tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16355954.post882203593974429332..comments2024-03-28T08:57:53.180+00:00Comments on Darwinian Conservatism by Larry Arnhart: Daniel Bell and The Chinese Confucian PartyLarry Arnharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619785331100785170noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16355954.post-2808330086133155292010-08-10T16:00:23.285+01:002010-08-10T16:00:23.285+01:00Mr. Arnhart,
I think that the distinction between...Mr. Arnhart,<br /><br />I think that the distinction between the formal, legal individualism that allows for the spontaneous order of civil society versus atomism and anomie is a good distinction to make, but to speak of it in terms of liberalism is misleading due to recent politics in the U.S. Unfortunately, popular discourse has made the term classical liberal synonymous with neo-liberal economics, which is purposefully opposed to communitarian culture and committed to anomic, atomistic culture as a way to support the interests of the CEO's. I mean, isn't the war of businesses on Unions not only about money, but also part of the destruction of American civil society? Not that I am a progressive or anything, but I do wonder how much the U.S. form of government, i.e. interest group pluralism, really does support, as opposed to destroy, civil society. While I think that your characterization of classical liberalism is correct, classical liberalism is too often confused with the Washington consensus. <br /><br />-PaulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16355954.post-71766792316544752112010-08-10T12:49:14.256+01:002010-08-10T12:49:14.256+01:00Paul,
Yes, Bell wrote his dissertation arguing th...Paul,<br /><br />Yes, Bell wrote his dissertation arguing that "communitarianism" was superior to "liberalism." What he sees in Confucianism is a communitarian ethics that looks more attractive to him than liberal individualism. In his mind, the communitarian character of Confucianism puts it closer to socialism than to liberalism.<br /><br />My objection to this kind of thinking is that it assumes that classical liberalism promotes an atomistic individualism that denies the social nature of human beings. This is what Hayek calls "false individualism," as opposed to the "true individualism" that classical liberals endorse.<br /><br />As naturally social animals, human individuals must develop their nature through social interaction. Classical liberals say that they do this best in civil society--in the family and in the voluntary social groups that spring up wherever human beings are free to live as they please. <br /><br />A liberal government will secure the conditions for the spontaneous order of civil society. A totalitarian government will try to extinguish civil society.<br /><br />The history of Confucianism in China under Mao's rule shows the power of a Confucian civil society to resist Mao's socialist attempt to destroy it.<br /><br />Mao's socialism was the enemy, not the friend, of Confucian communitarianism.Larry Arnharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14619785331100785170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16355954.post-3275484273389280352010-08-10T05:56:37.668+01:002010-08-10T05:56:37.668+01:00Interesting review. Certainly dogmatic Marxism is...Interesting review. Certainly dogmatic Marxism is dead as ruling philosophy in China. However, maybe Bell has something else in mind when he claims that the Ruist texts support socialism versus liberalism. To oversimplify, the Ruists, however much some of their proposals might look like some parts of contemporary liberal democracy, were collectivists, with right and wrong being judged primarily on the basis of how your actions affected your family and your clan, and also, but secondarily, the state. Liberal democracy is individualistic. If I were a high ranking CCP member, I would work tirelessly to prevent China from becoming too individualistic, because I would figure that if it does become too individualistic it will result in disharmony, i.e. revolution and violence.<br /><br />Also, isn't the only form of Confucianism possible in China an imperial form, as China is an empire? I do wonder if any one on the radical left will ever write a book entitled; Darwinian Marxism. Surely someone imaginative could dream up a leftist utopia that includes spontaneous order? I mean, isn't that more or less the point of Europe's social democracies?<br /><br />-PaulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com