Table of Contents – The Four Political Types

Table of Content

Preface

Part I: The Rejection of Enlightenment Values and the True Purpose of the American Political System

Chapter 1: How Activist Indignation Leads to Extremism and Furthers the Interest of the Powerful Few
Plato’s Republic, the Desire for a Morally Pure Politics and the Rise in Economic Inequality in 20th Century America
Glaucon as Exemplar of the Well-Meaning Proto Fanatic
A Connection Between Cultivated Indignation and The Naturally Powerful Few
Chapter 2: Disenchantment with the American System and its True Function
The Manipulation of American Values by the Powerful Few
Chapter 3: Two Sources of Moral Indignation and Misguided Activism in the 21st Century
Realism and Idealism in Political Life
A Proper Response to the Crisis of Disillusioned Political Activism
Free-market Radicalism and Disillusioned Activism on the Right
The Enlightenment’s Defense Against the Seduction of Righteous Indignation
Summary of Part I

Part II: Two Kinds of Freedom and the True Function of the American Paradigm: Economic Well-Being and Stability vs. Ethical Care

Determinism and Free-market Ideology
Chapter 1: Two Kinds of Freedom and Two Ideas of Reason
Two Kinds of Freedom
Chapter 2: Adam Smith and the Justification of Economic Liberty: The Meaning of Freedom and Equality in the American System
Further Elaboration on the Difference between “Conditions of Justice” and “Outcomes”
Self-Interest: The Dynamism at the Heart of the Enlightenment Paradigm
The American Dilemma: The End of Self Interest as the Sole Basis of Political-Economy

Part III: Kant and Free Will as the Source of Goodness and Ethical Care

Chapter I: The Locus of ‘the Good’ and the Conception of the Will’s Objekt: the Negative Impact of Determinism on our Moral Life
Modern Political Thought and Our Dilemma: To Be Free or Not
Kant and Practical Freedom: The Ability to Act on the Idea of Freedom
Knowledge, Faith, and Free Will
Chapter 2: Some Remarks on the Conception of the Will’s Object and the Misguided Ideas of the Free-market Movement
Political Freedom vs. Free Will
Chapter 3: Two Roles of the Human Person and Two Definitions of Moral Worth: The Philosophical Contradiction at the Heart of Libertarian and Randian Free-market Ideology
The Homeric Definition of the “Good Citizen” and the Fulfillment of External Function
Aristotle and the Difference between the “Good Man” and “Good Citizen”

Part IV: Universalism, Equality, and the Absence of the Philosophers

“All Men are Created Equal”
Further Elaboration of the Problem of Making Formal Values Primary
“The Human Being does not live by Formal Values Alone”
The Distinction between First- and Second-Order Thought: Universalism and Self-interest
The Error of Free-market Ideology
Further Elaboration on Universalism as the Primary Formal Value of American Civilization
Universalism as the Primary Criterion of Paradigm Acceptability
An Illustration: Universality and the Flaw in American Policy Toward International Trade
Chapter 2: The Absence of the Philosopher and the Dominance of Formal Enlightenment Values
Summary of Part IV

Part V: State of Nature Theory or the Fall of Man: The Role of Formalism in the American Paradigm and Practical Moral Judgment

Chapter 1: Reason, Revelation, and Two Causal Foundations of Society: Modern “State of Nature” or the “Fall of Man”?
The Formal Elements of the “Fall of Man” and modern “State of Nature” Theory: Which Construct do we Use?
Elaboration of the Roles of Two Ideas of Causality: A Problem with the Religious Position
Review of the Argument
Chapter 2: The Pre-Modern State of Nature Theory and the Modern Political Project: Neutrality, Profit Seeking and Self-Interest
Self-Interest Revisited and the Two Levels of Judgment: Illustration of the Play of Self-Interest and Confused Libertarian Second-Order Judgment
Platonic Justice and Limits on the Pursuit of Power
Self-interest in State of Nature Theory and Ethical Care 1

Part VI The Strongman in Western Political Thought: First- and Second-Order Judgments, Neutrality, and the Public Intellectual

Chapter 1: Overview of Thrasymachus’ Discussion of Justice in Book I of The Republic
Introduction to the Roles of Neutrality and Active Judgment in Western Political History
Further Elaboration of the Role of Neutrality and Non-Neutrality
Thrasymachus and the Three Levels of Judgment and Ethical Care
The Four Political Types, the Public intellectual and the Ideal of Neutrality: What’s the problem?

Part VII: Thrasymachus and Platonic Justice as a Balance of Power Between the Few and the Many

Overview of Thrasymachus’ Neutral Definition of Justice in Book I of The Republic
Implications of the Present Discussion for Contemporary Activism 1
Further Elaboration on Thrasymachus’’ Neutrality: A Lesson for Effective Activism
Why Should We Reject Thrasymachus’’ Definition of Justice? 1
The Roles of Neutrality, Judgment, and Consciousness in the Good Society

Part VIII: The Contrasting Natures of Political Justice and Moral Goodness: A Confusion of Contemporary American Activism

Chapter I: The Goals of the Just and Good Society: Maximizing Productivity and Ethical Caring
Kierkegaard: the Return to Subjectivity and Inner Experience
Further Critique of the Emphasis on Epistemological Certitude 1
Chapter 2: The Basis of Political and Ethical Good and Appropriate Stance-Taking
Contemporary Intellectuals, Fear of Contingency and the Flight from Ethical Care and Responsibility
Summary of the Argument

Part IX: Rousseau and The Problem with Self-Interest

Chapter 1: Shall the Organizing Principle of Society be Self-Interest or Christian Virtue?
Chapter 2: Summary Overview of Rousseau’s Thought and Influence
Return to Active Judgment: Rousseau’s Problem with the Enlightenment Idea of Justice
Rousseau: Articulating the Primary Spiritual Dilemma of American Civilization
Chapter 3: Two Ideas of Human Motivation: Contrasting the First and Second Political Discourses to The Social Contract
Rousseau as Upholder of Moderation
Contrasting French and American Assumptions Regarding the Good Life
Chapter 4: The Relevance of Rousseau to the Argument of the Book

Part X: Eric Voegelin and the Philosopher’s Role in the Creation of the Just Political Economy

Chapter 1: Eric Voegelin on Fanaticism: The Return of Zealotry in American Politics
The Role of the Philosopher and Classical Greek Philosophy
“Ordered” and “Disordered” Philosophy: The Problem of Fanaticism Revisited
Chapter 2: Moderation as the Most Important Formal Value in Western Political Thought
Chapter 3: The Apparent Paradox of Modern Western Political Activism: The Inverse Relation between Utopian Activism and Citizen Well-Being
Chapter 4: Saving American Politics from the Twin Scourges of Fanaticism and Authoritarianism: Return to the Search for Ethical Good and Justice
Conclusion

Part XI: Two Kinds of Goods: Towards a New Enlightenment for American Civilization

Revisiting the Tension Between Action and Contemplation 1
Review of Nicomachean Ethics, Book X, Section 7-10 in Light of the Contemporary Social-Political Situation
Chapter 1: Revisiting Two Meanings of Happiness 1
The Merely Descriptive Basis of the Modern Idea of Happiness 1
Chapter 2: The Two Ways of Life and the Proper Stance of the Philosopher Type: Seeking the Good and a New Enlightenment for American Civilization
Chapter 3: The Public Intellectual, the Newtonian-Cartesian Paradigm, and Nihilism
Summary: It’s Time to Go Back to the Cave: Call to Return to the Western Tradition of Platonic Political Philosophy

Part XII: The Movement from Justice to Goodness: “The Longer Route Around”