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Beyond liberal Utopia: Freedom as the problem of modernity

Publication ,  Journal Article
Pfau, T
Published in: European Romantic Review
April 1, 2008

This essay critiques the concept of the punctual or autonomous self that served as the foundation of classical liberalism and its moral philosophy, beginning in the work of A. Smith, T. Paine, and I. Kant. Grounded in the language of rights, personal liberty, and rational self-possession, the modern individual is paradoxically characterized as a unique agent and as formally equivalent to all other such beings. Furthermore, its political and epistemological claims rest on unexamined assumptions about freedom that would be severely challenged by the pessimistic turn of much nineteenth-century literary and philosophical narrative.

Duke Scholars

Published In

European Romantic Review

DOI

EISSN

1740-4657

ISSN

1050-9585

Publication Date

April 1, 2008

Volume

19

Issue

2

Start / End Page

83 / 103

Related Subject Headings

  • Literary Studies
  • 2005 Literary Studies
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Pfau, T. (2008). Beyond liberal Utopia: Freedom as the problem of modernity. European Romantic Review, 19(2), 83–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/10509580802030243
Pfau, T. “Beyond liberal Utopia: Freedom as the problem of modernity.” European Romantic Review 19, no. 2 (April 1, 2008): 83–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/10509580802030243.
Pfau T. Beyond liberal Utopia: Freedom as the problem of modernity. European Romantic Review. 2008 Apr 1;19(2):83–103.
Pfau, T. “Beyond liberal Utopia: Freedom as the problem of modernity.” European Romantic Review, vol. 19, no. 2, Apr. 2008, pp. 83–103. Scopus, doi:10.1080/10509580802030243.
Pfau T. Beyond liberal Utopia: Freedom as the problem of modernity. European Romantic Review. 2008 Apr 1;19(2):83–103.

Published In

European Romantic Review

DOI

EISSN

1740-4657

ISSN

1050-9585

Publication Date

April 1, 2008

Volume

19

Issue

2

Start / End Page

83 / 103

Related Subject Headings

  • Literary Studies
  • 2005 Literary Studies