Freedom's Progress?: A History of Political Thought

by Gerard Casey

In Freedom's Progress?, Gerard Casey argues that the progress of freedom has largely consisted in an intermittent and imperfect transition from tribalism to individualism, from the primacy of the collective to the fragile centrality of the individual person and of freedom. Such a transition is, he argues, neither automatic nor complete, nor are relapses to tribalism impossible. The reason for the fragility of freedom is simple: the importance of individual freedom is simply not obvious to everyone. Most people want security in this world, not liberty. 'Libertarians,’ writes Max Eastman, ‘used to tell us that "the love of freedom is the strongest of political motives," but recent events have taught us the extravagance of this opinion. The “herd-instinct” and the yearning for paternal authority are often as strong. Indeed the tendency of men to gang up under a leader and submit to his will is of all political traits the best attested by history.’ The charm of the collective exercises a perennial magnetic attraction for the human spirit. In the 20th century, Fascism, Bolshevism and National Socialism were, Casey argues, each of them a return to tribalism in one form or another and many aspects of our current Western welfare states continue to embody tribalist impulses.

Thinkers you would expect to feature in a history of political thought feature in this book ― Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Locke, Mill and Marx ― but you will also find thinkers treated in Freedom’s Progress? who don’t usually show up in standard accounts ― Johannes Althusius, Immanuel Kant, William Godwin, Max Stirner, Joseph Proudhon, Mikhail Bakunin, Pyotr Kropotkin, Josiah Warren, Benjamin Tucker and Auberon Herbert. Freedom’s Progress? also contains discussions of the broader social and cultural contexts in which politics takes its place, with chapters on slavery, Christianity, the universities, cities, Feudalism, law, kingship, the Reformation, the English Revolution and what Casey calls Twentieth Century Tribalisms ― Bolshevism, Fascism and National Socialism and an extensive chapter on human prehistory.

Genres: History, Politics, Philosophy, Psychology, Nonfiction

964 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2017

About the author

Gerard Casey (born 1951) was a member of the School of Philosophy in University College Dublin (Head from 2001–2006) until he retired in December 2015. He is now a Professor Emeritus of the University. He holds law degrees from the University of London and University College Dublin as well as a primary degree in philosophy from University College Cork, an MA and PhD from the University of Notre Dame and the higher doctorate, DLitt, from the National University of Ireland. He was formerly Assistant Professor at The Catholic University of America (Washington, D.C.), 1983-1986 and Adjunct Professor at the Pontifical Institute in Washington D.C., 1984-86. He is an Associated Scholar at the Ludwig von Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama.

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewing Freedom's Progress? is a little like reviewing an encyclopedia. Gerard Casey has written a book, each chapter of which contains a subject that is the life work of some scholars, that was badly needed - a history of political thought from an explicitly libertarian perspective. It's unfortunate, but likely true, that the number of people who will read this book cover-to-cover are likely fewer than the pages it contains. I don't mean this to sound pedantic - I only mean to say that the niche that this book fills is important, but incredibly small.

Rather than try to restate Casey's opinions on any given philosopher, I'll simply state that his treatment of his subjects - even Rousseau and Marx - is fair. His critiques are thoroughly fallacy-free (as one would expect from an authority on logic), even when his criticism of their ideas is withering. Generally, however, Casey's effort is not polemic, even if he is quick to point out when and how any given thinker or era was incompatible with his own libertarian anarchism. Rather, he views the development of political philosophy, from the Greeks through the 20th century, as a slow, halting movement out of tribalism and collectivism to individualism, from oppression to liberty. Casey views the book, modestly, as a documentation of these events. He is not at all sure that freedom has truly progressed towards a final, secure end state. Rather, as he notes, the history of freedom is one of gains and losses, with the result still very much in the balance (hence the question mark in the title).

One chapter that does bear mentioning is the book's conclusion, in which Casey discusses the compatibility between libertarianism and conservatism, two positions the proponents of which are typically quick to say are irreconcilable. Casey's tremendous, if brief, deconstruction of the essential elements of this debate is essential reading, especially for those of us who value both liberty and order, freedom and virtue. It may seem odd to suggest that readers wade through 850 pages in order to read a new take on "fusionism," but this chapter really is the capstone of Casey's entire work, one well worth considering.

Whatever readers may think of Casey's opinion on this or that idea or ideator - and only a hopeless sycophant could make it through such a book without at least occasionally disagreeing with Casey's conclusions - the sheer immensity of his effort, to say nothing of its quality, warrants a five-star rating.

[Marcas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly unparalleled in its achievements, this history is lucid and comprehensive. Dr Casey asks the right abiding questions and answers fundamental political queries wisely after many years of teaching. Useful for references, reading piecemeal or a reading feast.

[Russ Lemley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tour de force. Casey's brilliant combination of erudition and precise argumentation led to the creation of gem of a history of political thought. The first chapter itself is a masterpiece.

Unlike Casey, however, I'll keep my review brief. If you're a libertarian (especially a conservative one) who wants to read the salient points made by the most influential (not correct) thinkers of all time, you can't go wrong with this book.

Don't let the $90 sticker price dissuade you. Casey covers in one volume what lesser authors write in three.

[Tommy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A red-pilled man going his own way quoting Monty Python and citing Murray Rothbard