Readings on Basic Knowledge of Western Social Sciences: Freedom

Author: (English) Bauman
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: One of the most authoritative social science textbooks on higher education in Europe and America since the 1990s; jointly recommended by renowned scholars from more than 10 top universities in China. Freedom is a universal pursuit, often regarded as an axiom without proof. However, the research in various social sciences reveals that individual freedom is neither universal nor inevitable. This book is a powerful work reflecting on freedom in postmodern society. As Bauman himself stated, the intention of writing this book is to transform the "familiar" into the "strange," that is, to treat individual freedom, which people usually take for granted, as a phenomenon that cannot be understood without explanation. This book, with concise and compelling arguments, reveals that the persistence of individual freedom depends on specific social conditions, and it may also disappear with the disappearance of these conditions. Therefore, we cannot and should not take it for granted. Freedom is a timeless topic in the social sciences. Bauman's unique perspective, keen observation, meticulous analysis, and eloquent arguments show us freedom from a social dimension. We believe readers will better grasp the essence of freedom from this book.