The Free Man by G.K. Chesterton
The Free Man is a collection of essays by G.K. Chesterton that explore the concept of freedom and its relationship to various aspects of life, including politics, religion, art, and philosophy. The book argues that true freedom can only be achieved through a commitment to moral principles and a rejection of materialism and individualism. It also discusses the role of tradition and community in promoting freedom and social harmony.
By G.K. Chesterton · First published 1908 · Genre: Political Philosophy, Essay, Social Criticism · 1,403 words
First lines
The idea of liberty has ultimately a religious root; that is why men find it so easy to die for and so difficult to define. It refers finally to the fact that, while the oyster and the palm tree have to save their lives by law, man has to save his soul by choice. Ruskin rebuked Coleridge for praising freedom, and said that no man would wish the sun to be free. It seems enough to answer that no man would wish to be the sun. Speaking as a Liberal, I have much more sympathy with the idea of Joshua stopping the sun in heaven than with the idea of Ruskin trotting his daily round in imitation of its regularity. Joshua was a Radical, and his astronomical act was distinctly revolutionary. For all revolution is the mastering of matter by the spirit of man, the emergence of that human authority within us which, in the noble words of Sir Thomas Browne, "owes no homage unto the sun."
What this Textopian page supports
The Free Man is listed on Textopian as an essay by G.K. Chesterton, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: G.K. Chesterton
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Philosophy, Essay, Social Criticism, Religious Philosophy, Satire
- Length: 1,403 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Church Of The Servile State by G. K. Chesterton
- The New Freethinker by G. K. Chesterton
- Anonymity And Further Counsels by G. K. Chesterton
- Worldliness Of The Majority by George Bernard Shaw
- The Dregs Of Puritanism by G. K. Chesterton
- The Other Kind Of Man by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Political Philosophy — The text explores the concept of liberty, the role of the state, and the individual's influence on political structures.
- Essay — The work is structured as a reflective and argumentative essay discussing abstract ideas and societal observations.
- Social Criticism — The narrative critiques contemporary societal and political conditions, particularly in England.
- Religious Philosophy — The text connects the idea of liberty to religious roots and spiritual concepts.
Tags
freedom · individualism · philosophy · society · morality · ethics · politics · human nature · self-reliance · liberty · responsibility · social critique