Political Conscience

Ok an interesting talk by Ronald Beiner (Political Science, University of Toronto - http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/~w3pol/faculty_beiner.htm). Looked at the concept of political conscience (basically freedom of conscience) in Hobbes, Spinoza and Locke and argued that it was largely derived from a commitment to intellectual freedom rather than religious freedom.

Problem is, for Hobbes the idea of free will is an illusion, hence the idea of 'freedom of conscience' would likewise be an illusion; well if consistency is something we value; and it should be. So why would Hobbes be concerned with freedom of conscience? Well although free will (and freedom of conscience) is an illusion, the illusion is real; people really think they are free to think what they want. This gives Hobbes a problem as an illusion can't be controlled. So where does that leave the omnipotent Leviathan? Well, if 'freedom of conscience' can't be controlled, best to say it's not a concern for the Leviathan. After all, if you try and control something that can't be controlled you'll only demonstrate your impotence; ah shame! So best to say that privately people are free to believe just what they want. Publicly however, they can't translate these beliefs into 'practice'; they have to adhere to the public religion. So it's a win-win situation for Hobbes. He gives people some freedom, but stops them from engaging in practices on the basis of that freedom.

Song: Try Frankie goes to Hollywood, The Power of Love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zARg_K4jRhA). Figure it out your self, but don't go too far into this you'll end up with the Thompson Twins!