The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg The Revolutions of 1776 | Interview: Phillip Muñoz
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Aug 7, 2025 Phillip Muñoz, Tocqueville Professor of Political Science at Notre Dame, dives into the fascinating revolutions of 1776. He discusses how these events shaped ideas about individual rights and governance, contrasting American and French revolutionary principles. The conversation touches on the influence of postliberalism and the crucial role of religion in politics. Muñoz and Jonah explore cultural shifts impacting youth perspectives, particularly around family values and societal engagement, revealing a complex interplay between ideology and contemporary issues.
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Three American Revolution Ideas
- The American Revolution embodies three key ideas: political authority by consent, government securing natural rights, and government limits respecting religious authority.
- These principles distinguished it from earlier revolutions by affirming freedom from state-enforced salvation.
Jesus and Political Authority
- Jesus' teaching to "render unto Caesar" separates political authority from religious authority.
- This foundational idea shaped Western political thought and influenced the harmonious state-religion separation in America.
Natural Rights Limit Authority
- The American founders understood natural rights are part of natural law, which limits all authority including the people’s.
- This moral law prevents tyranny and supports rights-based government unlike unbounded popular will.
