Single Idea 23112

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / g. Liberalism critique]

Full Idea

Liberals comfortably believe that autonomy minimises contingency, that humans are disposed to the good, that wickedness is due to remediable institutions, and that humans are morally equal because of their autonomy.

Gist of Idea

Liberals ignore contingency, and think people are good and equal, and institutions cause evil

Source

John Kekes (Against Liberalism [1997], 07.4)

Book Reference

Kekes,John: 'Against Liberalism' [Cornell 1997], p.158


A Reaction

In a nutshell, Kekes thinks liberals are naïve. That institutions cause evil sounds more Marxist than liberal. When individuals become evil, it is reasonable for us to think that this need not have been the case.