A great event at Princeton on "The Free Society"

Princeton's James Madison Program (which is directed by Robby George) is hosting what looks to be an outstanding conference, "The Free Society:  Foundations and Challenges," on May 14-15.  More information is here.  And, here is the blurb:

Freedom is the unifying theme of modern civilization. For the last two centuries, almost all important movements of thought and action in the nations of the developed west have looked to freedom as their aim and justification. Today, the aspiration to freedom seems to dominate political discourse in all corners of the world. Nevertheless, freedom is not simply a creed but also a question. For many disputes persist concerning the character of a truly free society, the conditions that allow freedom to flourish, and the challenges that free societies must confront. Moreover, the very progress of human freedom tends to raise questions about its compatibility with other cherished principles such as equality, virtue, community, and tradition.

The conference addresses some of the questions that arise in connection with the quest for freedom. Scholars in the social sciences and humanities will address a variety of issues including:

• What is the relationship between liberal education and the free society?

• How is freedom to be reconciled with and supported by the discipline imposed by the rule of law?

• Does a capitalist economy foster a society that is just as well as free?

• How can freedom be preserved when a society is under threat of terrorist attack?

• How does the aspiration to freedom appear in light of claims of divine revelation?

• What historical conditions are necessary for free societies to emerge?