Freedom as non-domination prizes secure undominated choice over mere quantity of choice.
Evidence
When you are not dominated, then, you enjoy the absence of interference by arbitrary powers, not just in the actual world, but in the range of possible worlds where contingencies of the kind mentioned have a different, less auspicious setting. Those who are attached to the ideal of non-interference value the fact of having choice—the fact of non-interference—whether the choice is dominated or not; those who embrace the ideal of non-domination value the fact of having undominated choice, but not necessarily the fact of having choice as such. They do not mind the lack of choice that results from non-arbitrary interference and they may despise the sort of choice that you enjoy by grace of your own cunning or charms or ingratiation, seeing it as a demeaning and despicable bequest. The first group focus on the quantity of choice available, no matter what kind of choice is involved; the second are interested only in choice of the right, undominated quality. — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 137
Categorization
- DEFINE: Sharply distinguishes the two rival ideals of freedom by what each values in choice — quantity versus undominated quality.
- DEEPTHINKING: The modal framing — freedom enjoyed across ‘nearby possible worlds’ — is a genuinely load-bearing distinction elegantly stated, worth sitting with.
- XREF: connects to: Freedom of choice can itself serve domination when options are controlled. — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the…, 121; Freedom is increased by enabling undominated choice, not merely by reducing domination — Philip Pettit, Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and…, 381; Freedom can be reconceived as non-domination rather than non-interference or self-mastery — Philip Pettit, Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and…, 1207 (+1 more)
Broader Connections
- Freedom can be reconceived as non-domination rather than non-interference or self-mastery
#expands(0.95) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 1207 - Freedom as non-domination yields benefits beyond those of non-interference.
#expands(0.72) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 407