Liberty and Self-Determination: Ethics, Power and Action in Relph Cudworth

Abstract

Examines the antideterministic philosophy of English apologist & Puritan Ralph Cudworth. While his epistemological & ontological rejection of atheism incorporates paradoxically deterministic terminology, his principle of self-determination focuses on the microcosmic, supporting religious tolerance & freedom of conscience. Drawing on the philosophy of Plotinus & influenced by Platonism & Stoicism, Cudworth equates liberty with the power to act, a notion that can inform current political thought. After presenting a biographical sketch, & a brief review of his works, his reworking of the Stoic term, hegemonikon, is discussed. A unifying & empowering principle, the hegemonikon enables the individual to act, combines the will & the intellect, & directs the soul toward the good. Cudworth's impact on contemporary liberal political philosophy & the similarities to John Locke's politics are also presented. J. Sadler