Our contemporary understanding of free will as the power to do whatever we want seems like common sense to many, both inside and outside the church. But although it is hard to escape, this view of human freedom is corrupt and deceptive. In Freedom from Reality, D. C. Schindler offers a sophisticated analysis of where our contemporary understanding of freedom comes from, and why it is misleading. Beginning with John Locke, he shows how this understanding of freedom claims to liberate us. And then he offers a better way of thinking about freedom as conforming ourselves to what is objectively good for us. There is perhaps no more important ethical task today than to get a solid grasp of these different versions of human freedom. Doing so will enable us to grasp more clearly the freedom for which Christ has set us free. And it sheds light on all kinds of practical ethical questions. This term’s Ethics Reading group will equip participants to tackle Schindler’s rewarding but demanding book, and to understand more clearly what true freedom really is.
Schedule (Mondays, 2-4pm)
- 15 Sept - Intro, Chapter 1, pp. 1-63; Conclusion, pp. 359-63
- 13 Oct - Chapters 2-3, pp. 64-150
- 10 Nov - Chapters 4-5, pp. 151-275
- 8 Dec - Chaps 6-8, pp. 279-358
Texts
D. C. Schindler, Freedom from Reality (University of Notre Dame Press, 2017)
Amazon Link
