ENGLISH

The Tragedy of Liberalism: An Alternative Defense of a Political Tradition

By Bert Van Den Brink

Book information

Publisher
State University of New York Press
Year
2000
ISBN
9780791446706, 0791446700
Open Library ID
OL7802343M
Language
english
Format
CHM
Filesize
579 kB (592536 bytes)
Series
S U N Y Series in Social and Political Thought
Pages
270\0
Time added
2010-05-31 00:48:14

Description

A defense of liberalism, understood as a perfectionist doctrine that presupposes an ideal but controversial notion of human well-being. Drawing on recent developments in liberal theory, Bert van den Brink develops an alternative defense of liberalism. He argues that liberal theorists should admit that their doctrine is not neutral with regard to conceptions of the good life--that it in fact fosters ideals of personal autonomy and a pluralist environment. These ideals generate irreconcilable, tragic conflicts between liberal and nonliberal ideals, and it is only by taking these conflicts seriously that liberals can learn of the unwanted consequences of liberal doctrine, effectively rebut critics, and react adequately to the complex pluralism of contemporary societies.

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