Lecture � Chequers philosophy society, Gerry Cohen � freedom + money

Greg Detre

@20.15 on 22/1/01

lack of money lack of freedom

denied by Berlin + Rawls

freedom vs resources/means

usually reject premises 1+4

 

freedom = freedom of choice??? to act/from interference

choices available, choices in your means

legal vs effective freedom

money lowers the barriers to interference

but interference is universal legal

freedom to buy something vs freedom to earn more in his job

Questions

definition of freedom - +ve vs �ve freedom � choice vs act???

what is (the function of money)???

what about fat people from being barred from the Olympics???

the interference is universally applied, but contains criteria

poor people are allowed to have the swater, but not also cake/supper

freedom for the greatest number

better in liberal capitalism than authoritarian socialism/communism

money is anonymous, non-disseminatory

why is money different from strength or brains? Marx � it�s social power in an object

the thing about money is that it (and the freedom it confers) can change hands freely

dichotomy/tradeoff between effective + legal

conceptual contrast is empty. is ONLY a normative argument

I would rather live in a more legally free society � calculus (not individual), hence fits in with Rawls, because it�s overall fairer � it�s a just freedom