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Stenka25 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary
The meaning of ‘liberate’
the meaning of ‘liberate’
The passage below comes from ‘THE BLANK SLATE.’
http://evolbiol.ru/blankslate/blankslate.htm
They offer a touchstone by which we can identify suffering and oppression wherever they occur, unmasking the rationalizations of the powerful. They give us a way to see through the designs of self-appointed social reformers who would liberate us from our pleasures. They renew our appreciation for the achievements of democracy and of the rule of law. And they enhance the insights of artists and philosophers who have reflected on the human condition for millennia.
In this passage I’m not sure about the meaning of ‘liberate’.
Usually it has positive connotation, but in this context it seems to show negative connotation. (Am I right?)
I looked it up in the dictionary. In ‘thefreedictionary.com’ I found what fits into the context.
5. Informal. to steal or take over illegally:
?The prisoners liberated a consignment of chocolates.
Do you think I am right in my reasoning?
Thanks in advance.
The passage below comes from ‘THE BLANK SLATE.’
http://evolbiol.ru/blankslate/blankslate.htm
They offer a touchstone by which we can identify suffering and oppression wherever they occur, unmasking the rationalizations of the powerful. They give us a way to see through the designs of self-appointed social reformers who would liberate us from our pleasures. They renew our appreciation for the achievements of democracy and of the rule of law. And they enhance the insights of artists and philosophers who have reflected on the human condition for millennia.
In this passage I’m not sure about the meaning of ‘liberate’.
Usually it has positive connotation, but in this context it seems to show negative connotation. (Am I right?)
I looked it up in the dictionary. In ‘thefreedictionary.com’ I found what fits into the context.
5. Informal. to steal or take over illegally:
?The prisoners liberated a consignment of chocolates.
Do you think I am right in my reasoning?
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
"set us free from our pleasures". Perhaps the "self-appointed social reformers" see this as positive, but from the point of view of this text it seems that "liberate" is used ironically.
- "set us free from our pleasures".
- Perhaps the "self-appointed social reformers" see this as positive, but from the point of view of this text it seems that "liberate" is used ironically.
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2 Answers
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"set us free from our pleasures". Perhaps the "self-appointed social reformers" see this as positive, but from the point of view of this text it seems that "liberate" is used ironically.
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