Creating civilised societies
Where might freedom take us? My hope is to the building of civilised societies – ones where people behave decently to each other and to the members of other societies, but also ones where people realise things that others admire.
Here I am thinking of the achievements of arts and culture, science and human understanding. Societies which can create fine music, drama and art, terrific architecture, outstanding sports performances, tremendous feats of mathematics, great leaps in our understanding of the universe. Ones that take care of those who are ill or frail. Ones that support communities at all levels.
Societies which maximise freedom, where people have access to the capabilities they need to achieve outcomes that they value and have reason to value – a reason that arises from the recognition of that value by others – sound to me like civilised societies – places otherwise known as civilisations.