Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7688-3394

Date of Award

8-2022

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Philosophy

First Advisor

S.M. Love

Second Advisor

Andrew Jason Cohen

Abstract

The notion of a distinction between merely formal freedom and real, substantive freedom is common in both philosophy and political rhetoric. However, Ian Carter contends that this distinction faces coherence and usefulness problems. Contra Carter, I argue that it is coherent, meaningful, and clarifies significant philosophical disagreements about the right to freedom. I define the formal-substantive freedom distinction by outlining a non-univocal conception of each term, then explain why the distinction so conceived is both philosophically and practically significant. I review Carter’s arguments, extract two potential objections to my account, and offer my replies.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/29469177

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