Europe

Rethinking Open Society

Michael Ignatieff / 10 June 2018

Upholding open society means accepting the “strain of personal responsibility, of carrying the cross of being human.” An open society is very demanding. It asks us to respect the dignity of others, especially of those with whom we may disagree and to make choices for ourselves and our community.

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Civil Courage and the Moral Imagination

Michael Ignatieff / 26 November 2013

Goodness is fragile, a philosopher once said. Cleveringa’s example is respected best when we acknowledge how rare it was. We should ask ourselves whether we have the capacity to believe so fervently in a better future that we make it our judge.