Overview

It is commonly observed that behind many of the political and cultural issues that we face today there are impoverished conceptions of freedom, which, according to D. C. Schindler, we have inherited from the classical liberal tradition without a sufficient awareness of its implications. Freedom from Reality presents a critique of the deceptive and ultimately self-subverting character of the modern notion of freedom, retrieving an alternative view through a new interpretation of the ancient tradition. While many have critiqued the inadequacy of identifying freedom with arbitrary choice, this book seeks to penetrate to the metaphysical roots of the modern conception by going back, through an etymological study, to the original sense of freedom. Schindler begins by uncovering a contradiction in John Locke's seminal account of human freedom. Rather than dismissing it as a mere ""academic"" problem, Schindler takes this contradiction as a key to understanding the strange paradoxes that abound in the contemporary values and institutions founded on the modern notion of liberty: the very mechanisms that intend to protect modern freedom render it empty and ineffectual. In this respect, modern liberty is ""diabolical""-a word that means, at its roots, that which ""drives apart"" and so subverts. This is contrasted with the ""symbolical"" (a ""joining-together""), which, he suggests, most basically characterizes the premodern sense of reality. This book will appeal to students and scholars of political philosophy (especially political theorists), philosophers in the continental or historical traditions, and cultural critics with a philosophical bent.

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9780268102623

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Reviews

This book critiques modernity's prioritization of the concept of freedom over the good in philosophical thought. Schindler . . . argues that modernity delinks the good from freedom and substitutes the latter for the former. Paradoxically, this substitution leads to contradictions and even to fragmentation of society. As a solution, the author proposes a return to the classical conception of the good central to the thought of Plato and Aristotle. There, the good is symbolic--from the Greek sym-ball meaning 'to join together'--whereas the modern is diabolical, from the Greek dia-ball meaning 'to divide.' . . . the scholarship is superb. --Choice As a critique of deep currents of modern thought, Schindler's masterful study does just what it should: it brings us into a position to understand and assess divergences at the level of fundamental principles, and to recognize their consequences. Schindler is one of the best guides available to a revivified classical philosophy that restores the soul and reality to the communion they were made for. --Mark Shiffman, Villanova University D.C. Schindler is probably the best Catholic philosophical theologian of his generation in the Anglophone world. In short, this book is an account and diagnosis of the rise of a modern concept of 'liberty' . . . and of an alternative vision drawn from classical and Christian tradition. It makes a better and more controlled case than any other book I know of dealing with these issues, and opens new perspectives on Locke and whole heritage of modern moral and political history. --David Bentley Hart, Templeton Fellow, Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study Among the sacred cows of the modern age, a certain idea of individual freedom and political liberty has pride of place. D. C. Schindler unravels its genealogy in John Locke, exposes its self-defeating character, and pleads for a retrieval of a fuller conception, rooted in classical Greek philosophy. He thereby contributes to the healing of our intellectual, cultural, and social diseases. A daring and necessary enterprise. --R mi Brague, University of Paris-Sorbonne and Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich This is a brilliant, incredibly erudite, and rigorously argued book. D. C. Schindler's fundamental contribution is the working out of autonomy described as the flight from reality. Nobody has defended this account of the trajectory of modern liberalism more ably than he has. It is a huge and complete accomplishment by one of the most magnificent thinkers of our time. --Peter Lawler, Dana Professor in Government, Berry College Schindler's book is a brilliant tour de force of political and moral reasoning. A most timely and stringent analysis of modernity's confused and calamitous dissociation of freedom and the good, Schindler's book will be ranked with similarly intentioned, highly influential works by Polanyi, MacIntyre, and Gadamer. --Thomas Pfau, Alice Mary Baldwin Professor of English and professor of Germanic Languages & Literatures, Duke University Many decades ago, Scottish-born philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre published After Virtue, a spirited defense of traditional virtue-based ethics. It was an enormously important book and has had a major influence in the area of modern moral philosophy. Schindler's book is [of] similar significance. --News Weekly

This book critiques modernity's prioritization of the concept of freedom over the good in philosophical thought. Schindler . . . argues that modernity delinks the good from freedom and substitutes the latter for the former. Paradoxically, this substitution leads to contradictions and even to fragmentation of society. As a solution, the author proposes a return to the classical conception of the good central to the thought of Plato and Aristotle. There, the good is symbolic--from the Greek sym-ballo meaning 'to join together'--whereas the modern is diabolical, from the Greek dia-ballo meaning 'to divide.' . . . the scholarship is superb. --Choice As a critique of deep currents of modern thought, Schindler's masterful study does just what it should: it brings us into a position to understand and assess divergences at the level of fundamental principles, and to recognize their consequences. Schindler is one of the best guides available to a revivified classical philosophy that restores the soul and reality to the communion they were made for. --Mark Shiffman, Villanova University Schindler's book is a brilliant tour de force of political and moral reasoning. A most timely and stringent analysis of modernity's confused and calamitous dissociation of freedom and the good, Schindler's book will be ranked with similarly intentioned, highly influential works by Polanyi, MacIntyre, and Gadamer. --Thomas Pfau, Alice Mary Baldwin Professor of English and professor of Germanic Languages & Literatures, Duke University Among the sacred cows of the modern age, a certain idea of individual freedom and political liberty has pride of place. D. C. Schindler unravels its genealogy in John Locke, exposes its self-defeating character, and pleads for a retrieval of a fuller conception, rooted in classical Greek philosophy. He thereby contributes to the healing of our intellectual, cultural, and social diseases. A daring and necessary enterprise. --Remi Brague, University of Paris-Sorbonne and Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich This is a brilliant, incredibly erudite, and rigorously argued book. D. C. Schindler's fundamental contribution is the working out of autonomy described as the flight from reality. Nobody has defended this account of the trajectory of modern liberalism more ably than he has. It is a huge and complete accomplishment by one of the most magnificent thinkers of our time. --Peter Lawler, Dana Professor in Government, Berry College D.C. Schindler is probably the best Catholic philosophical theologian of his generation in the Anglophone world. In short, this book is an account and diagnosis of the rise of a modern concept of 'liberty' . . . and of an alternative vision drawn from classical and Christian tradition. It makes a better and more controlled case than any other book I know of dealing with these issues, and opens new perspectives on Locke and whole heritage of modern moral and political history. --David Bentley Hart, Templeton Fellow, Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study Truth be told, David C. Schindler has made a signal contribution to our understanding of Locke. --Law & Liberty This book will appeal to students and scholars of political philosophy (especially political theorists), philosophers in the continental or historical traditions, and cultural critics with a philosophical bent. --Law and Religion Forum Many decades ago, Scottish-born philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre published After Virtue, a spirited defense of traditional virtue-based ethics. It was an enormously important book and has had a major influence in the area of modern moral philosophy. Schindler's book is [of] similar significance. --News Weekly

This book critiques modernity's prioritization of the concept of freedom over the good in philosophical thought. Schindler . . . argues that modernity delinks the good from freedom and substitutes the latter for the former. Paradoxically, this substitution leads to contradictions and even to fragmentation of society. As a solution, the author proposes a return to the classical conception of the good central to the thought of Plato and Aristotle. There, the good is symbolic--from the Greek sym-ball meaning 'to join together'--whereas the modern is diabolical, from the Greek dia-ball meaning 'to divide.' . . . the scholarship is superb. --Choice This is a brilliant, incredibly erudite, and rigorously argued book. D. C. Schindler's fundamental contribution is the working out of autonomy described as the flight from reality. Nobody has defended this account of the trajectory of modern liberalism more ably than he has. It is a huge and complete accomplishment by one of the most magnificent thinkers of our time. --Peter Lawler, Dana Professor in Government, Berry College Among the sacred cows of the modern age, a certain idea of individual freedom and political liberty has pride of place. D. C. Schindler unravels its genealogy in John Locke, exposes its self-defeating character, and pleads for a retrieval of a fuller conception, rooted in classical Greek philosophy. He thereby contributes to the healing of our intellectual, cultural, and social diseases. A daring and necessary enterprise. --R mi Brague, University of Paris-Sorbonne and Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich As a critique of deep currents of modern thought, Schindler's masterful study does just what it should: it brings us into a position to understand and assess divergences at the level of fundamental principles, and to recognize their consequences. Schindler is one of the best guides available to a revivified classical philosophy that restores the soul and reality to the communion they were made for. --Mark Shiffman, Villanova University Schindler's book is a brilliant tour de force of political and moral reasoning. A most timely and stringent analysis of modernity's confused and calamitous dissociation of freedom and the good, Schindler's book will be ranked with similarly intentioned, highly influential works by Polanyi, MacIntyre, and Gadamer. --Thomas Pfau, Alice Mary Baldwin Professor of English and professor of Germanic Languages & Literatures, Duke University D.C. Schindler is probably the best Catholic philosophical theologian of his generation in the Anglophone world. In short, this book is an account and diagnosis of the rise of a modern concept of 'liberty' . . . and of an alternative vision drawn from classical and Christian tradition. It makes a better and more controlled case than any other book I know of dealing with these issues, and opens new perspectives on Locke and whole heritage of modern moral and political history. --David Bentley Hart, Templeton Fellow, Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study Many decades ago, Scottish-born philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre published After Virtue, a spirited defense of traditional virtue-based ethics. It was an enormously important book and has had a major influence in the area of modern moral philosophy. Schindler's book is [of] similar significance. --News Weekly

This book critiques modernity's prioritization of the concept of freedom over the good in philosophical thought. Schindler . . . argues that modernity delinks the good from freedom and substitutes the latter for the former. Paradoxically, this substitution leads to contradictions and even to fragmentation of society. As a solution, the author proposes a return to the classical conception of the good central to the thought of Plato and Aristotle. There, the good is symbolic--from the Greek sym-ball meaning 'to join together'--whereas the modern is diabolical, from the Greek dia-ball meaning 'to divide.' . . . the scholarship is superb. --Choice Among the sacred cows of the modern age, a certain idea of individual freedom and political liberty has pride of place. D. C. Schindler unravels its genealogy in John Locke, exposes its self-defeating character, and pleads for a retrieval of a fuller conception, rooted in classical Greek philosophy. He thereby contributes to the healing of our intellectual, cultural, and social diseases. A daring and necessary enterprise. --R mi Brague, University of Paris-Sorbonne and Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich As a critique of deep currents of modern thought, Schindler's masterful study does just what it should: it brings us into a position to understand and assess divergences at the level of fundamental principles, and to recognize their consequences. Schindler is one of the best guides available to a revivified classical philosophy that restores the soul and reality to the communion they were made for. --Mark Shiffman, Villanova University This is a brilliant, incredibly erudite, and rigorously argued book. D. C. Schindler's fundamental contribution is the working out of autonomy described as the flight from reality. Nobody has defended this account of the trajectory of modern liberalism more ably than he has. It is a huge and complete accomplishment by one of the most magnificent thinkers of our time. --Peter Lawler, Dana Professor in Government, Berry College Schindler's book is a brilliant tour de force of political and moral reasoning. A most timely and stringent analysis of modernity's confused and calamitous dissociation of freedom and the good, Schindler's book will be ranked with similarly intentioned, highly influential works by Polanyi, MacIntyre, and Gadamer. --Thomas Pfau, Alice Mary Baldwin Professor of English and professor of Germanic Languages & Literatures, Duke University D.C. Schindler is probably the best Catholic philosophical theologian of his generation in the Anglophone world. In short, this book is an account and diagnosis of the rise of a modern concept of 'liberty' . . . and of an alternative vision drawn from classical and Christian tradition. It makes a better and more controlled case than any other book I know of dealing with these issues, and opens new perspectives on Locke and whole heritage of modern moral and political history. --David Bentley Hart, Templeton Fellow, Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study Truth be told, David C. Schindler has made a signal contribution to our understanding of Locke. --Law & Liberty This book will appeal to students and scholars of political philosophy (especially political theorists), philosophers in the continental or historical traditions, and cultural critics with a philosophical bent. --Law and Religion Forum Many decades ago, Scottish-born philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre published After Virtue, a spirited defense of traditional virtue-based ethics. It was an enormously important book and has had a major influence in the area of modern moral philosophy. Schindler's book is [of] similar significance. --News Weekly

This book critiques modernity's prioritization of the concept of freedom over the good in philosophical thought. Schindler . . . argues that modernity delinks the good from freedom and substitutes the latter for the former. Paradoxically, this substitution leads to contradictions and even to fragmentation of society. As a solution, the author proposes a return to the classical conception of the good central to the thought of Plato and Aristotle. There, the good is symbolic--from the Greek sym-ball meaning 'to join together'--whereas the modern is diabolical, from the Greek dia-ball meaning 'to divide.' . . . the scholarship is superb. --Choice

This book critiques modernity's prioritization of the concept of freedom over the good in philosophical thought. Schindler . . . argues that modernity delinks the good from freedom and substitutes the latter for the former. Paradoxically, this substitution leads to contradictions and even to fragmentation of society. As a solution, the author proposes a return to the classical conception of the good central to the thought of Plato and Aristotle. There, the good is symbolic--from the Greek sym-ball meaning 'to join together'--whereas the modern is diabolical, from the Greek dia-ball meaning 'to divide.' . . . the scholarship is superb. --Choice Among the sacred cows of the modern age, a certain idea of individual freedom and political liberty has pride of place. D. C. Schindler unravels its genealogy in John Locke, exposes its self-defeating character, and pleads for a retrieval of a fuller conception, rooted in classical Greek philosophy. He thereby contributes to the healing of our intellectual, cultural, and social diseases. A daring and necessary enterprise. --R mi Brague, University of Paris-Sorbonne and Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich As a critique of deep currents of modern thought, Schindler's masterful study does just what it should: it brings us into a position to understand and assess divergences at the level of fundamental principles, and to recognize their consequences. Schindler is one of the best guides available to a revivified classical philosophy that restores the soul and reality to the communion they were made for. --Mark Shiffman, Villanova University This is a brilliant, incredibly erudite, and rigorously argued book. D. C. Schindler's fundamental contribution is the working out of autonomy described as the flight from reality. Nobody has defended this account of the trajectory of modern liberalism more ably than he has. It is a huge and complete accomplishment by one of the most magnificent thinkers of our time. --Peter Lawler, Dana Professor in Government, Berry College Schindler's book is a brilliant tour de force of political and moral reasoning. A most timely and stringent analysis of modernity's confused and calamitous dissociation of freedom and the good, Schindler's book will be ranked with similarly intentioned, highly influential works by Polanyi, MacIntyre, and Gadamer. --Thomas Pfau, Alice Mary Baldwin Professor of English and professor of Germanic Languages & Literatures, Duke University D.C. Schindler is probably the best Catholic philosophical theologian of his generation in the Anglophone world. In short, this book is an account and diagnosis of the rise of a modern concept of 'liberty' . . . and of an alternative vision drawn from classical and Christian tradition. It makes a better and more controlled case than any other book I know of dealing with these issues, and opens new perspectives on Locke and whole heritage of modern moral and political history. --David Bentley Hart, Templeton Fellow, Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study Many decades ago, Scottish-born philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre published After Virtue, a spirited defense of traditional virtue-based ethics. It was an enormously important book and has had a major influence in the area of modern moral philosophy. Schindler's book is [of] similar significance. --News Weekly

Author Information

D. C. Schindler is professor of metaphysics and anthropology at the John Paul II Institute, Washington, DC. He is the author of a number of books, including The Catholicity of Reason.

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