Real Freedom according to Hannah Arendt
Abstract
This article provides a critical analysis of Hannah Arendt's concept of freedom, primarily drawing from her works The Human Condition (Vita Activa) and the essay "What is Freedom?". The author explores Arendt's challenge to the traditional Western notion of "inner freedom" or "freedom of the will," which she traces back to late antiquity and Christian thought. Instead, Arendt argues that true freedom is inherently political and can only be realized through action (praxis) within a public space shared with others. The study examines the distinction between the "liberation" from necessity and the positive "freedom" to participate in the public realm, highlighting the importance of "natality"—the human capacity to begin something new. The paper concludes that for Arendt, freedom is not a private possession of the soul but a tangible reality that manifests when individuals act in concert to create a common world.
Article Details
- How to Cite
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Lianopoulos, T. M. (2020). Real Freedom according to Hannah Arendt . Ηθική. Περιοδικό φιλοσοφίας, (11), 81–90. https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.22764
- Issue
- No. 11 (2017)
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- Articles
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