more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
The highest task which nature has set mankind is to establish a society in which freedom under external laws would be combined to the greatest possible extent with irresistible force, in other words of establishing a perfectly just constitution.
Gist of Idea
Our aim is a constitution which combines maximum freedom with strong restraint
Source
Immanuel Kant (Idea for a Universal History [1784], 5th)
Book Ref
Kant,Immanuel: 'Political Writings', ed/tr. Reiss,Hans [CUP 1996], p.45
A Reaction
The 'force' is to restrict the harms that may result from individual freedom. This seems to equate justice with liberal freedom. Force can prevent direct harm to others, but what to do about indirect harm? Many lack freedom, but whose fault is it?
| 5575 | An obvious idea is a constitution based on maximum mutual freedom for citizens [Kant] |
| 21080 | Actions are right if the maxim respects universal mutual freedoms [Kant] |
| 21055 | Our aim is a constitution which combines maximum freedom with strong restraint [Kant] |
| 21056 | The vitality of business needs maximum freedom (while avoiding harm to others) [Kant] |
| 22797 | In modern states an individual's actions should be their choice [Hegel] |
| 7217 | The main argument for freedom is that interference with it is usually misguided [Mill] |
| 18662 | Liberal freedom is the right to be separate, and ignores the union of man with man [Marx] |
| 23051 | Equality also implies liberty, because equality must be of opportunity as well as possessions [Green,TH] |
| 23869 | In the least evil societies people can think, control community life, and be autonomous [Weil] |
| 18632 | Liberalism tends to give priority to basic liberties [Kymlicka] |
| 23084 | Are egalitarians too coercive, or not egalitarian enough, or lax over morality? [Kekes] |
| 21049 | Liberal freedom was a response to assigned destinies like caste and class [Sandel] |
| 22596 | No government, or the whole nation, can control an individual beyond legitimate scope [Dunt] |