Description
Tinder (emeritus, political science, U. of Massachussetts) offers an extended reflection on the concept of liberty and the proper concerns of a liberal society from the perspective of a "Socratic and Kantian Christian." His central concern is over the tension between negative liberty, the right to be left alone, versus positive liberty, the right to be free of "the inner entanglements and iniquities that make us miserable." He comes down decisively in favor of the former but directs effort towards allowing a very limited vision of positive liberty. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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Liberty is a dangerous concept. It's sure to be misused and, if left unchecked, will likely bring not social harmony and happiness but their opposites. Nonetheless, liberty is absolutely necessary: without it there can be no authentic community. People are not free to do the right thing unless they are free to do the wrong thing; if they can't be wrong, they can't be right.Thus does Glenn Tinder argue emphatically for "negative liberty" - the liberty that wants primarily to be left alone, with the authorities interfering as little as possible in the lives of people - and against "positive liberty" - a liberty that seeks to guide people into a "fulfilling" life.The substance of Tinder's book lies at the intersection of several major themes - communication, human fallenness, the necessity of liberty, standing alone, and eschatology - each considered in light of learning what liberty truly is and how it affects the world at large.
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