Furcht vor Verletzungen. Anmerkungen zu Judith Shklars ‚Liberalismus der Furcht

In the reflections of Judith Shklar’s ‘Liberalism of fear’ we find the stimulating insight that a theory of freedom can find its main issue in the injury of the human individual. This concept also provides an opening to thinking of the political in general. I would like to elucidate this approach in my essay following the theory of ‘negative freedom’ in the thought of Isaiah Berlin. The reflections of Shklar make for an impressively consistent contribution to theoretical foundation of freedom. While a thorough comprehension evidences a lack of a socio-philosophical basis, it is necessary if we are to find a theory of freedom grounded in a deeply differentiated social and political practice.