The Politics of Human Frailty (Paperback)

Chris Insole

ISBN 10: 0334029570 / ISBN 13: 9780334029571

Published by SCM Press, London, 2004

About this Item

Paperback. The latest book in the Faith in Reason series provides a theological defence of a strand of political liberalism; a strand informed by the theological conviction that the human person is a creature incapable of its own perfection, although nonetheless called to and made for this perfection. Insole puts a question mark against easy caricatures of "liberalism", which tend to describe it as individualistic, hubristic and relativist. By attending to figures such as Edmund Burke, Lord Acton and John Rawls, Insole shows that a passion to protect the individual within liberal institutions arises not from an illusory sense of self-sufficiency, but from an insight into our fallen condition, characterised by frailty, vulnerability, yet also from a hope and intimation of redemption and an eternal divine order. Taking up the emphasis Rawls places on the wars of religion in 16th and 17th century Europe as the historical impetus for an emerging political liberalism, Insole pays careful attention to the work of Richard Hooker. After attending to this theologico-political seed-bed of liberalism, Insole investigates how the notions of 'liberty' employed in England, America and France have some quite distinct theological lineages, and separates the political liberalism he defends from these over-zealous appropriations that emanate, for instance, from American Presidents. On the basis of his theological defence, he also critiques the Radically Orthodox attempt to leap beyond political liberalism to a more enchanted space, showing the Radical Orthodoxy project to be politically nai(-15441)ve, utopian and dangerous, in ways well understood by the tradition of political liberalism defended. The latest book in the Faith in Reason series provides a theological defence of a strand of political liberalism; a strand informed by the theological conviction that the human person is a creature incapable of its own perfection, although nonetheless called to and made for this perfection. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780334029571

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Politics of Human Frailty (Paperback)
• Publisher: SCM Press, London
• Publication Date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0334029570
• ISBN 13: 9780334029571
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The latest book in the Faith in Reason series addresses the fraught and topical issue of the relationship between political liberalism and theology. Political liberalism is frequently denounced by theologians as individualist, relativist, and hubristic. In response, there has been a tendency in recent political theology to attempt the overcoming of political liberalism, with the hope of building a more ecclesiastical, virtuous, or community-orientated space. In an original and well-documented argument, Insole demonstrates that this negative characterization of political liberalism is inadequate, both conceptually and historically. By attending to thinkers such as Richard Hooker, Edmund Burke, Lord Acton and John Rawls, Insole shows that a passion to protect the individual within liberal institutions can arise not from an illusory sense of self-sufficiency, but from an insight into our fallen condition, characterized by frailty, sin and complexity. This strand of political liberalism arises from a sense of our solidarity in sin with others, and the hubris of judging our fellow citizens, when judgement belongs to God alone. Such a position would be at odds with theologically over-zealous appropriations of the theme of "liberty" that emanate, for instance, from American presidents such as George W. Bush. Insole carefully uncovers the eschatological premises behind such appropriations, and shows that they are at fault theologically, in their failure to reckon with our fallenness, frailty and complexity. The book concludes by showing that the proposed alternatives to political liberalism - such as can be found in the influential Radical Orthodoxy movement- are na�ve, utopian and dangerous, and in certain respects theologically impoverished. The Politics of Haman Frailty is an important contribution to the contemporary debate, in that it offers a genuinely theological and historically aware defence of political liberalism, both against its critics and in its own terms.

About the Author

CHRISTOPHER J. INSOLE is a lecturer in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, University of Cambridge.