A paradox of freedom and the old rivalry between philosophy and politics.
Item
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Title
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A paradox of freedom and the old rivalry between philosophy and politics.
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Identifier
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AAI3187417
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identifier
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3187417
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Creator
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Bouritsas, Leonidas N.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Nickolas Pappas
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Date
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2005
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Philosophy | Political Science, General
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Abstract
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The dissertation considers the apparent tension in the realization that a remarkable amount of intellectual freedom is possible under authoritarian regimes, while political freedom may sometimes represent a grave threat to intellectual freedom. The central contention is that the apparent tension in this paradox of freedom should not be a cause of philosophical concern. When basic assumptions of the Enlightenment are challenged---notably, the optimism about linear historical progress and the unqualified faith in human equality---the tendency to see a paradox disappears.;Specifically, a belief in human progress leads to the expectation of a perfect harmony between intellectual and political freedom; while a view that political equality implies intellectual equality leads to the expectation of a unity between political and intellectual freedom. Greek political philosophers of the fifth century BC avoided these assumptions of the Enlightenment and thus were free of any such tension. I propose turning to those Greeks for alternative sources of inspiration about freedom and equality.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
