Abstract
It is generally said that institution and freedom are incompatible. Because we think that institution restricts actor's freedom. But, how does institution restrict actor's freedom ? In this essay, I would like to examine Giddens' social theory and to give an answer to this question. Institution does not deny actor's freedom. Institution constitutes a situation in which an actor will choice his/her action, but cannot decide itself. On the contrary, institution is made and found by free actors. In other words, “to be in an institution” and “to bd free” are two aspects of one event, which is constituted by action. So, institution itself is not unchangeable and imperative. We only regard it as unchangeable and imperative.
