After dealing with some business out of town (and generally out of internet access), I’m back in D.C. and taking part in a weekend conference on liberalism and nationalism in German history, which has proven very enlightening, both for the conversations (tomorrow is the second day) and for the wonderful readings by M. Weber, J. G. Fichte, F. Meinecke, G.W.F. Hegel, F.Naumann, and others.
did u submit a paper or give a presentation? NV
Not at this conference, which was based around readings and discussion. But I will post a note later today on some of the things I learned. It was really quite enlightening, partly because of the readings (some of which I had already read) but more because I got to take part in a polite conversation and exchange of views with people with whom I am in sometimes profound disagreement and from whom I could get a better appreciation of their views. (There were also other advocates of a more cosmopolitan liberalism like my own, and their contributions were also sharp and interesting.)
Well, this is quite an appropiate time for reviewing German liberalism since the FDP has had important gains in the general elections. They are in double digits now. Not enough to be king makers, but it’s good news nevertheless. Die Liberalen are the winners of today’s election.
Speaking of the German elections… sigh… I suppose it’s not his fault. If I’d been brainwashed to that extent, maybe I’d be the same.
– Adam
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4248034.stm
“Where is the state to organise our lives?” asks Hans-Juergen Schneider, who grew up in East Germany under communism.
He adds: “There is not a single problem in the history of mankind that was solved by capitalism or the market economy”.
Interesting that you bring this up, Tom. I’ve been catching up on Diderot’s writings on politics, primarily his anti-imperialism. Sankar Muthu, in his “Enlightenment Against Empire” (Princeton: Princeton U. Press, 2002. 348 pp.), has two chapters on Diderot’s anti-imperialist lines of argumentation. The bulk of the rest deals with the similarities between Diderot, Kant and Herder. Kant I wasn’t surprised about, but the material on Herder is quite fascinating. It does leave me quite interested in German sources. Will have to check on it at some point in time.
Much of Diderot’s contributions to Raynal’s “History of the Two Indies” (about 700 pp.) is an expansion on his views of imperialism, both as a source of corruption and destructive of lives, property and cultural patterns wherever the Europeans sent troops. The material is good (Cambridge has a collection of Diderot’s political writings on the subject as well) and goes into detail from various other writings of Diderot.
When I get a chance, I’ll be posting something on the subject on my blog as well as at Liberty & Power. Diderot’s b-day is coming up and may wait until then.
Just a thought.
Just Ken
kgregglv@cox.net
http://classicalliberalism.blogspot.com/
“There is not a single problem in the history of mankind that was solved by capitalism or the market economy.”
WTF???!!! Let’s see: ending many shortages (Rockefeller mainly); lifting mmillions (if not billions) out of poverty; not to even mention the conveniences (TV, computer, toasters, microwaves, etc, etc).