European Liberty: Four Essays on the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Erasmus Prize Foundation: Raymond Aron, Isaiah Berlin, Leszek Kolakowski, Marguerite Yourcenar

by Pierre Manent (Contributor), R. Hausheer, W. Karpinski

Raymon Aron, Isaiah Berlin, Leszek Kolakowski and Marguerite Yourcenarcan be considered four outstanding representatives of the unique European intellectual tradition that is characterised by its critical sense and respect for freedom of the individual. The essays included in this book are devoted to these four personalities, a Frenchman strongly influenced by the German philosophical tradition, a Russian who has settled in Oxford, a philosopher banned from his native Poland, and a Frenchwoman of Belgian origin living in America. Each has demonstrated in his or her own way that the ideas on and ideals of European culture and tradition are oflasting value. Each recognizes that human values can only flourish in a pluralistic society, a society in which 'Ie juste milieu' must constantly be sought. The temptation to succumb to monistic, dogmatic and intolerant tendencies that continue to threaten our civilisation not only from the outside but also from within, must be continually resisted. The dignity of man reaches full maturity first and foremost in a society in which man is the moulder and maker of himself and freedom of the individual stands central.
(H.R. Hoetink)

Chapters:
- Raymond Aron (Pierre Manent)
- Berlin and the emergence of liberal pluralism (Roger Hausheer)
- Leszek Kolakowski: a portrait (Wojciech Karpiński)
- The achievement of Marguerite Yourcenar (Walter Kaiser)

146 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 1983

About the author

Pierre Manent est directeur d' etudes a l' Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Science Sociales, membre fondateur de la revue Commentaire.