Liberty as Independence: The Making and Unmaking of a Political Ideal Hardcover

What Does Liberty Entail?

How have concepts of liberty changed over time? And what are the global consequences? This thought-provoking book surveys the history of rival views of liberty from antiquity to modern times.

A Journey Through the History of Liberty

• Tracing the classical ideal: Quentin Skinner explores the understanding of liberty as independence, beginning with its roots in the classical ideal.
• Early modern Britain: The narrative moves to early modern Britain, culminating in the claims of the Whig oligarchy, who asserted that they had transformed this idea into reality.
• Impact of the American Revolution: Skinner examines how the Whig vision of a free state and civil society was undermined by the American Revolution of 1776.

Rival Views and Their Dimensions

Skinner delves into how claims that liberty was fulfilled by an absence of physical or coercive restraint rose to prominence. He also introduces new dimensions to these rival views, including:

• Connections between debates on liberty and slavery: Highlighting how these discussions intersected and influenced one another.
• Feminist perspectives: Demonstrating how ideas of liberty were harnessed in feminist discussions, particularly surrounding the limitations on the liberty of women.

A Global and Timely Argument

The concept of liberty is inherently global. Skinner makes a compelling case for the reinstatement of the understanding of liberty as independence, offering a fresh perspective on this enduring political ideal.