Category: Social and Political Philosophy
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No Alternative to (Classical) Liberalism
I wrote yesterday, "There can be no peaceful coexistence in one and the same geographical area over the long term except under classical liberalism." But what is classical liberalism? Here I found an adequate characterization: Fukuyama follows John Gray in defining liberalism in terms of four broad characteristics. It is individualist in asserting the moral primacy of the…
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Moral Community and Civil War
Malcolm Pollack writes, and I respond in blue: Visited your blog today . . . and saw this striking passage: But also: haven't the barbarians forfeited their (normative) humanity to such an extent that they no longer deserve moral consideration? Do they form a moral community with us at all? I am…
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Donald W. Livingston
PROFILES Home | Profile | Donald W. Livingston Donald W. Livingston TAGS U.S. History Philosophy and Methodology WORKS PUBLISHED IN Speeches and Presentations Mises Daily Article The Journal of Libertarian Studies Contact Donald W. Livingston Donald Livingston is a professor of philosophy at Emory University with an "expertise in the writings of David Hume." Livingston received his doctorate at Washington…
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What is Fascism? Are MAGA Republicans Fascists?
The Left's favorite 'F' word is of course 'fascist.' But of course they don't define it, the better to use it as a verbal cudgel. But we know that responsible discussion of a topic begins with a definition of terms. What is a fascist? More to the point, what is fascism? The term expresses what…
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Adeimantus, Machiavelli, Bloom, and Strauss
Recent events make it clear that the West is on the wane. The sun is setting on the Land of Evening. As the West goes under, the philosopher, like the proverbial owl of Minerva, spreads his wings in the gathering dusk so as to attain an altitude from which to survey the passing scene. He…
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National Conservatism: A Statement of Principles
This document espouses a doctrine fairly close to what I call enlightened nationalism. Critical remarks anent the Statement here.
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Identity Politics: Is it Possible to Remain Classically Liberal?
There is an identity politics of the Left and an identity politics of the Right. The second kind became obvious to me when, after objecting to the tribalism of blacks, Hispanics, and other racial/ethnic groups, and after calling for a transcending of tribalism, I was countered by certain alt-rightists/neo-reactionaries who reject any such transcending and…
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Three Lockean Reasons to Oppose the Democrats
I was once a Democrat. They changed for the worse; I changed for the better. Substack latest.
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Edward W. Farrell on Populism
An impressive essay by an old friend of this weblog. Excerpts: Populists feel betrayed by the movers and shakers of the world who they faintly hoped were working in their best interests but were actually working in the interest of something else. What is this "something else?" Nothing less than a perfectly homogenous world untroubled…
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Are We the Government?
"We the people are the government." (Joe Biden) Barack Obama used to spout that same falsehood. "The government is us." It is a nice question whether they were lying or bullshitting. The liar cares enough about the truth to want to hide it from us. The bullshitter doesn't care about the truth and will…
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Free Speech Absolutism?
Time was when leftists were latitudinarian to the point of extremism on the question of free speech. But of late a "sea change into something rich and strange" (Shakespeare, The Tempest) has occurred, the 'trigger' being the liberation of Twitter by Elon Musk. Leftists are now spooked by the specter of 'free speech absolutism.' And…
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An Oligarchic Pathocracy
That may well be what we have going in the good old USA at present. You decide. Oligarchy: a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes. (Merriam-Webster) Pathocracy: "A system of government . . . wherein a small pathological minority takes control over a society of normal people."…
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Quality and Equality
Quality of life is what counts, not equality of outcome. To enforce the latter is to destroy the former.
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Which Side Are You On?
I have criticized Rod Dreher and others for "floating above the fray," for trying to be objective and impartial in those practical situations in which immediate action is required and in which the requisite action is impeded by the otherwise laudable attempt to arrive at the objective truth of the situation. "Can't you see that…
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Christianity and Individualism
Mark Tooley: Easter is a timely reminder of Christianity’s development of individualism, which is now widely derided by many on both sides of the political spectrum. Yes. Many on the post-liberal left replace individualism, which they equate with greed and capitalism, with raucous identity politics stressing communal identities based on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity or…