Lecture 1

Concepts and conceptions

Concepts: universal, abstract idea that captures some 'essential meaning' of something.
- Universal: applies to all instances of a type.
- Abstract: no concrete particularities (time, place, context).
- Essential: core, unchanging feature of a thing that makes it what it is.
Conception: specific articulation or interpretation of a concept - almost like 'applied concepts'. Context, circumstance, intent is applied to a concept.

i.e. Justice (see Theory of Justice by John Rawls): all men have a conception of justice - however, many of these conceptions disagree with one another. Thus, the concept of justice is distinct from the various conceptions of justice.

Freedom

Is it universal (single timeless meaning)? Does it depend on context?
Is it positive ("freedom to")? Or negative ("freedom from")?
Individual, collectives, or both?
Is it a feeling? Quality? State of being? Measurable condition? Tied to accountability or independent of obligations to others?
Where does it come from? Innate right?
What is its opposition?
Why does it matter?
Is it fundamentally good?

We have numerous conceptions of freedom: Stoicism's 'freedom of the mind', Christianity's freedom from sin and death, Hobbesian social contract (naturally free but surrenders some freedom to government for self-preservation). Lockean liberalism (life, liberty, property), Kantian autonomy (self-legislation).

Re: Orlando Patterson and his Freedom

Jamaican-American sociologist whose scholarship focuses on slavery and race in the Americas.
Published Slavery and Social Death in 1982 (slaves are a 'type of death' (social death)).
1991 - published "Freedom: Volume I: Freedom In The Making Of Western Culture".
- Examines freedom in opposition to slavery, argues that slavery is crucial in generating the valuation of freedom as an ideal uniquely in Western civilization.
- Q: Freedom exists as a dichotomy with slavery? I.e. slavery conceptualizes freedom?

Has four questions in the intro:

How and why was freedom initially constructed as a social value?
How and why did it emerge as the premiere and supreme value distinct from any other potentially equally important values?
Why did this rise to culturally supremacy happen only in the Western world, and why for so many centuries remain confined to Western civilization?
Having achieved preeminence, what forces maintained its status as the core value of Western civilization?

Note: Patterson defines 'Western world' as Greece, Rome, western Europe.

Analyzes freedom as a sociologist and historian, seeking to understand how freedom was conceived of (and valued by) people in historical societies. Not a philosopher in this context - doesn't seek a 'true definition' of freedom.

Patterson's Conception of Freedom

Calls it a "chordal triad".

Personal freedom: autonomy to act as one pleases, free from undue restraint, conditioned by respect for others' rights.
Sovereignal freedom: power to act as one pleases, regardless of the wishes of others. (Associated with those who have power over other individuals).
Civic freedom: capacity of adult members of some community to participate within that community and make meaningful decisions regarding its operation.

Dr. Joseph Bringman: What Freedom Is

Somewhat self-deprecatingly, Dr. Bringman hence declares the below to be the definition of freedom:

Freedom: "the rational capacity of a being to direct itself toward its proper good through deliberate choice."

Rational capacity: freedom requires reason, distinguishing it from instinct or necessity.
Self-direction: active power of self-motivation, rooted in the will.
Proper good: aims at a certain end (e.g. flourishing - called eudaimonia by Aristotle).
Deliberate choice: freedom is an intentional decision.

Other "sub"-conceptions of freedom:

Volitional conception: "the rational capacity of the soul to direct itself toward the universal good through deliberate choice."

Proper good is the person's ultimate end, and the focus is internal - the will's power to choose among 'Goods' presented by the intellect.
Often called 'freedom of will' or 'free will'.

Social freedom: "the rational capacity of a person to direct themself toward the common good through deliberate choice within a community."

Proper good is the flourishing of society (i.e. justice, peace) and the conflict is external.
Presupplies free will, applies it to a life in human society.
Not just a legal status - the capacity of a person to participate in society.
"Slave" vs "free person".
This is a spectrum.

Political freedom / Moral freedom

Spiritual freedom: "the rational capacity of a person, perfected by divine grace, to direct themself toward union with God through deliberate choice."