Freedom and civilization / by Bronislaw Malinowski.

  • Bronisław Malinowski
Date:
1944
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Freedom and civilization / by Bronislaw Malinowski. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    188/360 page 170
    mentalities, and the full enjoyment of the results of such activity —and relate this to an institution, we can formulate clearly the conditions which give freedom within the institution and those which result in a denial of freedom. When the purpose is chosen by the group as a whole; when the action is taken by autonomous responsibility; and when the results are shared among all the members of the group, we find freedom within that institution. When the purpose is accepted by command or instilled by indoc¬ trination; when the action is controlled by coercive authority; and when the results of the activity are doled out for the advan¬ tage of those in authority, we find a denial of freedom. We can see this even more clearly in diagrammatic form: Purpose Implemented Action Results Freedom chosen by individual or group taken by autonomous responsibility shared Denial of Freedom instilled by indoctrination; accepted by command controlled by coercive authority doled out The denial of freedom within an institution occurs therefore through an abuse of the authority held by those who organize and control the institution. For without an abuse of authority or coercive power, the other members of the institution could not be deprived of initiative, of autonomous action and of a fair share of the results. Thus a denial of freedom in each phase of our sequence is finally determined by the abuse of authority or power, for the enjoyment of all the advantages by the few in authority. This, as we have already seen, can occur as between individuals, within institutions and within cultures. In every case, the middle factor of our sequence, implemented action, is the one where freedom grows and where it receives its restrictions. Freedom is born there and freedom is killed there. For it is through implemented action, that gross quantum which means
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