ABSTRACT
This chapter offers the author's own interpretation and criticism of Zygmunt Bauman's understanding of freedom in relation to socialism. The chapter discusses themes provided by Niccolò Machiavelli's 'Prince' and Voltaire's 'Dr Pangloss' with these two well-known figures employed in order to illuminate further Bauman's own particular understanding of freedom and, more specifically, the role of both socialism and sociology in 'liquid modern' times. Bauman's understanding of socialism as furthering human freedom leads him to reject both of these sides of the Panglossian conceit and also to challenge the implications of Machiavelli's conclusions. According to Bauman, things can be different, and the hope that they may be such must be retained always, for all is most certainly not for the best in the world, and the world is far from the best it could possibly be. The chapter considers the epistemological and ontological foundations of the Marxian conception of freedom.
