Physis Project

Resistance

Liberty / freedom (two traditions)

Two traditions of freedom that evolved in parallel. The Mediterranean line (eleutheria → libertas → liberté → liberty) is relational: one individual's freedom is limited by that of others and tends toward balance. The Germanic line (freodom → freedom) rests on the dominion of the individual will; when it contains no limit, it can slide into a zero-sum structure. The two meet in English in 1066.

— Physis: A Theory of Power — Concept Glossary

The definition is from the Concept Glossary of Physis: A Theory of Power; the book will be published on Zenodo in October 2026. The English wording is provisional until the official English glossary is published.

AuthorEvren Öztürk
Published19 September 2026
Research programPhysis
First appearancePhysis: A Theory of Power
Developed inPhysis: A Theory of Power — Chapter 7, §1.1a–b

Related concepts

Freedom