Coscienza e destrutturazione. Una prospettiva critica sulla libertà di coscienza e i suoi corollari a partire da Le correzioni di Jonathan Franzen

This article examines the relationship between freedom of conscience and both personal and collective deconstruction, drawing inspiration from Jonathan Franzen’s novel The Corrections. Through the experiences of the Lambert family members, the text explores the tensions between individual autonomy and collective dynamics, highlighting how implicit norms, social expectations, and religious frameworks exert deep, often invisible control over personal choices and identity. The analysis introduces the concept of the ‘right to deconstruct’ as a corollary of freedom of conscience – an instrument of emancipation not only from shared normative and value structures but also from the homogeneity imposed by religious groups. This right is presented as a radical possibility to redefine one’s existence, including both the exit from a religious group and the deconstruction of the group itself as legitimate outcomes of authentic self-determination. Franzen’s novel thus serves as a critical lens through which to reflect on the role of law in safeguarding religious freedom in increasingly complex and pluralistic societies. The article proposes a legal model that recognizes spaces for radical self-determination, balancing personal autonomy with social cohesion and offering an inclusive response to the challenges posed by the diversity of human experiences.