liberalism – Gus diZerega

The troubling case of eugenics

Posted on June 11, 2020June 11, 2020 by Gus

In the late 1880s Darwin’s cousin, Francis Galton advocated applying scientific insights to human reproduction. He label his proposed science “eugenics.” Galton argued that just as physical traits were obviously inherited, the same could be said for mental qualities. In … Read more

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Neoconservatism’s Paradoxical Origins

Posted on May 29, 2020May 29, 2020 by Gus

Neoconservatism has a complex parentage, partly home grown and even more European. It originally grew out of tensions internal to many liberals who made up a crucial part of the Democratic coalition Franklin Roosevelt had created, a coalition that had … Read more

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On Honoring July 4

Posted on July 4, 2019July 4, 2019 by Gus

On the Fourth of July it is traditional to think at least a little about the founding of our country. In a country that replaced the birthdays of specific presidents of great historical importance with the anonymous “Presidents’ Day” holiday, … Read more

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Transforming the Cultural Appropriation Debate: Pagan and magickal insights.

Posted on September 2, 2017March 14, 2021 by Gus

The common academic issue of whether or not one engages in ‘cultural appropriation’ has divided the Pagan community. I have been very explicit in my dislike of the idea, but in working out just why I dislike the concept I … Read more

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Thoughts on shooting Congressmen and the dissolution of America

Posted on June 14, 2017June 23, 2017 by Gus

The attempted murder of several Congressmen and shooting of one marks another step in the progressive dissolution of the U.S. occurring before our eyes. That the shooter could have been either from the right or the left indicates how close … Read more

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Spontaneous Order and Liberalism’s Complex Relation to Democracy

Posted on February 8, 2016June 29, 2018 by Gus

Spontaneous orders are natural outgrowths of liberal principles and a better understanding of them sheds light on a fateful split between nineteenth-century American and European liberal traditions that remains very relevant today. This essay is my most complete discussion of … Read more

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What’s in a Name? Capitalism, Crony Capitalism, and Corporatism: Why Terminology Matters

Posted on March 6, 2015March 7, 2015 by Gus

A number of classical liberals to whom I sent my paper on capitalism and civil society replied there is much with which they agree, but think I should use the term “crony capitalism” rather than “capitalism.” They point out my … Read more

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Progressives again blowing the lessons of the election

Posted on January 7, 2015January 8, 2015 by Gus

As Republicans take over the Senate as well as the House, progressive American leaders are trying to find a silver lining, and so far guaranteeing the clouds will remain dark. Think Progress, which has many intelligent posts, has one by … Read more

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Deep Ecology and Liberalism: The Greener Implications of Evolutionary Liberal Theory

Posted on July 10, 2014July 10, 2014 by Gus

DEEP ECOLOGY AND LIBERALISM:

The Greener Implications of Evolutionary Liberal Theory

Review of Politics, 58:4, Fall, 1996.

Gus diZerega

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DEEP ECOLOGY AND LIBERALISM: A RECONCILIATION: The Greener Implications of Evolutionary Liberal Theory

Modern environmentalism has two dimensions. The … Read more

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Liberalism, Conservatism and spirituality, Part III: the crisis of nihilism and the decline of liberty

Posted on September 13, 2013September 13, 2013 by Gus

Witches and Pagans now has Part III of my essay on liberalism, conservatism, their intellectual and moral collapse and what spiritualities of immanence might be able to do to revitalize them. If you wonder why liberals are so weak and … Read more

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