Rev Left Radio Exploring Political Theory: Liberal Socialism
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Oct 4, 2024 Matt McManus, a political science lecturer at the University of Michigan, dives deep into his book on liberal socialism. He contrasts liberal socialism with revolutionary Marxism and discusses key thinkers like Marx and Wollstonecraft. They explore the balance between personal property rights and economic democratization, and examine how governance influences societal equity. McManus advocates for a revival of Enlightenment values and critiques leftist skepticism, pushing for a unifying approach to combat authoritarianism.
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Core Tenets of Liberalism
- Liberalism champions moral equality and individual liberty.
- Some also emphasize solidarity, particularly in French liberal traditions.
Historical Shift in Moral Equality
- Pre-modern societies believed in hierarchical complementarity, where some lives were inherently more valuable.
- Liberalism, alongside other doctrines, challenged this by promoting moral equality.
Enlightenment's Influence on Progressivism
- The Enlightenment fueled progressive movements with its emphasis on reason and universalism.
- This rational approach aimed to dismantle hierarchical systems and create a more humane society.