A theory of freedom - Philip Pettit

This innovative approach to freedom starts from an account of whatwe mean by describing someone, in a psychological vein, as a freesubject. Pettit develops an argument as to what it is that makessomeone free in that basic sense; and then goes on to derive theimplications of the approach for issues of freedom in politicaltheory. Freedom in the subject is equated with the person's beingfit to be held responsible and to be authorized as a partner ininteraction.

This book is unique among contemporary approaches - although itis true to the spirit of classical writers like Hobbes and Kant -in seeking a theory that applies to psychological issues of freeagency and free will as well as to political issues in the theoryof the free state and the free constitution. The driving thesis isthat it is only by connecting up the different issues of freedom,psychological and political, that we can fully appreciate thenature of the questions involved, and the requirements for theirresolution. The book does not not seek a comprehensive reach justfor its own sake, but rather for the sake of the illumination itprovides.

A Theory of Freedom is a ground-breaking volume whichwill be of wide interest to scholars and students in politicalphilosophy and political science.