Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review“Höffe presents a sophisticated defense of the role of the idea of freedom, assessing it in a number of dimensions: natural, economic-social, artistic and scientific, political, and personal-metaphysical. This enormously helpful book exhibits a masterful, well-organized, up-to-date knowledge of the whole tradition of Western philosophy, as well as a wealth of insights on many kinds of contemporary phenomena. In addition to being an expert on Aristotle and Kant, Höffe offers his expertise in social, legal, and ethical philosophy. This is essential reading for political scientists and social theorists, as well as philosophers.” -- Karl Ameriks, University of Notre Dame
“Höffe’s comprehensive review of the modern ethical, legal, and political order offers a new emphasis on propositions more often foolishly denied than ignored: Freedom is real, and important; modernity, the fullest realization of freedom achieved by humanity so far, is still very far from reaching its goal, but it is also far from being a total failure; and attempts either to deny the reality and value of freedom or to replace modernity with something else are not only shallow and misconceived but even pernicious and nihilistic. The lessons of this book should be taken to heart by all of us.” -- Allen W. Wood, Indiana University
Table of ContentsPreface
1. Putting Freedom and Modernity to the Test
Part I: Freedom from Natural Constraints
2. External Cultivation: Technology
3. Medicine
4. Inner Cultivation: Education to Freedom
Part II: Freedom in Economy and Society
5. Enlightened Liberalism
6. Free Market: Vision or Illusion?
7. Justice in the Name of Freedom
8. Free Society
Part III: Science and Art
9. Knowledge and Freedom
10. Freedom and Creativity: Art
Part IV: Political Freedom
11. Constitutional Democracy
12. Liberties
13. Minimal Citizen, State Citizen, World Citizen
14. Sovereignty in an Age of Globalization
15. A Liberal Global Order
Part V: Personal Freedom
16. A New Conflict of the Faculties
17. Personal Autonomy
18. On the Price of Freedom
19. Retrospection: Freedom and Modernity
Notes
Index
