The Illusion of Freedom and Equality

Richard Stivers

Description

Arguing that the ideology of freedom and equality today bears little resemblance to its eighteenth-century counterpart, Richard Stivers examines how these values have been radically transformed in a technological civilization. Once thought of as a kind of personal property and an aspect of the dignity of the individual, the context of freedom and equality today is technological before it is political and economic and is also now largely thought of in collective terms. Focusing on the work of Jacques Ellul and Max Weber, Stivers traces the development of freedom and equality in Enlightenment thought and American history and then proceeds to discuss their current ideologies, realities, and illusions.
Acknowledgements

1. Introduction

2. Free­dom and Equal­ity in Enlightenment Thought and American History

3 .Freedom and Equality as the Modern Ideology

4. The Reality of Freedom and Equality

5. The Illusion of Freedom and Equality

Notes
Index

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie politique
• Sociology

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 16 juillet 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791478035
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

T h e I l l u s i o n o f F r e e d o m a n d E q u a l i t y

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Th e I l l u s i o n o f F r e e d o m and E q ua l i t y

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R I C H A R D S T I V E R S

S tat e U n i v e r s i t y o f N e w Yo r k P r e s s

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2008 State University of New York

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Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data Stivers, Richard. The illusion of freedom and equality / Richard Stivers. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn978-0-7914-7511-9 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Liberty. 2. Equality. 3. Technological innovations—Social aspects—United States. I. Title. hm1266.s75 2008 323.44—dc22 2007041838

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To my wife Janet and our life together

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It is not truth that rules the world but illusions. Kierkegaard

The people will fancy an appearance of freedom; illusion will be their native land. Saint-Just

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C o n t e n t s

Ac k n o w l e d g m e n t s

C H A P T E R O N E Introduction 1

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C H A P T E R T WO Freedom and Equality in Enlightenment Thought and American History 12

C H A P T E R T H R E E Freedom and Equality as the Modern Ideology 29

C H A P T E R F O U R The Reality of Freedom and Equality 63

C H A P T E R F I V E The Illusion of Freedom and Equality 94

N o t e s

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