POL101Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Limited Government, Territorial Authorities Of New Zealand
13 Dec 2013
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Lecture 2 (constant and the rise of liberalism) Benjamin constant swiss born french intellectual and politician (1767 1830) His context was the french revolution and its aftermath. Freedom from tyranny or freedom to pursue your life plan . Constant looked for a tangible reference to self government which was not very existent at this time. He looked to the liberty of the ancients: Government and legislation was participatory and direct. This process was public not private , however not everybody was a citizen. Participating in politics meant looking out for the overall well-being of the public and not for individual interests. Freedom meant freedom of the community self government. Freedom, according to the ancients, was a collective concept. Dependent upon a class of people who didn"t engage in commerce or even work, i. e. citizens. The big public decisions were decisions on war. The liberty of the moderns has to do with freedom from rather than freedom to (isaiah.
