The Cosmology of Freedom

Description

This remarkably fresh and creative treatment of the concept of freedom integrates many of the basic notions of personal and social freedom in one cosmological scheme. Although the principle of integration is in the tradition of Whitehead and Dewey, Robert Neville’s cosmology, unlike Whitehead’s system, focuses on events of human scale, and, unlike Dewey’s philosophy, emphasizes the importance of conflict in a pluralistic society. Mr. Neville is determined to keep the development of his theories in the broadest possible philosophical framework. Before introducing his cosmological scheme, he places the problem of freedom in its historical setting. The general theory of value he develops is then applied to actual ethical problems. Neville first considers personal freedoms: the freedom to respond to the opportunities in the sociophysical environment; the freedom to act intentionally; and freedom of choice. Freedom as creativity and the problem of innovative deliberation are taken up at the end of this provocative section. The author then focuses on freedom to participate in society. Here he discusses the necessary conditions for full participation in society, placing great emphasis on pluralism as a prerequisite for social freedom. Privacy and its importance receive special attention in connection with the style of experience appropriate for a pluralistic society. The book ends with a statement of the political necessities for a participatory democracy in which the principles of government and decision-making are elucidated. The Cosmology of Freedom Contents Preface Part 1: Freedom and Cosmology 1. Freedom as an Intellectual Problem The Task The Hypothesis Abstractions Freedom and Theory 2. The Cosmological Scheme Metaphysical Categories Cosmological Categories Individuals 3. A General Theory of Value The Dialectical Question of Value Participation Aristotelian Criticism and the Paradoxes of Participation Experiential Evidence Part 2: Personal Freedom Preliminary Remarks 4. External Liberties Internal and External Prehension Discursive Individuals Organisms and Persons External Liberties 5. Intentional Action Freedom and Free Will Causation Will Intentionality 6. Free Choice Determinism and Alternatives for Choice Possibilities and Potentialities Responsibility Determinism and Conditions of Choice Decision Reasons 7. Freedom in Creativity The Discernment of Values Normative Invention Creativity and Personal Freedom Part 3: Social Freedom Preliminary Remarks 8. Freedom of Opportunity Social Values Values, Rights, and Freedoms Freedom to Participate in Culture Freedom to Participate in Organized Society Freedom of Historical Action 9. Freedom of Social Pluralism The Public and the Private Dewey's Public and McLuhan’s Media The Environment—Creativity Thesis The Right to Privacy Social Pluralism 10. Freedom of Integral Social Life Social Conditions Social Meaning Social Change, Revolution, and New Sensibilities A Pluralistic Style of Integral Social Life 11. Freedom of Political Life The Principle of Participatory Democracy Power, Conflict, and Social Change Wisdom, Authority, and Expertise Institutions and Government The Limits of Freedom Bibliographical Essay Index