The Embarrassing Institution: The Silence about Slavery in the Rise of Modern Freedom

Authors

  • Eleni Varikas Professora emérita do Departamento de Ciência Política da Université de Paris VIII (Saint-Denis), França.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23925/ls.v19i34.25757

Keywords:

Locke, freedom, slavery, property.

Abstract

This article analyzes slavery as an embarrassing institution, not in its origins, but rather inthe fact that it developed in societies where legitimation was based on universal concpets offreedom and equality proposed by liberals (principally Locke) who did not find it difficult toaccomodate those concepts with the defense of slavery. From this perspective we can pose thequestion, not of what liberty is, but rather of who is free under modern conditions?

Published

2014-07-01

How to Cite

Varikas, E. (2014). The Embarrassing Institution: The Silence about Slavery in the Rise of Modern Freedom. Lutas Sociais, 19(34), 54–69. https://doi.org/10.23925/ls.v19i34.25757