Merkur2010-09-08Summary Merkur 9/2010Inspired by Wilhelm von Humboldt's famous essay, the double issue presents "Ideas for an attempt to limit state action": from nineteenth-century social legislation to today's welfare state, a benevolent etatism was established in Germany that has generally been understood as a matter of course. But how high are the costs of the German state's raison d'etre? Finances aside, it is a question of liberty and responsibility.The first section of the issue revives classic writings on ideas of liberty while the second puts German circumstances in liberal perspective. Liberty -- this much is clear -- is not nice but means rather risks and the threat of failure. As Kant stressed, it requires courage to lead an autonomous life.Merkur's 280-paged double issue, titled "The limits of state action. On liberty and paternalism", will be published in mid September 2010.