A kindly master dominates subjects without interfering while well-ordered law interferes without dominating
Evidence
The kindly master does deprive subjects of their freedom, dominating them without actually interfering. The well-ordered law does not deprive subjects of their freedom, interfering with those subjects but riot dominating them. — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 220
Categorization
- DEFINE: Crystallizes the central republican insight: freedom is lost to lurking arbitrary power, not to interference as such - key to how law can liberate and build trust.
- XREF: connects to: Law can be non-arbitrary and freedom-preserving rather than inherently dominating — Philip Pettit, Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and…, 335; Well-formed law ranks with natural obstacles, not coercive domination — Philip Pettit, Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and…, 416; A benign master still dominates, so freedom requires civic status, not mere non-interference. — Philip Pettit, Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and…, 170 (+6 more)
Broader Connections
- Mere non-interference can coexist with domination when security is absent
#expands(0.88) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 349 - Domination is a distinct harm even when no interference occurs
#corroborates(0.82) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 64 - Freedom can be reconceived as non-domination rather than non-interference or self-mastery
#corroborates(0.80) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 1207 - Institutions can be designed so that non-domination is smoothly maximized
#expands(0.75) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 453 - Accepting vulnerability to others is necessary to enjoy maximal non-domination
#qualifies(0.72) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 1193