Qualitative Freedom - Autonomy in Cosmopolitan Responsibility

Author Professor Dr. Claus Dierksmeier is Director of the Global Ethic Institute at the University of Tübingen and Academic Director of the Humanistic Management Center. With his latest book he wants to initiate a dialogue about freedom. In his preface, Hans Küng writes: "I was therefore very convinced by the way Dierksmeier shifts the discourse on freedom to a new, integrative pair of concepts: quantitative and qualitative freedom."

Accordingly, the core of the book lies in a systematic reappraisal of the concept of freedom on the basis of two new standards of evaluation. On the one hand, quantitative freedom, the interest in more freedom, and qualitative freedom, the striving to optimize the opportunities of all world citizens. Dierksmeier is not concerned with a juxtaposition of the two concepts but with a dialogue. The message is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the question of how a life of freedom can work for all people, so we must address the question openly and with commitment.

In four extensively researched chapters, Dierksmeier guides us to think about freedom.

The book provides extensive insight into the current state of the academic debate on freedom and certainly therefore comes across as highly theorized in places for readers who are not purely interested in science. However, the fourth chapter in particular offers leaders interesting and exciting thoughts on how profit and principles, conscience and profit, morality and the market can be reconciled.

Tripl3Leader recommends this book as it provides suggestions on how to resolve dilemmas in decision-making between maximizing the benefit of a few and maximizing the benefit of many. Dierksmeier provides many constructive examples to stimulate thought and discussion, for example, he concludes: "It is easy to see from numerous companies that focus on social, moral and ecological sustainability that companies are increasingly working with differentiated success criteria. Increasingly, success is already defined in terms of a triple bottom line aimed at harmonizing social, ecological and financial interests (people, planet, profit).