ABSTRACT
Longago,in1819tobeprecise,BenjaminConstantdeliveredaspeechon'The LibertyoftheAncientsComparedwiththatoftheModerns'inwhichhe contrastedtheperceptionoflibertyheldbytheancientswiththatofcontemporary individuals.AccordingtoConstant,libertyfortheancientswasthesharingof socialpoweramongthecitizens.Forthem,thelibertytoparticipateintheaffairs ofstatewashighlycherished;thelibertytoengageinaprivatelifewas,by contrast,viewedwithcircumspection.Theancientrepublicantraditionlinked freedomwithself-governmentandassignedtocitizensasolemndutytoparticipate inpublicaffairs.Onlyaftertheyhaddischargedtheirpublicorcivicdutieswere citizensabletoindulgeinaprivatelife.Libertyforthemoderns,ontheother hand,iscomprisedoftheenjoymentofsecurityinprivatepleasuresaccompanied bytheguaranteesaccordedbygovernmentalandnon-governmentalinstitutionsto thosepleasures. 2Havingwarnedthatthelibertyoftheancientscoulddeprive citizensofanymeaningfulprivatelife,Constantalsocautionedthatthelibertyof themodernsthreatensthepubliclifeofsociety.Accordingly,Constanturgedhis audiencetocombinethelibertiesoftheancientsandmodernstogetherand maintainawholesomeequilibriumbetweenthetwo.Societyrequiresinstitutions whichbothrespecttheindividualrightsofcitizensandensureandfacilitatetheir civiceducationandparticipationinpubliclife. 3
In2003,debatestillturnsonattemptstoreconcilethesebipolaropposites. Howbesttobalancepublicandprivatecommitmentswithoutlettingeitherabsorb orcompletelyoverwhelmtheother.Whetherthisbalancecanbestruckandin whatpreciseformisstillbeingworkedout,perhapsrequiringthepatienceofJob andthewisdomofSolomon.Bethatasitmay,ithasnotbeentheauthor's purposetoanswerthosequestionsbuttodemonstrateratherthattodaythe pendulumhasswungtoofartowardsthelibertyofthemoderns.Inordertoobtain
lJ.-J.RousseauTheSocialContractBookI,ChapterVII('OntheSovereign'). 2AsquotedinM.Hollis'Machiavelli,MiltonandHobbesonLiberty'inR.
