A Philosophy of Freedom
Lars SvendsenTaking a broad approach across metaphysics, politics and ethics, A Philosophy of Freedom questions how we can successfully create meaningful lives for ourselves and others when we are estranged from the very concept of what it means to be free. By tackling such issues as the nature of free agency and the possibility of freedom in a universe governed by natural laws, the book concludes that the real definition of personal freedom is first and foremost the liberty to devote yourself to what truly matters to you.
Drawing on the fascinating debates surrounding the possibility of freedom and its limits within society, A Philosophy of Freedom provides an engaging overview of modern philosophical thought on the topic; an accessible and insightful study for academics and general readers alike.
Freedom of speech, religion, choice, will – humans have fought, and continue to fight, for all of these. But what is human freedom, and what are the main threats to it today? These questions and more are discussed in this comprehensive investigation of the nature of freedom in contemporary society.
Our behaviours, thoughts and actions are governed by a variety of restrictions, deadlines and burdens. Taking a broad approach across metaphysics, politics and ethics, A Philosophy of Freedom questions how we can successfully create meaningful lives for ourselves and others when we are estranged from the very concept of what it means to be free. By tackling such issues as the nature of free agency and the possibility of freedom in a universe governed by natural laws, Svendsen concludes that the real definition of personal freedom is first and foremost the liberty to devote yourself to what truly matters to you.
Drawing on the fascinating debates surrounding the possibility of freedom and its limits within society, A Philosophy of Freedom provides an engaging, accessible and insightful overview of modern philosophical thought on what it is to be free.
Taking a broad approach across metaphysics, politics and ethics, A Philosophy of Freedom questions how we can successfully create meaningful lives for ourselves and others when we are estranged from the very concept of what it means to be free. By tackling such issues as the nature of free agency and the possibility of freedom in a universe governed by natural laws, the book concludes that the real definition of personal freedom is first and foremost the liberty to devote yourself to what truly matters to you.
Drawing on the fascinating debates surrounding the possibility of freedom and its limits within society, A Philosophy of Freedom provides an engaging overview of modern philosophical thought on the topic; an accessible and insightful study for academics and general readers alike.
Freedom of speech, religion, choice, will – humans have fought, and continue to fight, for all of these. But what is human freedom, and what are the main threats to it today? These questions and more are discussed in this comprehensive investigation of the nature of freedom in contemporary society.
Our behaviours, thoughts and actions are governed by a variety of restrictions, deadlines and burdens. Taking a broad approach across metaphysics, politics and ethics, A Philosophy of Freedom questions how we can successfully create meaningful lives for ourselves and others when we are estranged from the very concept of what it means to be free. By tackling such issues as the nature of free agency and the possibility of freedom in a universe governed by natural laws, Svendsen concludes that the real definition of personal freedom is first and foremost the liberty to devote yourself to what truly matters to you.
Drawing on the fascinating debates surrounding the possibility of freedom and its limits within society, A Philosophy of Freedom provides an engaging, accessible and insightful overview of modern philosophical thought on what it is to be free.
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Praise for A Philosophy of Fear: An enjoyable, well-written and compelling tour of philosophical treatments of fear . . . Scholarly yet accessible, this book offers subtle philosophical exploration alongside examples from novels, films and other popular media, while avoiding preachiness or doom-mongering.
'Times Higher Education
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Svendsens thoughtful and well written book analyzes the nature of fear and how it has saturated every layer of our life-world.
'Metapsychology
Foreword
Introduction
Part 1: The Ontology of Freedom
1. To Act Voluntarily
2. Freedom and Determinism
3. Reactive and Objective Attitudes
4. Autonomy
Part 2: The Politics of Freedom
5. The Liberal Democracy
6. Positive and Negative Freedom
7. A Republican Concept of Freedom
8. Freedom and Equality
9. Liberal Rights
10. Paternalism
11. Informational Privacy
12. Freedom of Expressions
Part 3: The Ethics of Freedom
13. Realizing Freedom
Afterword
References
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Lars Svendsen is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Bergen, Norway. He has written 14 books, including A Philosophy of Fear (2008), A Philosophy of Loneliness (2017) and A Philosophy of Lying (2022), all published by Reaktion Books.
