Liberalitas for Modernity: From Revolution to Rawls
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USyd Access
Type
ThesisThesis type
Masters by ResearchAuthor/s
Williams, Lucy AlexandraAbstract
In antiquity, to be liberal meant to be free and generous. It was considered good for the individual and good for society. When this ancient ethic was turned into a political ideal, it was deployed as a doctrine to mitigate the excesses of the Revolution, and later, the consequences ...
See moreIn antiquity, to be liberal meant to be free and generous. It was considered good for the individual and good for society. When this ancient ethic was turned into a political ideal, it was deployed as a doctrine to mitigate the excesses of the Revolution, and later, the consequences of democracy. In the early 19th century, to be liberal meant to believe in a balanced union of rights and duties, to seek both the extension of liberty and the cultivation of liberality. In the course of its two hundred years, the liberal project has struggled to maintain this balance. John Rawls’s A Theory of Justice, however, articulates liberalitas for our times, offering a vision of statecraft and soulcraft for a people who are free and equal.
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See moreIn antiquity, to be liberal meant to be free and generous. It was considered good for the individual and good for society. When this ancient ethic was turned into a political ideal, it was deployed as a doctrine to mitigate the excesses of the Revolution, and later, the consequences of democracy. In the early 19th century, to be liberal meant to believe in a balanced union of rights and duties, to seek both the extension of liberty and the cultivation of liberality. In the course of its two hundred years, the liberal project has struggled to maintain this balance. John Rawls’s A Theory of Justice, however, articulates liberalitas for our times, offering a vision of statecraft and soulcraft for a people who are free and equal.
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Date
2024Rights statement
The author retains copyright of this thesis. It may only be used for the purposes of research and study. It must not be used for any other purposes and may not be transmitted or shared with others without prior permission.Faculty/School
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, School of Social and Political SciencesDepartment, Discipline or Centre
Discipline of Government and International RelationsAwarding institution
The University of SydneyShare