Freedom has become a dogma. This value forms the basis of our civilization and of our political consciousness, but often we have forgotten its meaning and justification. Critically examining the conceptions of freedom of some of the leading contemporary philosophers from Isaiah Berlin to Charles Taylor, Hans Blokland explores the value and significance that freedom has acquired in our political consciousness.
On a theoretical level, Blokland shows that it is possible to have a reasonable discussion on the meaning of contested concepts such as freedom and autonomy. Crucially, he investigates how political communities could enlarge the capacity of their citizens to master their own lives, without unacceptable interference in their private realm. Because the ability to participate in culture is regarded as one of the important conditions for individual freedom, in this context particular attention is devoted to the legitimation, as well as the opportunities and bounds, of a cultural policy.
Freedom has become a dogma. This value forms the basis of our civilization and of our political consciousness, but often we have forgotten its meaning and justification. Critically examining the conceptions of freedom of some of the leading contemporary philosophers from Isaiah Berlin to Charles Taylor, Hans Blokland explores the value and significance that freedom has acquired in our political consciousness.
On a theoretical level, Blokland shows that it is possible to have a reasonable discussion on the meaning of contested concepts such as freedom and autonomy. Crucially, he investigates how political communities could enlarge the capacity of their citizens to master their own lives, without unacceptable interference in their private realm. Because the ability to participate in culture is regarded as one of the important conditions for individual freedom, in this context particular attention is devoted to the legitimation, as well as the opportunities and bounds, of a cultural policy.