: 131739495X

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In A Social Theory of Freedom, Mariam Thalos argues that the theory of human freedom should be a broadly social and political theory, rather than a theory that places itself in opposition to the issue of determinism. Thalos rejects the premise that a theory of freedom is fundamentally a theory of the metaphysics of constraint and, instead, lays out a political conception of freedom that is closely aligned with questions of social identity, self-development in contexts of intimate relationships, and social solidarity. Thalos argues that whether a person is free (in any context) depends upon a certain relationship of fit between that agent’s conception of themselves (both present and future), on the one hand, and the facts of their circumstances, on the other. Since relationships of fit are broadly logical, freedom is a logic—it is the logic of fit between one’s aspirations and one’s circumstances, what Thalos calls the logic of agency. The logic of agency, once fleshed out, becomes a broadly social and political theory that encompasses one’s self-conceptions as well as how these self-conceptions are generated, together with how they fit with the circumstances of one’s life. The theory of freedom proposed in this volume is fundamentally a political one.


Book Synopsis A Social Theory of Freedom by : Mariam Thalos

Download or read book A Social Theory of Freedom written by Mariam Thalos and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-03-17 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In A Social Theory of Freedom, Mariam Thalos argues that the theory of human freedom should be a broadly social and political theory, rather than a theory that places itself in opposition to the issue of determinism. Thalos rejects the premise that a theory of freedom is fundamentally a theory of the metaphysics of constraint and, instead, lays out a political conception of freedom that is closely aligned with questions of social identity, self-development in contexts of intimate relationships, and social solidarity. Thalos argues that whether a person is free (in any context) depends upon a certain relationship of fit between that agent’s conception of themselves (both present and future), on the one hand, and the facts of their circumstances, on the other. Since relationships of fit are broadly logical, freedom is a logic—it is the logic of fit between one’s aspirations and one’s circumstances, what Thalos calls the logic of agency. The logic of agency, once fleshed out, becomes a broadly social and political theory that encompasses one’s self-conceptions as well as how these self-conceptions are generated, together with how they fit with the circumstances of one’s life. The theory of freedom proposed in this volume is fundamentally a political one.

Republicanism

Republicanism

Author: Philip Pettit

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 1997

Total Pages: 317

ISBN-13: 0198290837

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This is the first full-length presentation of a republican alternative to the liberal and communitarian theories that have dominated political philosophy in recent years. The latest addition to the acclaimed Oxford Political Theory series, Pettit's eloquent and compelling account opens with an examination of the traditional republican conception of freedom as non-domination, contrasting this with established negative and positive views of liberty. The first part of the book traces the rise and decline of this conception, displays its many attractions, and makes a case for why it should still be regarded as a central political ideal. The second part of the book looks at what the implementation of the ideal would require with regard to substantive policy-making, constitutional and democratic design, regulatory control and the relation between state and civil society. Prominent in this account is a novel concept of democracy, under which government is exposed to systematic contestation, and a vision of state-societal relations founded upon civility and trust. Pettit's powerful and insightful new work offers not only a unified, theoretical overview of the many strands of republican ideas, but also a new and sophisticated perspective on studies in related fields including the history of ideas, jurisprudence, and criminology.


Book Synopsis Republicanism by : Philip Pettit

Download or read book Republicanism written by Philip Pettit and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 1997 with total page 317 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the first full-length presentation of a republican alternative to the liberal and communitarian theories that have dominated political philosophy in recent years. The latest addition to the acclaimed Oxford Political Theory series, Pettit's eloquent and compelling account opens with an examination of the traditional republican conception of freedom as non-domination, contrasting this with established negative and positive views of liberty. The first part of the book traces the rise and decline of this conception, displays its many attractions, and makes a case for why it should still be regarded as a central political ideal. The second part of the book looks at what the implementation of the ideal would require with regard to substantive policy-making, constitutional and democratic design, regulatory control and the relation between state and civil society. Prominent in this account is a novel concept of democracy, under which government is exposed to systematic contestation, and a vision of state-societal relations founded upon civility and trust. Pettit's powerful and insightful new work offers not only a unified, theoretical overview of the many strands of republican ideas, but also a new and sophisticated perspective on studies in related fields including the history of ideas, jurisprudence, and criminology.

Independence, Propertylessness, and Basic Income

Independence, Propertylessness, and Basic Income

Author: K. Widerquist

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2013-03-07

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 1137313099

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Independence, Propertylessness, and Basic Income argues that philosophers have focused too much on scalar freedom and proposes a theory of status freedom as effective control self-ownership: the power to have or refuse active cooperation with other willing people, or simply: freedom as the power to say no.


Book Synopsis Independence, Propertylessness, and Basic Income by : K. Widerquist

Download or read book Independence, Propertylessness, and Basic Income written by K. Widerquist and published by Springer. This book was released on 2013-03-07 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Independence, Propertylessness, and Basic Income argues that philosophers have focused too much on scalar freedom and proposes a theory of status freedom as effective control self-ownership: the power to have or refuse active cooperation with other willing people, or simply: freedom as the power to say no.

Psychological Reactance

Psychological Reactance

Author: Sharon S. Brehm

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2013-10-02

Total Pages: 447

ISBN-13: 1483264890

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Psychological Reactance: A Theory of Freedom and Control provides information pertinent to the fundamental aspects of reactance theory. This book discusses a number of special topic areas to which the reactance theory seems especially relevant. Organized into five parts encompassing 17 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the relationship between freedom and perceived freedom as conceived by reactance theory. This text then describes the clinical applications, societal problem solutions, and power relations in the real world. Other chapters consider the developmental aspects of reactance. This book discusses as well the reactance theory in a wider theoretical context by examining impression management formulations of the theory and by comparing reactance to other theoretical models whereby the notion of control plays a major role. The final chapter deals with the role of cognitive processes in association with reactance in attitude change phenomena. This book is a valuable resource for social psychologists.


Book Synopsis Psychological Reactance by : Sharon S. Brehm

Download or read book Psychological Reactance written by Sharon S. Brehm and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2013-10-02 with total page 447 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Psychological Reactance: A Theory of Freedom and Control provides information pertinent to the fundamental aspects of reactance theory. This book discusses a number of special topic areas to which the reactance theory seems especially relevant. Organized into five parts encompassing 17 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the relationship between freedom and perceived freedom as conceived by reactance theory. This text then describes the clinical applications, societal problem solutions, and power relations in the real world. Other chapters consider the developmental aspects of reactance. This book discusses as well the reactance theory in a wider theoretical context by examining impression management formulations of the theory and by comparing reactance to other theoretical models whereby the notion of control plays a major role. The final chapter deals with the role of cognitive processes in association with reactance in attitude change phenomena. This book is a valuable resource for social psychologists.

A Philosophy of Freedom

A Philosophy of Freedom

Author: Lars Svendsen

Publisher: Reaktion Books

Published: 2014-10-15

Total Pages: 289

ISBN-13: 1780234104

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Freedom of speech, religion, choice, will—humans have fought, and continue to fight, for all of these. But what is human freedom really? Taking a broad approach across metaphysics, politics, and ethics, Lars Svendsen explores this question in his engaging book, while also looking at the threats freedom faces today. Though our behaviors, thoughts, and actions are restricted by social and legal rules, deadlines, and burdens, Svendsen argues that the fundamental requirement for living a human life is the ability to be free. A Philosophy of Freedom questions how we can successfully create meaningful lives when we are estranged from the very concept of freedom. Svendsen tackles such issues as the nature of free agency and the possibility of freedom in a universe governed by natural laws. He concludes that the true definition of personal freedom is first and foremost the liberty to devote yourself to what really matters to you—to realize the true value of the life you are living. Drawing on the fascinating debates around the possibility of freedom and its limits within society, this comprehensive investigation provides an accessible and insightful overview that will appeal to academics and general readers alike.


Book Synopsis A Philosophy of Freedom by : Lars Svendsen

Download or read book A Philosophy of Freedom written by Lars Svendsen and published by Reaktion Books. This book was released on 2014-10-15 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Freedom of speech, religion, choice, will—humans have fought, and continue to fight, for all of these. But what is human freedom really? Taking a broad approach across metaphysics, politics, and ethics, Lars Svendsen explores this question in his engaging book, while also looking at the threats freedom faces today. Though our behaviors, thoughts, and actions are restricted by social and legal rules, deadlines, and burdens, Svendsen argues that the fundamental requirement for living a human life is the ability to be free. A Philosophy of Freedom questions how we can successfully create meaningful lives when we are estranged from the very concept of freedom. Svendsen tackles such issues as the nature of free agency and the possibility of freedom in a universe governed by natural laws. He concludes that the true definition of personal freedom is first and foremost the liberty to devote yourself to what really matters to you—to realize the true value of the life you are living. Drawing on the fascinating debates around the possibility of freedom and its limits within society, this comprehensive investigation provides an accessible and insightful overview that will appeal to academics and general readers alike.

A Theory of Freedom

A Theory of Freedom

Author: S. Welch

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2012-09-14

Total Pages: 299

ISBN-13: 1137295023

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This book offers a liberatory conception of individual freedom that uniquely responds to the problems of social oppression and demands of the interrelatedness insofar as it pertains specifically to the social domain of activity.


Book Synopsis A Theory of Freedom by : S. Welch

Download or read book A Theory of Freedom written by S. Welch and published by Springer. This book was released on 2012-09-14 with total page 299 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book offers a liberatory conception of individual freedom that uniquely responds to the problems of social oppression and demands of the interrelatedness insofar as it pertains specifically to the social domain of activity.

The Difficulty of Tolerance

The Difficulty of Tolerance

Author: Thomas Scanlon

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2003-06-26

Total Pages: 290

ISBN-13: 9780521533980

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These essays in political philosophy by T. M. Scanlon, written between 1969 and 1999, examine the standards by which social and political institutions should be justified and appraised. Scanlon explains how the powers of just institutions are limited by rights such as freedom of expression, and considers why these limits should be respected even when it seems that better results could be achieved by violating them. Other topics which are explored include voluntariness and consent, freedom of expression, tolerance, punishment, and human rights. The collection includes the classic essays 'Preference and Urgency', 'A Theory of Freedom of Expression', and 'Contractualism and Utilitarianism', as well as a number of other essays that have hitherto not been easily accessible. It will be essential reading for all those studying these topics from the perspective of political philosophy, politics, and law.


Book Synopsis The Difficulty of Tolerance by : Thomas Scanlon

Download or read book The Difficulty of Tolerance written by Thomas Scanlon and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2003-06-26 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: These essays in political philosophy by T. M. Scanlon, written between 1969 and 1999, examine the standards by which social and political institutions should be justified and appraised. Scanlon explains how the powers of just institutions are limited by rights such as freedom of expression, and considers why these limits should be respected even when it seems that better results could be achieved by violating them. Other topics which are explored include voluntariness and consent, freedom of expression, tolerance, punishment, and human rights. The collection includes the classic essays 'Preference and Urgency', 'A Theory of Freedom of Expression', and 'Contractualism and Utilitarianism', as well as a number of other essays that have hitherto not been easily accessible. It will be essential reading for all those studying these topics from the perspective of political philosophy, politics, and law.

Force and Freedom

Force and Freedom

Author: Arthur Ripstein

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Published: 2010-02-15

Total Pages: 416

ISBN-13: 0674054512

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In this masterful work, both an illumination of Kant’s thought and an important contribution to contemporary legal and political theory, Arthur Ripstein gives a comprehensive yet accessible account of Kant’s political philosophy. Ripstein shows that Kant’s thought is organized around two central claims: first, that legal institutions are not simply responses to human limitations or circumstances; indeed the requirements of justice can be articulated without recourse to views about human inclinations and vulnerabilities. Second, Kant argues for a distinctive moral principle, which restricts the legitimate use of force to the creation of a system of equal freedom. Ripstein’s description of the unity and philosophical plausibility of this dimension of Kant’s thought will be a revelation to political and legal scholars. In addition to providing a clear and coherent statement of the most misunderstood of Kant’s ideas, Ripstein also shows that Kant’s views remain conceptually powerful and morally appealing today. Ripstein defends the idea of equal freedom by examining several substantive areas of law—private rights, constitutional law, police powers, and punishment—and by demonstrating the compelling advantages of the Kantian framework over competing approaches.


Book Synopsis Force and Freedom by : Arthur Ripstein

Download or read book Force and Freedom written by Arthur Ripstein and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2010-02-15 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this masterful work, both an illumination of Kant’s thought and an important contribution to contemporary legal and political theory, Arthur Ripstein gives a comprehensive yet accessible account of Kant’s political philosophy. Ripstein shows that Kant’s thought is organized around two central claims: first, that legal institutions are not simply responses to human limitations or circumstances; indeed the requirements of justice can be articulated without recourse to views about human inclinations and vulnerabilities. Second, Kant argues for a distinctive moral principle, which restricts the legitimate use of force to the creation of a system of equal freedom. Ripstein’s description of the unity and philosophical plausibility of this dimension of Kant’s thought will be a revelation to political and legal scholars. In addition to providing a clear and coherent statement of the most misunderstood of Kant’s ideas, Ripstein also shows that Kant’s views remain conceptually powerful and morally appealing today. Ripstein defends the idea of equal freedom by examining several substantive areas of law—private rights, constitutional law, police powers, and punishment—and by demonstrating the compelling advantages of the Kantian framework over competing approaches.