The Auron MacIntyre Show Liberalism, Conservatism, and Leo Strauss | Guest: Paul Gottfried | 10/13/25
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Oct 13, 2025 
Paul Gottfried, a conservative intellectual and editor emeritus at Chronicles magazine, delves into the intricate history of liberalism and its evolution. He distinguishes historical liberalism from modern interpretations, warning against oversimplifications in political analysis. The discussion extends to the influence of Leo Strauss on conservatism, critiquing both neoconservative thought and the bureaucratic implications of civil rights laws. Gottfried also examines the tension between elitist and democratic ideals, reflecting on the future of right-wing intellectualism.
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19th-Century Liberalism Was Narrow And Conservative
- Paul Gottfried argues 19th-century liberalism was narrower and more conservative than modern usage suggests.
- Early liberals favored restricted franchise, accepted hierarchy, and opposed many modern social rights.
Liberalism Contained Seeds Of Later Expansion
- Gottfried sees seeds in early liberal thought that later enable egalitarian and managerial developments.
- He warns against simple causal chains from early thinkers to modern radical outcomes.
Managerialism Plus Mass Democracy Changed Liberalism
- Managerial state and mass democracy jointly transformed liberalism into a globalizing force.
- Early liberals didn't foresee managerial dominance or its cultural consequences.
