How Is Voluntary Slavery Possible (Conceivable)? On the Modern Forms of Government, Ideology and the Spectacle of Power Cover Image

Jak możliwa (do pomyślenia) jest dobrowolna niewola? O nowożytnych formach rządzenia, ideologii i spektaklu władzy
How Is Voluntary Slavery Possible (Conceivable)? On the Modern Forms of Government, Ideology and the Spectacle of Power

Author(s): Mateusz Falkowski
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Political Theory
Published by: Instytut Studiów Politycznych PAN
Keywords: early modernity; political philosophy; theory of will; Étienne de La Boétie; René Descartes; Blaise Pascal; Thomas Hobbes; Niccolò Machiavelli;

Summary/Abstract: The article is devoted to the famous The Discourse of Voluntary Servitude by Étienne de La Boétie. The author considers the theoretical premises underlying the concept of “voluntary servitude”, juxtaposing them with two modern concepts of will developed by Descartes and Pascal. An important feature of La Boétie’s project is the political and therefore intersubjective – as opposed to the individualistic perspective of Descartes and Pascal – starting point. It is therefore situated against the background of, on the one hand, the historical evolution of early modern states (from feudal monarchies, through so-called Renaissance monarchies up to European absolutisms) and, on the other hand – of the political philosophy of Machiavelli and Hobbes.

  • Issue Year: 2020
  • Issue No: 26
  • Page Range: 101-110
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: Polish