Aristocrats of Freedom

Abstract

Political theorists often write about “the political,” as though it were elevated, more than mere politics. The eminent political theorist Sheldon Wolin, defines “the political” as

an expression of the idea that a free society composed of diversities can nonetheless enjoy moments of commonality when, through public deliberations, collective power is used to promote or protect the well-being of the collective … In contrast [to politics], the political is episodic, rare. (Wolin, 1996, 31)

Along with the people I talked with, have I abandoned the political forever? Does transgression with others imitate “the political” on a smaller scale, or merely mock it?