Page "Stanley Brehaut Ryerson" Paragraph 15

The notion of Freedom has been of paramount concern for Ryerson, whether it is the freedom of French Canadians or the freedom of the working class in general, Ryerson has consistently built his arguments around the notion of freedom.

In his philosophical work, The Open Society: Paradox and Challenge, published in 1965 outside of the CPC ’ s press, Ryerson discussed his vision of an open and free society.

The crux of his argument is found in the issue of freedom ; he saw the past as “ an evolution of people in society, marked by harsh conflict of contending classes and national forces, generating a progression toward greater freedom .” The driving force behind all of society is the nature of class existence and each struggle the oppressed class wages brings it closer to freedom.

According to Ryerson, and many other Marxist thinkers, the ability to breakthrough to a more open society will come about from the “ dispelling of the fog of false consciousness, gaining for ourselves a true recognition of the real nature of the existing social structure .”