The idea of freedom has been celebrated and contested throughout the ages, and amidst great civilizational changes of the early twenty-first century freedom's future seems to entail its profound refiguration that will transform the whole democratic paradigm, as envisioned through the critical lenses of dystopian literary imaginings.
The idea of freedom, changed and contested throughout the ages, has become the staple of liberal democracies and a beacon of hope amidst dark tendencies that endanger the future. This books offers an analysis of freedom in the context of its historical significance for the Western civilization, newly emerging socio-political trends, and the proliferation of innovative technologies that all converge to shape human life in the nearest future. All of these prolific topics permeate modern literature, and in particular the work of American dystopian writers who convey visions of the future where profound refiguration of freedom and the whole democratic paradigm is inevitable.
The book consists of six parts: Introduction, Chapter One: An Overview of the Idea of Freedom in the Western World, Chapter Two: The Failure of Uncontested Freedom, Chapter Three: Contested Freedom and Its Negotiations, Chapter Four: Freedom in a Posthuman Future and Conclusions.
Robert Gadowski completed his doctoral dissertation in philology at the University of Wroclaw, Poland. His academic interests involve the areas of literary studies, social sciences and political philosophy.
