Freedom and Virtue: The Conservative/ Libertarian Debate - Softcover

George W. Carey

Softcover

ISBN 10: 188292696X ISBN 13: 9781882926961

Publisher: ISI Books, 2004

Synopsis

The long-running debates between between conservatives and libertarians are vigorous and highly charged, dealing with ideas about the very nature of liberty and morality. Like no other single work, Freedom and Virtue explores what unites and divides the adherents of these two important American traditions―shedding much light on our current political landscape.

About this title

Review

A helpful primer to the fundamental rift among right-wing intellectuals in the United States. Which is more important: personal liberty or society's maintenance of a transcendent moral order? During much of the cold war, libertarians and conservatives kept their differences hidden. When they came out in the open, it was often understood that mutual opposition to communism and the growth of the welfare state forced them to make common cause. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the slowed growth of big government, however, the two camps are now regularly at each other's throats. This split represents an important difference in political philosophy, and Carey's wisely chosen articles nicely lay out the debate in terms all can understand. --John J. Miller

From the Back Cover

"We know the differences between liberals, on the one hand, and conservatives and libertarians on the other. What is not so widely appreciated are the differences in philosophical outlook between conservatives and libertarians. George W. Carey has assembled an excellent collection making the understanding of those differences readily accessible to the average person." -Walter E. Williams, author, Do the Right Thing: The People's Economist Speaks "Since before their independence from Great Britain, Americans have been torn between their love of freedom and their recognition that any good life must be based on virtue. Better than any other volume, this book brings together classic statements and contemporary reflections that illuminate our current political debates. Professor Carey's lucid and penetrating introduction alone renders this book invaluable. Freedom and Virtue is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand questions fundamental to man's quest for a good life lived in common with his fellows."-Bruce Frohnen, author, Virtue and the Promise of Conservatism

"The decline of liberalism has enabled conservative and libertarian values to shape public policy during the past two decades. It is essential to keep alive the conservative-libertarian coalition that achieved the successes of the Reagan revolution during the 1980s, and of Republican governors during the 1990s. This marvelous collection of essays reveals the points of controversy between the two camps. But it also shows much common ground in the age-old search for liberty without license, and virtue without tyranny."-Governor John Engler

About this edition

• Publisher: ISI Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 188292696X
• ISBN 13: 9781882926961
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 223