Liberty Worth the Name

Gideon Yaffe presents a groundbreaking interpretation of John Locke's perspective on free will and human agency, challenging the common belief that Locke merely equates freedom with the dependency of conduct on our wills. Yaffe argues that for Locke, true free agency encompasses not only self-expression but also the ability to transcend oneself and act according to moral values. This view positions Locke's ideal agent as one who exercises liberty through choices aligned with "the good," reflecting a tradition that sees freedom as an imitation of divine agency.