Karl Popper, Freedom and the Discourse of the "Political"

K. Popper, a prominent scientist and logician, was also well-known for his contribution to social and political philosophy. Kantian ideal of freedom being his main concern, the thinker spent much effort to root his political creed in his general theoretical world-view. The article analyses Popper's thinking in order to state its relevance to the concept of freedom as it is interpreted by recent political theorists. Popper's worldview is opposed to the developments which took place in the political philosophy within the same time-span. Starting at late 1920-s, a new concept was put into use by Karl Schmitt - that of the political. Viewed against this development, Popper's idea of freedom displays its weaknesses the main of which is non-functional nature.