Looking at public policy debates in conventional terms—in terms of conflict between the left and the right—has grown increasingly cumbersome in an era where conservatives call themselves revolutionaries and liberals strike positively Burkean poses when it comes to reforming Social Security or Medicare. Through an examination of the libertarian worldview, once on the margins of American politics but now in the mainstream, William E. Hudson shows how it has attracted powerful political supporters and is promoted by a network of institutions and policy advocates dedicated to its ideals. The Libertarian Illusion offers a well researched, balanced, and systematic critique of libertarian policy proposals on both the conservative (taxation and fiscal policy, health care, social security, and business regulation) and liberal (abortion, stem cell research, and euthanasia) sides of the traditional political spectrum. Always engaging and provocative, Hudson hones in on the fundamental value differences that drive political debate, arguing that a more communitarian outlook offers solutions more likely to solve America’s policy problems.

Saul Smilansky presents an original treatment of the problem of free will, which lies at the heart of morality and human self-understanding. He maintains that we have most of the resources we need for a proper understanding of the problem; and the key to it is the role played by illusion. The major traditional philosophical approaches are inadequate, Smilansky argues: their partial insights need to be integrated into a hybrid view, which he calls Fundamental Dualism. Common views about justice, responsibility, human worth, and related notions are radically misguided, and the absurd looms large. We do, however, find some justification for enlightened moral views, and grounding for some of our most cherished views of human nature. The bold and perhaps disturbing claim of Free Will and Illusion is that we could not live adequately with a complete awareness of the truth about human freedom: illusion lies at the centre of the human condition. The necessity of illusion is seen to follow from the basic elements of the free will issue, helping keep our moral and psychological worlds intact. Smilansky offers the challenge of recognizing the centrality of illusion and trying to free ourselves to some extent from it; this is not only a philosophical challenge, but a moral and psychological one as well.

Walter applies the methodology of neurophilosophy to one of philosophy's central challenges, the notion of free will. Neurophilosophical conclusions are based on, and consistent with, scientific knowledge about the brain and its functioning. Neuroscientists routinely investigate such classical philosophical topics as consciousness, thought, language, meaning, aesthetics, and death. According to Henrik Walter, philosophers should in turn embrace the wealth of research findings and ideas provided by neuroscience. In this book Walter applies the methodology of neurophilosophy to one of philosophy's central challenges, the notion of free will. Neurophilosophical conclusions are based on, and consistent with, scientific knowledge about the brain and its functioning. Walter's answer to whether there is free will is, It depends. The basic questions concerning free will are (1) whether we are able to choose other than we actually do, (2) whether our choices are made intelligibly, and (3) whether we are really the originators of our choices. According to Walter, freedom of will is an illusion if we mean by it that under identical conditions we would be able to do or decide otherwise, while simultaneously acting only for reasons and being the true originators of our actions. In place of this scientifically untenable strong version of free will, Walter offers what he calls natural autonomy—self-determination unaided by supernatural powers that could exist even in an entirely determined universe. Although natural autonomy can support neither our traditional concept of guilt nor certain cherished illusions about ourselves, it does not imply the abandonment of all concepts of responsibility. For we are not mere marionettes, with no influence over our thoughts or actions.

"Arguments about the nature of liberty and its relationship to a normative moral tradition lie at the heart of many contemporary political controversies. This is especially true of the spirited exchange between conservatives and libertarians. In Freedom and virtue, George W. Carey has compiled a group of essays that explore what unites and what divides the adherents of these two important American intellectual traditions. The arguments in these essays touch on the most fundamental questions of political philosophy: what is the nature of man? What should be the relative role of reason, tradition, and religion in ordering society and the state? When does individual liberty begin to undermine the moral norms necessary for the maintenance of civil society? Is there an objective moral order to which liberty ought to be subordinated? In examining these and other questions in a provocative and lively manner, Freedom and virtue invites us to speculate on the future of democracy in the United States" -- Publisher's description.

Poverty is not accident, but design. We are not all equal before the law. And the central message of contemporary ethics is that only some people matter.

Companies, entrepreneurs, and complexity -- Capitalism and economic dynamism -- What is wrong - the map or the reality? -- Technology and income - are they decoupling? -- Jobs and technology -- Innovation famine rather than innovation feast -- 9 THE FUTURE AND HOW TO PREVENT IT -- From corporate globalism to global corporatism -- The continued rise of regulatory uncertainty -- The "silver tsunami" for cash -- Future imperfect -- Preventing the future -- NOTES -- REFERENCES -- INDEX

The Liberal Illusion is a scathing critique of liberalism and its effects on modern society. Kelly and Veuillot argue that liberal policies have destroyed the moral fabric of society and created a culture of moral relativism. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in political theory or the state of modern society. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.