Sir Isaiah Berlin,
All-Souls College, Oxford (The Warden and College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford ) 1438
I. Life II. Value pluralism and relativism III. Two concepts of liberty – Circumstances – Positive Liberty Act unobstructedly If prevented from doing what I would otherwise do, I am not free » Liberty is the same for everyone » Involves the notion that some sphere of human society must be kept independent of social control » This is liberty FROM (ie absence of interference from what is beyond the spehre) Compare to JS Mill ON LIBERTY (for whom progress depends on liberty)
Positive Liberty – Wish to be one’s own master – Liberty TO – Dominant Self Retreat to the Inner Citadel: problem for neg. liberty(?) – What if I have desires but cannot pursue them?
The question of self realization – Does freedom come from the use of critical reason Political danger of relying on reason The temple of Sarastro – Do problems admit of a solution? What kind(s)? Search for Status Liberty and Sovereignty – Tyranny
One and the Many – No Harmony of Values – Pluralism revisited What do we say about other values – the “bad” ones?