The Useful Society

A Criticism of Liberal Political Thought

Abstract

This thesis explores the problems associated with classical liberal political thought, including contemporary liberal writers such as Rawls and Nozick, and therefore is a criticism of the dominant political theory that drives contemporary western societies. The thesis is divided into two parts, the first addressing the problems of the theoretical liberal subject, or the way liberal philosophy views human beings. The second part addresses the problems that emerge from this in terms of practical everyday political issues and policies. In both parts, Hans-Georg Gadamer's idea of Historically Effected Consciousness is shown to drastically affect the ideas of liberal thinkers & philosophers without their realising it, to pernicious effect.

Discipline: Political Sciences (Honours)

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gaelan Murphy