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Single Idea 21049

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / d. Liberal freedom]

Full Idea

Liberal freedom developed as an antidote to political theories that consigned persons to destinies fixed by caste or class, station or rank, custom, tradition or inherited status.

Gist of Idea

Liberal freedom was a response to assigned destinies like caste and class

Source

Michael J. Sandel (Justice: What's the right thing to do? [2009], 09)

A Reaction

Virtually all human beings before modern times found that they had been 'assigned destinies'. The huge exception is war, especially civil war, which must be a huge liberation for many people, despite the danger.

Book Reference

Sandel,Michael J.: 'Justice: what's the right thing to do?' [Penguin 2010], p.221