Why liberalism failed by Patrick Deneen

In this study of the Western democratic state, known here as “liberalism”, Patrick Deneen, professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame, takes up the classic political philosophical thread from his predecessor, the German-Jewish philosopher Leo Strauss , whom I wrote about in this series .

WEST LEFT ANTIQUE IDEAL

In short, Strauss and Deneen’s critique is that Western Europe, first from Machiavelli’s 16th century and then also the United States with thoughts drawn primarily from the “proto-liberal” John Locke in the 17th century, has deviated from what has characterized Western civilization since antiquity.

At that time, political (urban) systems were based on the citizens’ self-chosen limitations through common virtues, especially within sex and material conditions. A government limited itself by its members.

“The Greeks especially regarded self-government as a continuity from the individual to the polity, with the realization of either only possible in the virtues of temperance, wisdom, moderation and justice, were mutually sustained and fostered”.