This book explores the norms we have and where we want to go with them. The project began by asking people what they think is the central value in society today. The responses point to notions of what seems "right" to people. We can move forward with these intuitions about the main tenet of our moral lives. Respondents named values regarding freedom of the Self, and concern for the Other. Indeed with freedom, we can respect others. And we must. People's lives are intertwined, and so freedom as a concept cannot be understood without taking account of this reality. The author suggests that the value to be taken as central is the moral freedom of respect. It ought to guide us in designing the society we want to build. The law can be a bridge towards that normative world. Jewish ethics may illuminate the path.

This book explains why we should stop thinking of freedom as limited to a right to be left alone. It explores how Kantian philosophy and Jewish thought instead give rise to a concept of positive freedom. At heart, freedom is inextricably linked to the obligation to respect the autonomy and dignity of others. Freedom thus requires relationships with others and provides an important source of meaning in liberal democratic societies. While individualism is said to foster detachment, positive freedom fosters relations. Moving from moral theory to law, duties are seen as intrinsic to rights. The book considers test cases involving the law of expression, regarding authorial rights and women's prayer at Jerusalem's holy site of the Western Wall. Affirmative duties of respect are essential. Rights held by copyright owners require that all authors - including so-called users - are shown respect. Moreover, rights held by the authorities at the Western Wall require that all worshippers - including those whose interpretation of Jewish law differs from that adopted by the authorities - are respected.

This book explains why we should stop thinking of freedom as limited to a right to be left alone. It explores how Kantian philosophy and Jewish thought instead give rise to a concept of positive freedom. At heart, freedom is inextricably linked to the obligation to respect the autonomy and dignity of others. Freedom thus requires relationships with others and provides an important source of meaning in liberal democratic societies. While individualism is said to foster detachment, positive freedom fosters relations. Moving from moral theory to law, duties are seen as intrinsic to rights. The book considers test cases involving the law of expression, regarding authorial rights and women's prayer at Jerusalem's holy site of the Western Wall. Affirmative duties of respect are essential. Rights held by copyright owners require that all authors - including so-called users - are shown respect. Moreover, rights held by the authorities at the Western Wall require that all worshippers - including those whose interpretation of Jewish law differs from that adopted by the authorities - are respected.