Freedom and Law Cover Image

Sloboda i zakon
Freedom and Law

Author(s): Reza Davari Ardekani
Subject(s): Political Philosophy, Social Philosophy, Philosophy of Law
Published by: Naučnoistraživački institut »Ibn Sina«
Keywords: Freedom; development; liberalism; neoliberalism; technology; individual interest and collective interest;

Summary/Abstract: The notion of “freedom” in the age of neoliberalism is under the strong influence of technology and in a great measure it is different from the concept of freedom in the age of liberalism. In neoliberalism man’s freedom is projected and defined within the frameworks that are shaped by technology while in an earlier period man was called to shaping the laws of freedom. We always hear about knowledge being one of the basic human rights, but nobody says that which man should know. It seems to be that what is meant by that are the topics which are spoken of on a daily basis, and which presents the basic preoccupation of some people, and that is the relativization and suppression of moral norms. The sentence “knowledge is the right of all people” has become a catchphrase according to which everyone has the right to do as they will and everybody has the right to usurp the private life and intimacy of every individual. It must be said that pure acquaintance with raw information does not represent knowledge. The piling of information is the greatest enemy of common human sense and reasoning. In case freedom has to be connected to the very spirit of one community, the question is posed; whether a general call for freedom comes out of the spirit and need of that community or whether it is the result of the manipulation of others who have tendentious and wicked intentions. In any case, even though democracy presents the manifestation of collective human gravity and will, it is not possible to implement it everywhere or at the very least not until it comes to certain changes in society. The following question is posed: what is freedom’s treatment of the individual and collective rights like and what bears greater meaning in a free society? The possessing of human qualities is a condition for the establishment of the freedom of thought, however in society and in politics personal and collective interests go hand-in-hand. Is political development the precondition for economic growth or is it in reverse? There are arguments which give advantage to the first and the second claim. However, it is visible that the development of any dimension of society influences the development of other dimensions and there are no special rules there. There are certain preconditions which are necessary for the development of society and they are interconnected. Every country that thinks of development must ponder upon the freedoms and civil rights of its inhabitants. Although the claims that humanity is going to the direction of freedom and peace are not correct it should be said that freedom is the question of human honor and that everybody is obliged to fight for it in his own way.

  • Issue Year: XXVI/2023
  • Issue No: 94/95
  • Page Range: 159-173
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Bosnian