Although our cover is clearly a response to events,* the original conception of this issue of the Social Science Forum was much more a response to a set of ideas which can roughly be called "the critique of freedom." As it has emerged, though, a peculiar mixture of ideas and events have contributed to the issue.
The critique of freedom dealt with in this issue is essentially a moral one - predicated on a belief that those who know what is right should rule. The problem which emerges is how to recognise those people: at various times kings, clergy, and political parties have come forward. It is interesting, then, that Judith Shklar's "Modest Defense of Freedom" should be essentially pragmatic.
In this it contrasts with Ivan Svitak's "Marxism and Humanism," whose argument, if not conclusion, is more similar to that of the critique: based on a moral, or humanistic system of values. Dr. Svitak's article, which originally appeared in Czechoslovakia, outlines the "alternate" approach to traditional marxism: humanistic, anti-deterministic, built on the works of the young Marx.
Ironically enough, the articles here were (with one exception) written before the events which give them added interest. Dr. Svitak wrote when there was still hope for the Czechoslovakian experiment, Dr. Shklar wrote while the problems of liberty were still largely academic at Harvard. Sandy Borins' analysis of Marcuse's approach has been revised a bit but remains more philosophical than political.
Of course reporting and comment on events might seem at first to be more useful than the kind of governmental theory contained in this issue. The media have been filled with coverage of the disorder that has been sweeping the campuses, but, we think, without posing the really important question – what value is freedom to be given? The editors take a certain pride in the lack of journalistic litter in this issue and hope that the philosophical questions discussed ultimately will prove more informative.
* A reference to the occupation of University Hall at Harvard on Apr. 9, 1969.
