Denying liberty in order to make room for freedom: liberalism, conservatism, and Kantian philosophy
The author analyses the notions of “liberalism” and “conservatism”, the diffi culties that are inherent in their basic principles, and suggests an interpretation of several central aspects of I. Kant's political philosophy seen as an attempt to overcome the said diffi culties. Kant's ideas are juxtaposed with those of J. Rawls, C. Schmitt, R. Nozick, and also E. Burke, N. Machiavelli, T. Hobbes, J. Locke. The author concludes that the consistent application of principles of both liberalism and conservatism leads to theoretical ramifi cations and practical dangers, that their opposition has the form of an antinomy or of a dialectical contradiction, which cannot be resolved in favor of one of the doctrines and demands for their synthesis.