Just and Sinner Podcast A Conversation with Robert George on Rights, Postliberalism, and Religious Pluralism
Oct 20, 2025
Dr. Robert George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton, dives into the essence of rights and duties in his work, Seeking Truth and Speaking Truth. He contrasts the idea of God-given rights with utilitarian views and emphasizes the inherent human dignity tied to rights. George discusses the importance of institutional neutrality in education and advocates for pluralism on campuses. He also shares insights on combating ideological monocultures and expresses optimism about emerging programs promoting diverse viewpoints.
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Rights Grounded In Human Dignity
- Robert George ties human dignity and fundamental rights to humans being rational agents made in the image of God.
- He argues rights follow from inherent dignity grounded in agency, not from government grants.
Why Rights Can't Be Government Gifts
- George contrasts utilitarian denial of rights with the view that rights are gifts from God and thus not revocable by government.
- He warns that treating rights as government grants allows regimes to rescind them without moral fault.
The Good Comes Before Rights
- George rejects Rawlsian priority of rights over the good and insists the good is prior to the right.
- He says rights should be derived from fundamental aspects of human flourishing, preventing limitless claims.
