Patrick Deneen | Why liberalism failed

In the second Ramsay Lecture for 2021 Ramsay Centre Deputy CEO Dr Stephen McInerney interviews Prof Patrick Deneen, author of Why Liberalism Failed.
Patrick Deneen is Professor of Political Science and David A. Potenziani College Chair of Constitutional Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Prior to joining the faculty of Notre Dame in 2012, he taught at Princeton University (1997-2005) and Georgetown University (2005-2012). From 1995-1997 he served as Speechwriter and Special Assistant to the Director of the U.S. Information Agency.
He is author of several books, including Why Liberalism Failed, published by Yale University Press in 2018. The book has been widely discussed and debated, earning a recommendation by former President Barack Obama, who wrote that “the book offers cogent insights into the loss of meaning and community that many in the West feel, issues that liberal democracies ignore at their own peril.”
In a wide-ranging discussion Professor Deneen and Dr McInerney examine liberalism, from its Greek, Roman and biblical roots, to its modern form. They explore Deneen’s thesis that while liberalism promised to free people from the limitations imposed on their self-determination, that liberation has come at a cost, with individualism replacing gratitude towards our past, our sense of obligation to future generations, and trust in liberal democracies.
They examine the role of technology alongside liberalism in the dissolution of traditional institutions such as the family, churches, and labour unions, and how this dismantling of social structures has disproportionately affected the poor. And they talk about how the election of former US President Donald Trump unveiled a deep distrust of the liberal establishment and an appetite for a new form of political order.
Finally, they ponder the question, if liberalism has failed, what will come next? And what elements of liberalism are worth saving?
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About the Ramsay Centre: The Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation is based in Sydney Australia. It was created with an endowment from the late Paul Ramsay AO, founder of Ramsay Health Care, to promote a deeper understanding of western civilisation, through scholarships, educational partnerships and events.
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[@jaxzheng7023]

shame the mainstream media or personalities will never address these pressing issues.

[@aquious953]

Now I am become liberal, the destroyer of worlds.

[@scottyjohnson9399]

destroyed by worlds LOL

[@user-ov4cj9yp9k]

@@scottyjohnson9399 maybe we can leran from China.

[@angelozachos8777]

@@user-ov4cj9yp9k The west has mucked things up - yes . But we have NOTHING to learn from contemporary China - nothing !

[@jeffg7478]

I don't blame liberals for the failures of our society and politics, it's the natural progression of their philosophy. I blame the so-called conservatives who are wholly liberal and but wear the cloak of conservatism. This is precisely why we have the Trumpist populist movement in America.

[@ramon2008]

The only thing to blame here is this ridiculous ideology of liberalism, and if one goes even further, the stupid idea of “reason” and the idea that reason can solve our problems.

[@jamesm.3829]

One of the few who highlighted this issue.

[@cshannon5735]

Another fine discussion/interview

[@landsea7332]

21:46 - Adam Smith was a philosopher who, in his second book, observed human behaviour in economic activities . Like all historical figures, his writings and words need to be understood in context of his time. When Adam Smith wrote " self interest " in his time , that meant "enlightened self interest " - which means acting in the common good for the benefit of all , and this will be eventually be returned as acting in their own interest . Most notably , Smith made the clear distinction between using capital to create wealth ( goods and agriculture ) and did not consider using capital to exploit others as contributing to the creation of wealth . Smith may well be the most misquoted or misunderstood historical figure of all time . .

[@copyright8291]

It's quite the opposite, people acting in self-interest - with their multitude of skills, values and propensities - creates of balance of offer-demand that will return as beneficial for the common good. This was Smith's thesis. More so, he didn't have the best opinion of the type of people who engaged in commerce in his day - in fact, he was quite disdainful of them - but understood their role in the system he observed and explained.

[@darbyheavey406]

Smith argued that self interest even greed has positive externalities.

[@landsea7332]

@@darbyheavey406 I do know Smith detested massive wealth inequality where merchants in Glasgow were rich , while there was massive urban poverty . From what I understand , Wealth of Nations needs to be understood in the context of Theory of Moral Sentiments . .

[@landsea7332]

@@copyright8291" people acting in self-interest - with their multitude of skills, values and propensities - creates of balance of offer-demand that will return as beneficial for the common good. " Yes , thanks for the correction. Smith " Its not from the benevolence of the Butcher , the brewer , or the the Baker , that we expect our dinner , but from their regard to their own self interest . " ( WN ) . Note that Smith does not say selfishness . He was writing during era of mercantilism . Dr. Hall explains her interpretation of Smith's "self interest" at 21: 08 kzbin.info/www/bejne/opO1o4Z_idWNi6c .

[@landsea7332]

@@copyright8291" people acting in self-interest - with their multitude of skills, values and propensities - creates of balance of offer-demand that will return as beneficial for the common good. This was Smith's thesis. " Thanks for the correction on this . Smith " It is not from the the benevolence of the butcher , the brewer , or the baker , that we expect our dinner , but from their regard to their own self interest. " " It is the great multiplication of the productions of all the different arts , in consequence of the division of labour , which occasions , in a well governed society , that universal opulence which extends itself to the lowest ranks of the people . " ( WN )

[@aquious953]

Of course you can recreate policies that worked in the past: family, national and economic sovereignty, constitution, etc.

[@jeffg7478]

Yes, it's possible to develop virtue. Not only possible but fundamental.

[@DissentOrConcur]

Where can i read about the ancient origins of Liberalism?

[@liammccann8763]

'The Truth will set you free' - Jn 8-32. The ruling class does not have Christ at the centre of it's vision for man, they ought to be challenged as to whom they owe their allegiance. In hoc signo vinces +

[@Bloodfangshows]

Moldbug and the neoreaction bloggers had some interesting ideas on where we might be going. Technofeudalism might be plausible.

[@polybian_bicycle]

This same idea floats around the Marxist* left as well. Yanis Varoufakis, for example, talks about this extensively. *To be distinguished from the woke left

[@cheddartheadventurer7511]

Techno feudalism is a dystopia

[@landsea7332]

@@polybian_bicycle - Yes - Yanis Varoufakis calls them " the cloud based ruling class. " kzbin.info/www/bejne/rX_JZJeEZbuLp6c Victor Davis Hanson has also identified this group . However , IMO Woke is a form of Neo Marxism. Here is Ryan Chapman's discussion on the topic kzbin.info/www/bejne/anu7ZZWpp89kbZo .

[@RUMPLEforeskin25]

It’s all j-wish nonsense

[@1pedalsteel374]

Yes, yes! One needs one’s betters!. Alas, all of the candidates, themselves, are sociopaths. All too human.

[@michaelderobertis5456]

A very impressive defence of his book. Both Patrick Deneen and Michael Hanby have drawn attention to the deleterious influences of technology under Liberalism not discussed explicitly here. In particular, how technology is a driving force for things like the radical transformation of marriage, a revolution that took place in just over one generation; i.e., to allow same-sex couples to procreate. Technology is more and more used to remediate the "limitations" of human nature, allowing humans to maximize their self-interest.

[@Me-lb8nd]

Same-sex couples do not procreate with each other. A woman in a same sex relationship (or even a woman whose husband's sperm is no good) may choose to use a sperm donor. A male in a same-sex relationship may decide to have his sperm implanted into a willing woman, who then gives up her child to the same-sex male marriage. It all seems weird to me, but it's really not my business, nor yours.

[@DorotheaAntonio]

I wouldn't use the word "aristocrats" or "aristocracy". "Aristos" means "the best".

[@phukyew14]

Demographics is destiny

[@Bloodfangshows]

Which way western man?

[@schizoaristocrat]

Based?

[@polybian_bicycle]

The only way seems to be down.

[@scottyjohnson9399]

Tomorrow

[@bryanoldenburg9870]

If Stephen found Donald Trump inarticulate, one wonders what the good professor would make of the White House's current inhabitant, who has a hard time stringing a coherent sentence together.

[@LilColDog]

Ha! One can only imagine:)

[@stevebrown8368]

It didn’t

[@Louis.R]

Read René Girard

[@ramon2008]

What should one read ? What idea of his do you find so important that you’d recommend his work ?

[@landsea7332]

9:40 - The idea that British peoples are Anglo - Saxons is a bit of a myth - falsely stereo typed by the "Liberals" in the 1960's. In reality , right up to the 1950's, British peoples migrated and invaded from all over Europe, from the Roman Empire right up to Scandinavia .

[@ramon2008]

Deneen has not gone far enough. At the core of all these issues is one thing and one thing only: the overemphasis of the western world since the time of Plato on .... REASON.