The Very Nature Of Freedom
In my local area exists a wonderful little library (I say little in comparison to other libraries I have had the pleasure of visiting in Boston, NYC, SF and Chicago) that has a wide variety of audio-visual assets, including DVDs, CD, audio books in cassette and CD formats, slideshows, as well as a pretty impressive array of computers that offer screening for children and unscreened use for adults and a book selection that covers a considerable array of interests.
Luckily, I was able to borrow an audio book written by George Lakoff entitles Whose Freedom? The Battle Over America's Most Important Idea (2006) [ISBN 10: 1-57270-555-8 or 13: 978-1-57270-555-5] and retail priced at US$29.95. The audio format I borrowed comes in 7 CDs.
George Lakoff is a Professor of Cognitive Science and Linguistics at University of California-Berkeley and a founding senior fellow of the Rockridge Institute with a history of teaching at Harvard University and the University of Michigan.
Lakoff approaches the concept of freedom from the contested frames, themes and linguistic understanding--using cognitive and behavioral science to examine how these frames, themes, and concepts are understood. In the process, Lakoff offers a comparison of the defining process of freedom, democracy and liberty offered by the conservatives and progressives in our society. In the process, he makes the case for using logical examination of our concepts, cultural frames and the social, moral and legal definitions of freedom. He examines the arguments made by both sides of the political spectrum--and all that is held in between--to help us determine what is and is not defined in the word, "freedom." In so doing, he asks us a multitude of questions and presents us with logical arguments to help us define what "freedom" ought to be. While he does not specifically address freedom in terms of the specific text of the Constitution (as I have in many of my previous posts), the logical arguments draw upon the embedded values and contextual frames/themes that arise in the Constitution.
Like many political philosophers, he forces the reader (listener) to examine what, in precise terms, we indiviually, socially and universally mean by the term, "freedom." Like the work that my colleague, Professor James E. McGregor (a conservative Professor of Philosophy at Salem State College), and I (a progressive [or dare I say a classical liberal]) in the Downey-McGregor Grid, and in a definition grid for theories of reality and realism, Lakoff takes us through the process of determining justice, coercion, harm, inalienable rights and the contestation of how we define these concepts within the Conservative and Progressive agendas and ideologies.
In many ways Lakoff calls into question some of our basic assumptions and traditional beliefs on the topic of freedom much in the same way as Rabbi Michael Lerner of the Tikkun Organization and the Network of Spiritual Progressives has called into question the means of defining religious and spiritual frames, contexts and definitions in his book "The Left Hand Of God: Taking Our Country Back From The Religious Right" (ISBN: 0060842474). In his book, Rabbi Lerner calls into question the definition of terms, beliefs, customs and religious tradition offered by the predominantly ultra-conservative Christian Right members of the Religious Right as a whole. While supporting the right of Israel to exist in accordance with Jewish tradition and the 1948 UN Resolution , Rabbi Lerner dares to speak out against injustices perpetrated by Israel and its foes, on the basis that there are inherently just ways in which religious and spiritual persons of conscience can act in accordance with first principles of justice and freedom.
These are two books that every "liberal" (whether coming from a classical definition of the term or coming from a more modern extremist perspective), "progressive," "moderate," and "conservative" (whether politically conservative or a member of the Religious Right) should have and read (or listen to) often... if for no other reason than to challenge the fundamental definitions of freedom, democracy, inherent and inalienable rights and what exactly our nation--and all democracies--should use as a metric for justice, reason and liberty.
As an added feature of Lakoff's work with the Rockridge Institute, there will soon be a "Handbook for Progressives" that outlines "overall framework for contextualizing the values that underlie progressive thought" and provides "guidance on how to convey these values in authentic and persuasive ways."
George Lakoff's text version of "Whose DFreedom?" is available at Amazon for approximatel US$15.
The Rockridge Institute will soon be offering its "Handbook for Progressives" as a downloadable PDF document from its website or the actual text for US$10 plus shipping.
Rabbi Lerner's "The Left Hand of God" is available at Amazon for approximately US$17 with free shipping available.
George Lakoff has authored the following additional books:
Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate--The Essential Guide for Progressives
Moral Politics : How Liberals and Conservatives Think
Metaphors We Live By
Philosophy in the Flesh: The Embodied Mind and Its Challenge to Western Thought
Rabbi Michael Lerner has also written the following books:
Healing Israel/Palestine
Spirit Matters
The Politics Of Meaning
Rabbi Lerner is a frequent commentator on social issues and is the editor of Tikkum Magazine
Luckily, I was able to borrow an audio book written by George Lakoff entitles Whose Freedom? The Battle Over America's Most Important Idea (2006) [ISBN 10: 1-57270-555-8 or 13: 978-1-57270-555-5] and retail priced at US$29.95. The audio format I borrowed comes in 7 CDs.
George Lakoff is a Professor of Cognitive Science and Linguistics at University of California-Berkeley and a founding senior fellow of the Rockridge Institute with a history of teaching at Harvard University and the University of Michigan.
Lakoff approaches the concept of freedom from the contested frames, themes and linguistic understanding--using cognitive and behavioral science to examine how these frames, themes, and concepts are understood. In the process, Lakoff offers a comparison of the defining process of freedom, democracy and liberty offered by the conservatives and progressives in our society. In the process, he makes the case for using logical examination of our concepts, cultural frames and the social, moral and legal definitions of freedom. He examines the arguments made by both sides of the political spectrum--and all that is held in between--to help us determine what is and is not defined in the word, "freedom." In so doing, he asks us a multitude of questions and presents us with logical arguments to help us define what "freedom" ought to be. While he does not specifically address freedom in terms of the specific text of the Constitution (as I have in many of my previous posts), the logical arguments draw upon the embedded values and contextual frames/themes that arise in the Constitution.
Like many political philosophers, he forces the reader (listener) to examine what, in precise terms, we indiviually, socially and universally mean by the term, "freedom." Like the work that my colleague, Professor James E. McGregor (a conservative Professor of Philosophy at Salem State College), and I (a progressive [or dare I say a classical liberal]) in the Downey-McGregor Grid, and in a definition grid for theories of reality and realism, Lakoff takes us through the process of determining justice, coercion, harm, inalienable rights and the contestation of how we define these concepts within the Conservative and Progressive agendas and ideologies.
In many ways Lakoff calls into question some of our basic assumptions and traditional beliefs on the topic of freedom much in the same way as Rabbi Michael Lerner of the Tikkun Organization and the Network of Spiritual Progressives has called into question the means of defining religious and spiritual frames, contexts and definitions in his book "The Left Hand Of God: Taking Our Country Back From The Religious Right" (ISBN: 0060842474). In his book, Rabbi Lerner calls into question the definition of terms, beliefs, customs and religious tradition offered by the predominantly ultra-conservative Christian Right members of the Religious Right as a whole. While supporting the right of Israel to exist in accordance with Jewish tradition and the 1948 UN Resolution , Rabbi Lerner dares to speak out against injustices perpetrated by Israel and its foes, on the basis that there are inherently just ways in which religious and spiritual persons of conscience can act in accordance with first principles of justice and freedom.
These are two books that every "liberal" (whether coming from a classical definition of the term or coming from a more modern extremist perspective), "progressive," "moderate," and "conservative" (whether politically conservative or a member of the Religious Right) should have and read (or listen to) often... if for no other reason than to challenge the fundamental definitions of freedom, democracy, inherent and inalienable rights and what exactly our nation--and all democracies--should use as a metric for justice, reason and liberty.
As an added feature of Lakoff's work with the Rockridge Institute, there will soon be a "Handbook for Progressives" that outlines "overall framework for contextualizing the values that underlie progressive thought" and provides "guidance on how to convey these values in authentic and persuasive ways."
George Lakoff's text version of "Whose DFreedom?" is available at Amazon for approximatel US$15.
The Rockridge Institute will soon be offering its "Handbook for Progressives" as a downloadable PDF document from its website or the actual text for US$10 plus shipping.
Rabbi Lerner's "The Left Hand of God" is available at Amazon for approximately US$17 with free shipping available.
George Lakoff has authored the following additional books:
Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate--The Essential Guide for Progressives
Moral Politics : How Liberals and Conservatives Think
Metaphors We Live By
Philosophy in the Flesh: The Embodied Mind and Its Challenge to Western Thought
Rabbi Michael Lerner has also written the following books:
Healing Israel/Palestine
Spirit Matters
The Politics Of Meaning
Rabbi Lerner is a frequent commentator on social issues and is the editor of Tikkum Magazine
posted by Jim Downey at 9:48 AM
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