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Freedom, Coercion, and Ability

In: Power, Freedom, and Voting

Author

Listed:
  • Keith Dowding

    (Australian National University)

  • Martin Hees

    (University of Groningen)

Abstract

In his methodological comments about the study of ethics and politics, Aristotle famously remarked that one should not demand more precision from the study of a subject than that subject allows.1 He has sometimes been interpreted as suggesting that analytical rigour is not required here. Indeed it may well be true that at the end of analytical scrutiny, central topics in moral and political philosophy, such as freedom or power, may still leave room for interpretation because the superiority of one analysis over another may well be embedded in our intuitions. This fact, if it proves to be so, should not dissuade us from analytical rigour. In the last few decades philosophers, economists and mathematicians have fruitfully applied mathematical and formal analysis to the concepts of ‘power’ and ‘freedom’. From that analysis we have learned much.

Suggested Citation

  • Keith Dowding & Martin Hees, 2008. "Freedom, Coercion, and Ability," Springer Books, in: Matthew Braham & Frank Steffen (ed.), Power, Freedom, and Voting, chapter 16, pages 307-323, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-540-73382-9_16
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-73382-9_16
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    Cited by:

    1. Martin van Hees, 2013. "Rights, goals, and capabilities," Politics, Philosophy & Economics, , vol. 12(3), pages 247-259, August.
    2. Keith Dowding, 2011. "Republican freedom, rights, and the coalition problem," Politics, Philosophy & Economics, , vol. 10(3), pages 301-322, August.

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