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Michael Hallihane's avatar

I'm reminded of Kant's observation on preferring 'the freedom of folly to the freedom of reason'. There is more than one type of freedom, there are infinite ways of exercising freedom. And it is this that lies behind post liberalism's reaction against 'excess' freedom. The counter position of the family, church, community. The problem with rootedness is its exclusivity, its anti-universalism. And the problem with liberalism is its inability to deliver the universal community or dream. These contradictions gnaw away at society's foundations, they propel the culture wars. Whatever the answer is it isn't Heidegger.

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Michael Hallihane's avatar

The failure of the liberal dream shouldn't come as a surprise. Liberalism is mired in contradiction as Ashley points out. On the one hand is the dream of individual freedom and political liberalism but it founders on the neoliberal reality of capitalist exploitation euphemistically categorised as 'globalisation'. The MAGA conservatives or 'MAGA communists' simply recognise this fundamental contradiction or hypocrisy. This is the source of their appeal. Globalisation contained the seeds of its own destruction.

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PEIOI's avatar

Strange that Ashley doesn’t know the difference between a religious narrative and concrete analysis. Ashley is simply parroting a silly narrative which Marx pulled out of his ass with no analysis. Ashley's narrative has no basis in reality. A real institutional analysis studies the relationship between freedom and competition and vice versa. The conclusions reflect reality.

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Joshua Howard's avatar

I am totally here for Frawley's Durkheimian market liberal individualism (even if she wouldn't necessarily call it that). It's particularly strong in this episode.

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Eli's avatar

*Marxist individualism ;-)

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Joshua Howard's avatar

There are contradictions

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