Well-formed law ranks with natural obstacles, not coercive domination

Evidence

The difference between the two ideals on this front connects with their different views of law. Devotees of freedom as non-interference view legal or state coercion, no matter how well bounded and controlled, as a form of coercion that is just as bad in itself as coercion from other quarters; if it is to be justified, then that can only be because its presence makes for a lesser degree of coercion overall. Devotees of freedom as non-domination view state coercion, in particular coercion that occurs under a suitable form of law, as something that is not so potentially unobjectionable, being on a par with obstruction by natural obstacles rather than with coercion by arbitrary powers. — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 416

Categorization

• XREF: Feeds the reader’s question of how republican institutions can be legitimate constraint rather than domination—law as enabling framework for positive shared projects. — connects to: Law can be non-arbitrary and freedom-preserving rather than inherently dominating — Philip Pettit, Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and…, 335; A kindly master dominates subjects without interfering while well-ordered law interferes without dominating — Philip Pettit, Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and…, 220; Law that is non-arbitrary does not make citizens unfree — Philip Pettit, Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and…, 66 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• A kindly master dominates subjects without interfering while well-ordered law interferes without dominating #responds-to (0.95) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 220
• Law that is non-arbitrary does not make citizens unfree #corroborates (0.90) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 66
• Non-domination requires normative reasons for respect, not just legal sanctions #expands (0.85) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 1289
• Freedom can be reconceived as non-domination rather than non-interference or self-mastery #expands (0.80) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 1207
• Restricted rule of law beats rule without law #corroborates (0.72) — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man, 233