#6 Positive Freedom: Resistance Isn't Enough

About this episode

This episode explores the distinction between Negative Freedom and Positive Freedom through the lens of Timothy Snyder's work and the story of an elderly Ukrainian woman.

Comments? Send me a text message. Drawing on historian Timothy Snyder's book On Freedom, this episode explores why resistance alone is never enough. Using the story of Mariia, an 85-year-old Ukrainian woman living in the aftermath of Russian occupation, Snyder introduces a distinction that cuts to the heart of our current political moment: the difference between Negative Freedom — freedom from oppression — and Positive Freedom — freedom to build systems that support human flourishing. I...

People in this episode

Host: Michael C. Patterson

Topics covered

• freedom
• resistance
• politics
• human flourishing
• Ukrainian history

Keywords

• freedom
• resistance
• Timothy Snyder
• Ukrainian woman
• political moment
• human flourishing
• Negative Freedom
• Positive Freedom

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: On Freedom

Places: Ukraine, Russia

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