Nomos IV: Liberty

Abstract

The article explores the evolution of Western political freedom from the Renaissance and Reformation to the present day. The author argues that freedom is not a static concept but evolves through distinct historical stages. Each stage is characterized by a different understanding of freedom, authority, and order. The Renaissance and Reformation marked a transition from a system of multiple authorities to a single, centralized authority. The Enlightenment period, marked by the rise of absolutism, saw the emergence of a more generalized concept of freedom, with the state playing a dominant role. The revolutionary period, beginning in the mid-eighteenth century, witnessed the transition from freedom as a subordinate to a dominant value. The twentieth century, characterized by the rise of democracy and the clash between individual and collective freedoms, saw the demise of a unified conception of freedom. The author concludes that in the contemporary era, freedom is a dimension of human thought and action, with its character and extent dependent on the particular processes in which it is engaged. – AI-generated abstract