Conversations with Peter Boghossian The Death of Liberalism w/ Philip Pilkington
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Jun 24, 2025 
In a thought-provoking chat, economist Philip Pilkington delves into the collapse of liberalism, tracing its roots back to John Locke. He argues that liberalism has become a philosophical dead end, burdened by contradictions and identity politics. The conversation navigates the rise of nationalism and disillusionment with liberal ideals, questioning what a post-liberal future might look like. They discuss the impact of technology and economic shifts on society, pondering whether ancient ethics could provide a new guiding framework as Western civilization faces existential challenges.
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Liberalism's Contract Theory Limits
- Liberalism is based on John Locke's contract theory, asserting all social relations should be contractual.
- Its collapse stems from pushing contract theory to absurd extremes impacting state and personal relations.
Contract Inflation in Liberalism
- Liberalism faces "contract inflation" by extending contractual relations to all aspects of life, causing dysfunction.
- Attempts to maximize individual liberty through contracts now lead to chaos instead of social smoothing.
Post-Liberal Future Emerges
- Liberalism is collapsing, leading to a post-liberal future embracing ancient ethics and teleological thinking.
- This involves revisiting classical roots instead of continuing with an overstretched liberal ideology.
