Eric Schliesser - Do Liberals Focus Too Much On Freedom From Restrictions?

Alex speaks with Eric Schliesser about the "freedom to" vs. "freedom from" debate in political theory, using Serene Khader’s book Faux Feminism as a central reference. They explore the historical distinction between negative and positive liberty, the role of hierarchy in structuring freedom, and how liberalism’s focus on removing restrictions can sometimes reinforce existing power structures. The discussion touches on feminist theory, liberal political thought, and broader critiques of market-based individualism.

References

1. Faux Feminism: Why We Fall for White Feminism and How We Can Stop by Serene Khader https://a.co/d/fFRt6op

2. Liberal Legislation and Freedom of Contract by T.H. Green https://history.hanover.edu/texts/green.html

3. Two Concepts of Liberty by Isaiah Berlin https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/liberty-positive-negative/

4. The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith https://a.co/d/6YWK7bA

5. The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt https://www.amazon.ca/Origins-Totalitarianism-Hannah-Arendt/dp/0156701537

6. Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Freedom-Milton-Friedman/dp/022673479X

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