EBOOK
The Tyranny of Liberalism
Understanding and Overcoming Administered Freedom, Inquisitorial Tolerance, and Equality by Command
James Kalb3
(2)
About
When it comes to liberalism, the usual story in postwar America is one of decline, accompanied by the subplot of conservatism's ascendance. But take a longer view-look beyond and below politics-and it is the unchallenged triumph of liberalism and its philosophical assumptions that ought to command our attention. The triumph of liberalism means the tyranny of liberalism, explains James Kalb in this illuminating book, for liberalism is the extension into the sociopolitical realm of modern scientific thought and technological rationality. These modes of thinking are regarded by nearly everyone today as uniquely authoritative; those institutions and beliefs which do not conform are regarded at best as annoyances, and at worst as evil. Furthermore, Kalb shows how liberalism is an expression of the interests and outlook of commercial and managerial elites, who are suspicious of less rationalized and controllable forms of social organization like the family.
Related Subjects
Reviews
"The title of this book may seem oxymoronic, which testifies to how completely the regime of freedom and equality that liberalism claims to be has triumphed over other sociopolitical ideas. . . . Without any specialist jargon, reams of statistics, or heavy-handed anecdotes, Kalb makes us see how all the ills of liberalism logically proceed from its deliberate philosophical poverty. Preparatory to
Ray Olson, Booklist
"James Kalb's investigation of the increasingly oppressive character of liberalism is a conceptually rich and ingeniously argued study going back to the beginnings of the liberal worldview. The author is relentless in working to uncover the invitation to tyranny that has always been inherent in the 'philosophy of freedom.' Kalb tries to remove any doubt that the social engineering and wars against
Paul Gottfried, Raffensperger Chair, Department of Political Science, Elizabethtown Colleg
"This work is a source of consolation for anyone who has had to endure the interference of managerial elites and technocrats undermining their creativity and standards of excellence. It shows that liberalism really is the ideology of a particular class and also a kind of class religion. Like Alasdair MacIntyre, Kalb draws attention to the way in which liberalism operates to conceal what it does. H
Paul Gottfried, Raffensperger Chair, Department of Political Science, Elizabethtown Colleg