Inclusion, integration, assimilation. Conceptions of incorporation of Others and definition of “freedom” in contemporary philosophy and political thought of modern liberal democracies: considerations of philosophers and cultural representations

Equality and freedom are the foundations of liberal democracy and the Western society. However, they can be differently defined, and their definition implicates the different conditions and shaping of both culture and society. The main line of distinction is the orientation of definitions of both equality and freedom: they can be individual-oriented or group-oriented. The philosophical dilemma about what is true freedom and true equality is also a practical problem: which definition should be applied in today’s social politics and how to integrate individuals and groups into a single multicultural postmodern society. I shall demonstrate the main conceptions and potential consequences of their application. Then I shall analyse cultural representations of those conceptions. Such representations not only reflect but also influence popular thinking. Finally, I shall try to draw some conclusions regarding the implementation of different social conceptions.