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The Paradox of Freedom

A Biographical Dialogue
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Paradox of Freedom by David Scott and Orlando Patterson, the authors explore the complex dynamics of freedom, considering its role in history, society, and personal existence. They delve into how freedom is perceived, challenged, and negotiated within different cultural and historical contexts. The book offers thought-provoking insights into the paradoxes that both empower and constrain the human experience of freedom.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you are fascinated by the complexities of freedom in modern society and enjoy exploring philosophical and historical perspectives on human liberty. Its engaging discourse provides an insightful examination of how freedom is both a universal aspiration and a source of conflict, delving into the tensions and contradictions that define this fundamental concept in education and culture.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Paradox of Freedom is an exploration of the life and work of Orlando Patterson, probing the relationship between the circumstances of his life from their beginnings in rural Jamaica to the present and the complex development of his intellectual work. A novelist and historical sociologist with an orientation toward public engagement, Patterson exemplifies one way of being a Jamaican and Black Atlantic intellectual.

At the generative centre of Patterson’s work has been a fundamental inquiry into the internal dynamics of slavery as a mode of social and existential domination. What is most provocatively significant in his work on slavery is the way it yields a paradoxical insight into the problem of freedom – namely, that freedom was born existentially and historically from the degradation and parasitic inhumanity of slavery and was as much the creation of the enslaved as of their enslavers.

The Paradox of Freedom elucidates the pathways by which Patterson has both uncovered the relationship between domination and freedom and engaged intellectually and publicly with the struggles for equality and decolonisation among descendants of the enslaved. It will be of great interest to students and scholars throughout the humanities and social sciences and to anyone interested in the work of one of the most important public intellectuals of our time.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Paradox of Freedom is praised for its exploration of Orlando Patterson's thoughts on the intricate relationship between freedom and slavery, set against the backdrop of his Jamaican roots and academic life. Readers appreciate the illuminating dialogue with David Scott, which delves into Patterson's intellectual and artistic journey.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781509551170

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 12 May 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Polity Press

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 226.0mm

Weight: 454g

Pages: 296

About the Author

David ScottΒ is Ruth and William Lubic Professor of Anthropology at Columbia University.

Orlando PattersonΒ is John Cowles Professor of Sociology at Harvard University.

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    Slavery is one of humanity’s most ancient and persistent inequities. It predates the rise of civilisation, played a key role in the growth of Western and Islamic cultures, and was an integral part of the emergence and global spread of capitalism. Given its historical significance, it is not surprising that the problem of slavery is still passionately debated today and...
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