Realm of Lesser Evil: An Essay on Liberal Civilization

Michea, Jean-Claude

ISBN 10: 0745646212 / ISBN 13: 9780745646213

Published by Polity, 2009

About this Item

***Simply Brit*** Welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there is something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.

Seller Inventory # 4350954

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Realm of Lesser Evil: An Essay on Liberal Civilization
• Publisher: Polity
• Publication Date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0745646212
• ISBN 13: 9780745646213
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Used; Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

Winston Churchill said of democracy that it was ‘the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.’ The same could be said of liberalism. While liberalism displays an unfailing optimism with regard to the capacity of human beings to make themselves ‘masters and possessors of nature’, it displays a profound pessimism when it comes to appreciating their moral capacity to build a decent world for themselves.

As Michea shows, the roots of this pessimism lie in the idea – an eminently modern one – that the desire to establish the reign of the Good lies at the origin of all the ills besetting the human race. Liberalism’s critique of the ‘tyranny of the Good’ naturally had its costs. It created a view of modern politics as a purely negative art – that of defining the least bad society possible. It is in this sense that liberalism has to be understood, and understands itself, as the ‘politics of lesser evil’.

And yet while liberalism set out to be a realism without illusions, today liberalism presents itself as something else. With its celebration of the market among other things, contemporary liberalism has taken over some of the features of its oldest enemy. By unravelling the logic that lies at the heart of the liberal project, Michea is able to shed fresh light on one of the key ideas that have shaped the civilization of the West.

About the Author

Jean-Claude Michéa is Professor of Philosophy at Lycée Joffre in Montpellier.