Roberto Mangabeira Unger on Deep Freedom

Philosophy Bites

Nigel Warburton

Education, Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.6 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 4 March 2014

⏱️ 17 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Roberto Unger argues that contemporary political progressives have abandoned what 19th century liberals knew: that some ways of living are better than others. In this conversation with Nigel Warburton he argues that we need a different concept of freedom, one that will allow humans to thrive.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Philosophy Bites with me Nigel Warburton and me David Edmonds.
0:07.0	If you enjoy Philosophy Bites please support us.
0:10.0	We are currently unfunded and all donations would be gratefully received.
0:14.0	For details go to W.W. philosophy bites.com.
0:19.0	Not many contemporary philosophers have reached high political office, but the distinguished Harvard academic Roberto Unger
0:25.7	has served as a minister in his native Brazil. Unger's writings sharply divide opinion.
0:31.6	Supporters and disciples venerate him as a visionary.
0:34.7	Unger believes that the world is made and imagined by man and it can be reimagined.
0:39.7	Linked to this notion is his concept of deep freedom.
0:43.6	Roberto Unger, welcome to Philosophy Bites.
0:46.0	Thank you very much for this opportunity.
0:48.0	The topic we're going to focus on is deep freedom.
0:52.0	What is deep freedom? In the present ideological debate, the right
0:57.0	appear to be those who give priority to freedom and the left those who give priority to equality.
1:04.8	However, both the existing right and the existing left
1:09.4	except the present institutional arrangements of the market economy and of democratic politics.
1:17.0	Therefore, what is now in contest is shallow freedom against shallow equality.
1:24.2	Take the Anglo-American theories of justice,
1:27.0	like John Rawls's theory.
1:28.8	There is an egalitarian commitment,
1:31.7	combined,
1:32.6	with a thoroughgoing institutional conservatism
	...

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