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person1980s-present

Philip Pettit

Disciplines:
political philosophy
philosophy of mind

Summary

Irish-Australian political philosopher who revived the republican tradition of freedom as non-domination — distinct from both liberal freedom as non-interference and communitarian politics.

Core Contribution

Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and Government: freedom as non-domination — one is not free if one is subject to the arbitrary will of another, even if that will is currently not exercised. The republican tradition (Roman, Machiavellian, Harringtonian) is the alternative to both classical liberalism and communitarianism.

Notable Works & Achievements

Republicanism

A Theory of Freedom

The Common Mind

Historical Influences

Quentin Skinner Hannah Arendt

Intellectual Lineage

Republican Political Theory Cambridge School

Contemporaries & Peers

Quentin Skinner Michael Sandel

Minds Influenced

Neo-Republican Political Theory

Intellectual Posterity

Neo-Republicanism

Discussing

Philip Pettit

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