Late-stage liberalism
The Gray Area with Sean Illing
00:00
The Right to Rule
- John Gray considers Hobbes the first and last great liberal philosopher.
- Hobbes' liberalism lies in his rejection of any inherent right to rule based on virtue, intelligence, or divine appointment.
- He believed states are human constructs serving the people, an idea still relevant today.
- Gray argues this liberal notion is evident in the absence of rulers claiming power by prescriptive right in the modern world.
- This core liberal idea persists despite differing views on progress, humanity, and rights.
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