Western man's pursuit of liberty has been constant. Indeed, the concept of liberty is central to Western political thought and history. The following essays, which were the first of the Goodrich Lecture Series at Wabash College, examine the concept of liberty as it has been understood from antiquity through the twentieth century. Since they were delivered, some of the essays have been modified, but the original thrust of the lecture series has been preserved. It is fitting that these lectures focused on this concept which was so important to Mr. Pierre Goodrich, in whose honor this lecture series was created. Mr. Goodrich founded Liberty Fund Inc., a foundation given over to the programmatic and philosophic study of society made up of free and responsible individuals. The value of such studies reflects Mr. Goodrich's understanding of the difficult problems raised in advancing and defending human liberty.
These essays examine the meaning given to the concept of liberty in selected.
periods of Western history. They demonstrate that Western man, in the pursuit of liberty, has concerned himself in every historical epoch with this concept as he attempted to define, implement, and, most importantly, understand it. Free will, that quality which characterizes the uniqueness of human beings, is evidenced in their acts, behaviors, and choices. However, this fact does not mean that human behavior, thought, and choice have unchanging purpose or content since such free choices are within the power of the individual and are conditioned by the circumstances in which individuals operate. Consequently, historical examination of this concept provides an outline for the inquiry made regarding the nature of liberty "its definition, its implementation, and its value. Professor Rufus Fears's essay opens this unique collection by examining the concept of liberty in Republican Rome and its transformation from the period of the Republic to the Empire.
When people enter to New York they will see the gigantic Statue of Liberty. ... The represent of liberty is a woman, The Liberty represents freedom and opportunity for immigrants. ... (Liberty) but now the National Park Service takes care of the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty enchants to so many visitors. ... It is pinpointed on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. ...
Many citizens in the United States take liberty for granted; many citizens don't realize the significance of liberty. Every individual interprets liberty differently. ... No one should be deprived of that liberty. ... The most important definition of liberty is personal freedom. ... He also has the liberty to travel to wherever he decides. ...
Liberty is the freedom to do what you want, but there is a limit to almost all freedoms. To most people liberty is a necessity that they can not live without. ... Those are key examples where people where not granted there liberty. ... I believe if you take someone's life you should not be allowed liberty at all. ... Liberty is a very important factor in many peoples lives. ...
Liberty is a word that produces a strong feeling of hope and touches the inner soul of man. ... It is important to state that liberty is not free: it must be earned or won, and in order to be maintained, liberty must be effectively re-earned and re-won in the heart of each generation. ... Liberty is freedom from oppression. ... King George aimed to destroy American people's liberty. ... So is it worthy to pay such a high price for our liberty? ...
There are many different aspects to consider when determining if this kind of restriction of one's liberty is ever completely justified. ... I will attempt to show that this is not a legitimate reason for governmental interference with the right of human liberty. ... In placing these restrictions on personal liberty, the government is in fact undermining exactly what this country was founded on. ... People were given the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. ... A slave loses all his liberty and gives it to his master when the contract is signed. ...
J.S. Mill believes that one ruler would be the worst form of government. He also believes that democratic republic government would tyrannize the minority. However, does our government "tyrannize" the minority? Should the majority count more than the minority? A monarchy is viewed as evil becau...
Indians, civilization vs. wilderness or in the case of The Man who shot Liberty Valance, lawman vs. gunslinger; a typical civilization vs. lawlessness theme. John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, could very well be seen as a milestone in the Western genre. ... Even Liberty Valance knew he was no match for Doniphon. ... But this doesn't make the audience think any less of Ransom, even though he truly wasn't the Man who shot Liberty Valance. ... The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, truly was a milestone for the Western Genre. ...
In analyzing his perspective on the interplay of democracy and liberty, Tocqueville's use of what Max Weber ended up calling 'ideal-types' is an essential aspect to consider. ... Such a system tends to oppress the exercise of freedom of thought and to inhibit social involvement, compromising liberty in the process. ... Before being able to discuss why Tocqueville thinks the dominant authority of the majority is such a dangerous threat to democratic liberty and prior to highlighting what he deems as preventive measures and conditions that might ensure the preservation of libert...
