The conservatives who want to undo the Enlightenment – The Week
Conservative thought in America is becoming more radical. Which means that it's reverting to the form it often took in other times in Europe in the wake of the French Revolution, in reaction to the liberalism of the Enlightenment.
Unlike the tamer conservatism of the postwar decades, today's conservative critics don't locate the source of their discontent within the liberal tradition with the Progressive movement or the New Deal, for example, or the sexual revolution of the 1960s and '70s. Instead, the most influential and cogent conservatives of the present among them Patrick Deneen of the University of Notre Dame, Adrian Vermeule of Harvard Law School, and Sohrab Ahmari of The New York Post take aim at the liberal tradition itself and suggest that our problems stem from errors that have marked it from the beginning.
The indictment runs like this: The original liberal theorists including Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and the American constitutional framers aimed to inspire the creation of individualistic societies in which people actively cut themselves loose from tradition and other moral constraints in pursuit of a life of ever-purer liberation. Many if not all of our challenges and difficulties from moral decay to capitalist decadence to widespread anxiety and depression flow from this original liberal goal, which has largely been achieved. The only effective way to respond to these challenges and difficulties is therefore to reject liberalism from top to bottom and look for another basis on which to found political and social life.
It's a powerful critique. But what would it mean to see it through to truly break free from liberalism, to create a fully post-liberal society? How would our lives change? What would our fellow citizens believe? How would they think and live?
The answer, I fear, is that they would think and live an awful lot like that portion of the American population today that sees the ongoing pandemic largely as an act of God that we should just accept without doing much by way of control or mitigation. A reporter at a recent Trump rally spoke to attendees who expressed this outlook. One is quoted as saying "I'm not afraid to die. The Good Lord takes care of me. If I die, I die.
That is the pre-liberal outlook that would be more fully revived and encouraged if today's radical right-wing critics of liberalism get their way.
The early modern proto-liberals who helped to inspire the Enlightenment had several aims, but a key one was the promulgation of an account of human origins that could serve as an alternative to the biblical narrative. The Bible describes the original human beings as created by God and placed in paradise. With their first sin disobeying the command to refrain from eating fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil Adam and Eve are cast out of Eden to make their way in the world. But they are not abandoned by God, who continues to take a keen interest in his creation.
The remainder of the Hebrew Bible tells the story of one specially favored group of human beings as they oscillate between pious obedience and a mixture of disobedience and indifference toward the divine. At no point is God's providence and overarching concern withdrawn. The Christian New Testament expands on this story, adding the promise of redemption from sin at the hands of humanity's savior and the gratuitous gift of eternal life after death.
The first liberal thinkers were convinced that the biblical outlook had landed Europe in a mess. With most people certain their fate was in the hands of an all-powerful, all-knowing, and transcendentally good God, the norm was passivity before nature, priests, and princes. As a result, European life was marked by poverty, ignorance, violence, and tyranny. To change this, people needed to be persuaded that it was unwise to put their faith in divine providence. They needed to recognize an imperative to take matters into their own hands to devote themselves to a kind of humanistic self-help program.
"God will provide, said the pious. To which the proto-liberals responded, "No, he will not.
These writers helped to effect this change of view by proposing an alternative to the biblical account of human origins in a Garden of Eden. In this "state of nature, men and women are alone, struggling to survive and prosper without a divine overseer, needing to protect ourselves in a harsh and indifferent universe. It was up to us to devise a foundation for government that would secure minimal social goods life, liberty, property, and (in the most fortunate of circumstances) the "commodious living made possible by the division of labor and commercial activity.
The early liberal promise was this: If you stop passively expecting God to provide for you, it will become possible to create a world far more hospitable to human flourishing with good (or at least less predatory) government, tolerance for freedom of worship, an economy that over time produces increasing prosperity for all, education that allows for scientific, technical, and medical advances to make life longer, easier, less painful, and more pleasurable. All of this and more is within our reach. But no one will provide it for us. We need to take responsibility for ourselves and act to achieve it.
This vision of a self-reliant human future helped to inspire the Enlightenment and ultimately transformed the world, creating societies shaped by leaps in scientific knowledge, wealth, travel, communications, and health care. It made a world in which a new virus could arise and spread across the globe in a matter of weeks but also a world in which most of us knew it was coming, could try to prepare for it by changing our behavior, and begin working to devise therapeutic treatments and a vaccine to hold down the death toll.
But of course all of that depends on people maintaining the early liberal's disenchanted outlook on the human situation. If large numbers of people begin to reassert a biblical view in which the proper existential stance is one of obedience to higher powers that are presumed to reward and punish us if we start once again to treat such misfortunes as viruses, hurricanes, and wild fires as providential acts of God we must passively accept we will lose our edge in the battle to defend and expand the boundaries of a world made more habitable by human effort and ingenuity.
A post-liberal world would be an awful lot like the pre-liberal world. Remember that the next time you read an author making the case for a more radical, even revolutionary, form of conservatism or hear an unmasked person at a public rally say, "The Good Lord takes care of me. If I die, I die.
That's the sound of the post-liberal world being born.
Read more from the original source:
The conservatives who want to undo the Enlightenment - The Week
- Ben Shapiro loves trolling liberals. Republicans are putting that to use. - POLITICO - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- Conservatives and Liberals Are Fighting Over Who Gets Monty Python Better - Cracked.com - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- NDP to have 'tough conversations' about its deal with Liberals at coming retreat: MP - Yahoo News Canada - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- Poor conservatives and wealthy liberals overestimate wealth of their neighborhoods - PsyPost - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- NDP to have 'tough conversations' about its deal with Liberals at coming retreat: MP - CBC News - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- A dark day for Germany is a dark day for Europe: liberals react to far right success in German state election as it happened - The Guardian - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- How BC United (formerly the B.C. Liberals) collapsed and what could happen next - National Post - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- Robert Libman: Poll holds hidden hope for Quebec Liberals if they find the right leader - Montreal Gazette - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- N.S. Liberals say they would make transit free if elected - CityNews Halifax - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- NDP to have 'tough conversations' about its deal with Liberals at coming retreat: MP - CP24 - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- NDP to have tough conversations about its deal with Liberals at coming retreat: MP - Toronto Star - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- The biggest tests are yet to come for NSW Liberals after a shambolic few weeks - ABC News - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- The Liberals are losing and the clock is running out. Its time to pull their goalie - Toronto Star - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- NDP to have 'tough conversations' about its deal with Liberals at coming retreat: MP - CTV News - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- Poilievre urges Singh to pull out of deal with Liberals and trigger fall election - National Post - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- Fred DeLorey: Do the Liberals care about environmental stewardship or just trendy climate issues? The Jasper disaster provides a damning answer - The... - August 9th, 2024 [August 9th, 2024]
- From sunny ways to cloudy days: Canadians have tired of Justin Trudeau - The Washington Post - July 26th, 2024 [July 26th, 2024]
- When Liberal promises meet fiscal reality - The Globe and Mail - July 26th, 2024 [July 26th, 2024]
- Hillbilly Elegy and J.D. Vances art of having it both ways - The Washington Post - July 26th, 2024 [July 26th, 2024]
- Secularists revealed as a unique political force in America, with an intriguing divergence from liberals - PsyPost - July 26th, 2024 [July 26th, 2024]
- Kamala Harris instantly ignited the Democrats. Will a leadership change do the same for the federal Liberals? - Toronto Star - July 26th, 2024 [July 26th, 2024]
- Supreme Court Reform is Code for Putting More Liberals on the Bench - Daily Citizen - July 26th, 2024 [July 26th, 2024]
- With Calls To Expand Supreme Court, Liberals Hope To Skirt the Rules | Opinion - Newsweek - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Opinion: What Liberals and Conservatives can learn from the French and British elections - The Globe and Mail - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Michael Bonner: Defenders of the liberal faith feel the fire - The Hub - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Liberal outlook plus other letters, July 10: For Justin Trudeau, he would do well to remember there is no I in team - The Globe and Mail - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Woke policies fall flat as NY suburban Dems fight to take back party in blow to activist liberals - New York Post - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Conservative Behind Trump Agenda Issues Cryptic Threat to Liberals - The New Republic - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- A Liberal attack line on dental care that has no bite - The Globe and Mail - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Hollywoods Rob Reiner Tweets Biden Should Step Down and Liberals Lose Their Minds - The New York Sun - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- The Formation Of The Anti-Liberal Alliance But Liberal Is Not A Synonym Of Woke - Middle East Media Research Institute - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Colleges robbing liberal students by having their views go unchallenged, says Princeton prof - The Lion - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- LaSallemardVerdun: The Liberals' next test - The Writ - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Liberalism and the Wests Crisis of Meaning - Quillette - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Opinion: When Liberals talk about Poilievre, Trudeau drowns out the sound - The Globe and Mail - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Liberal Media Scream: Welker pushes Meet the Press even further left - Washington Examiner - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Liberals overestimated GDP defence spending projection in 2024 budget: PBO - True North - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Letters to the editor: The Liberals and NDP should swallow their pride and amalgamate. Election lessons from France and Britain, plus other letters to... - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Europe's liberals flip-flop on the far right - POLITICO Europe - June 22nd, 2024 [June 22nd, 2024]
- What would a Reform surge do to Labour and the Liberal Democrats? Two scenarios mapped - The Conversation - June 22nd, 2024 [June 22nd, 2024]
- What does the future hold for the liberals in the European Parliament? - Euronews - June 22nd, 2024 [June 22nd, 2024]
- Liberalism's Natural Disadvantageand How to Overcome It - The New Republic - June 22nd, 2024 [June 22nd, 2024]
- A byelection to watch: What the Toronto-St. Paul's vote means for Justin Trudeau - The Conversation - June 22nd, 2024 [June 22nd, 2024]
- Federal Liberals urgently need to shift terrain with bold ideas - Canada's National Observer - June 22nd, 2024 [June 22nd, 2024]
- Nuclear won't be a voter turn off in cities: Liberals - The New Daily - June 22nd, 2024 [June 22nd, 2024]
- Justin is the perfect leader of the Justin Party Winnipeg Free Press - Winnipeg Free Press - June 22nd, 2024 [June 22nd, 2024]
- Opinion | What Have We Liberals Done to the West Coast? - The New York Times - June 16th, 2024 [June 16th, 2024]
- Opinion | Whats Stopping Liberals From Having Kids? - The New York Times - June 16th, 2024 [June 16th, 2024]
- Column: Secret audio of Alito isn't the smoking gun liberals think - The Virginian-Pilot - June 16th, 2024 [June 16th, 2024]
- Antarctic Jobs Threatened by Liberals' Delivery Failure - Mirage News - June 16th, 2024 [June 16th, 2024]
- Commentary: Slinging 'liberal' in 5th District GOP primary - Richmond Times-Dispatch - June 16th, 2024 [June 16th, 2024]
- Laura Yuen: It's time for regular Americans (liberals included) to reclaim the US flag - The Pantagraph - June 16th, 2024 [June 16th, 2024]
- Liberals Shouldn't Give Up On 'Law and Order' - The Bulwark - June 16th, 2024 [June 16th, 2024]
- What went wrong for the EU election-losing Greens and Liberals? - Euronews - June 16th, 2024 [June 16th, 2024]
- NOAH FELDMAN: Secret audio of Alito isn't the smoking gun liberals think - Indiana Gazette - June 16th, 2024 [June 16th, 2024]
- Opinion: Poilievre wriggles out of the Liberal trap, with a commitment to much broader tax reform - The Globe and Mail - June 16th, 2024 [June 16th, 2024]
- Opinion | The Happiness Gap Between Left and Right Isn't Closing - The New York Times - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Columbia protests: I read the university president's old memoir-manifesto. Yikes. - Slate - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Opinion: Poilievre to business: stop sucking up to Liberals and start sucking up to me - The Globe and Mail - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Grocery giants paid for friendly Liberal, Tory policy with decades of donations The Breach - The Breach - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Opinion: The Liberals' delays on foreign interference carry profound costs - The Globe and Mail - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Gaza is the greatest test liberalism has faced since 1945. And it is failing - Middle East Eye - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- NDP leader slams Liberals for giving nearly $26M to Costco, Loblaw in recent years - Yahoo News Canada - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- NDP leader slams Liberals for giving nearly $26-million to Costco, Loblaw in recent years - The Globe and Mail - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Evening Update: Liberals unveil foreign interference registry - The Globe and Mail - May 9th, 2024 [May 9th, 2024]
- Columbia crisis: Another massive failure of liberalism - Salon - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- MAGA is obsessed with Viktor Orban; liberals should be, too - - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Opinion | Justin Trudeau May Be No Match for the New World of Polarization - The New York Times - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Only 6% of vaccine injury claimants have been paid as Liberals earmark $36 million for program - True North - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- PC opposition blasts Liberals over handling of mental health and drug crisis - Yahoo News Canada - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Globe editorial: The Liberals' capital-gains tax hike punishes prosperity - The Globe and Mail - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Opinion: For the good of the Liberal party, Trudeau needs to think about his future - The Globe and Mail - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- 'Sopranos' Actress Says People In Hollywood Are Too 'Petrified' To Cross Liberals On Social Issues - The Daily Wire - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Liberals' plan to destroy super will drive up house prices - The New Daily - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Opinion: The foreign interference inquiry features a parade of senior Liberals protesting too much - The Globe and Mail - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- How liberals killed Earth Day - Washington Times - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- The Weekly Wrap: The Liberals lean all the way into class warfare - The Hub - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- Liberals Are Trying to Make Trump's Age an Issue. It Won't Work. - The New Republic - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- Letter | Liberal tribalism led to downfall of phonics - The Capital Times - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- Quebec Liberals will choose new leader during convention in June 2025 - Yahoo News Canada - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]