Social Conservatism for the Common Good: A Protestant Engagement with Robert P. George

by Andrew T. Walker, Ben Sasse (Foreword), John Wilsey (Contributor)

Carl R. Trueman and Other Christian Evangelical Scholars Examine the Life and Work of Renowned Catholic, Social Conservative Thinker Robert P. George Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, is one of the most influential conservative intellectuals of his generation. Among many honors and accolades, George received the US Presidential Citizens Medal from President George W. Bush and served as chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Though a Catholic himself, George’s influence has transcended traditional religious categories to shape evangelical discourse on politics, ethics, and political philosophy throughout his career.  In this thorough introduction and careful analysis of George’s work for Protestant audiences, editor Andrew T. Walker gathers essays from high profile evangelical writers and academics―including Carl R. Trueman, Hunter Baker, Jennifer Marshall Patterson, and Scott Klusendorf―to explore subjects such as faith and reason, George’s New Natural Law theory, and how to collaborate across ideological lines.  Social Conservatism for the Common Good  helps Christian evangelicals understand George’s philosophy and apply it to their own cultural engagement and public witness.

Genres: Cultural, Politics, Nonfiction, Social Issues, Philosophy, History, Theology

334 pages, Hardcover

Published February 7, 2023

Reviews

[Flynn Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Measured by how the book will acquaint the reader with the major aspects of George’s thought within Protestant perspective, it absolutely succeeds. However, many of the essays amount to summaries of George’s work with very little critical interaction, perhaps with only one notable exception. This volume is thus fitting for a popular audience in giving evangelical exposure to George but not for those in search of genuinely in-depth “engagement” with his ideas.

[Drew Norwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The essays in this collection that discuss specific aspects of Robert George's writing/thought (which is the bulk of them) ranged from great to good. George has written on a number of important topics and his views are clear and nuanced. This clarity and precision makes for fruitful discussion of areas such religious freedom, legislation and morality, marriage’s role in civil society, etc. Even on topics where I may disagree with George’s position (such as *new* natural law theory), I found it helpful to see others engage his writings because it takes you past the normal, shallow talking points.

The essays that simply laud George's civility, ecumenism, spirit, etc. were expendable.

[Nicholas Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, highlighting the work of Robert P. George, demonstrates that conservatism and Christianity are rich in intellect and wisdom. Christian ethics and morality is shown to have robust frameworks and positive practical effect on society. If you’re looking for a book that both upholds Christian values and the basic human rights our country was established on, read this. It will stretch, challenge, and mold you into a better thinker.

[Patrick S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

It should be made clear that this review is about the book that covers Robert P. George and is not a critique of George and his philosophy. Some overlapping is unavoidable but this is a book review and not necessarily a philosophy review.

What Andrew Walker does here is introduce Robert P. George to an audience that probably hasn't heard about or remembers George from the early 1990s when he was more at the forefront of conservative thought. The audience Walker is directing his book - and what the authors of the individual chapters are writing to - is to the conservative Christian evangelical. This point is made over and over - and to a fault. While it's clear the author(s) are passionate about their friend and intellectual leader there is an over-emphasis of the audience. Since George is a Roman Catholic, the author(s) try to find common ground for the audience to accept the ideas coming from George who is making them from a non-religious point of view or from a religious view that Catholics and Protestants would likely agree on. This goes from at times, not being needed to emphasize to at worst trying to sell a used car to someone just browsing on a lazy Sunday. The evangelical who is reading this philosophy-heavy (for the layperson) book is going to care more about the ideas rather than the ideas coming from a Roman Catholic or it's the reader who isn't going to be swayed that they are coming from a Roman Catholic and won't be reading it. This book is an over-emphasis evangelical tool to evangelicals on a non-evangelical.

I won't go through each chapter but the range is quality is all over the place depending on the author. There are chapters where the focus is on one of George's books and the philosophy is mixed throughout the discussion on the book and the impact. These should have been separated for clarity purposes. The chapter talking about George's use of natural law was very muddled and definitions of terms weren't highlighted as needed. It reminded me of the issues people have with Clearance Thomas during his confirmation due to his belief and use of natural law philosophy. It's a virtue signal phrase thrown out to alert people that the person is not to be trusted because they're a thinking conservative trying to sneak a limitation of power into the Constitution - supposedly a document to limit power.

The chapter on George's work on abortion and providing the anti-abortion movement in the 1990s with some secular ways of bringing the negative aspects of abortion into view was well written. A discussion on the left's attempt to split "human being" and "personhood" was fine but could have used some polishing. The author(s), in their affection for George and the anti-abortion movement, however, don't go on to discuss the limited impact of the philosophy until much recently and used better by "abortion is murder" Refromed/evangelicals.

There are definitely missed opportunities for discussions of worldview and how one would discuss with secular humanist areas that are clearly theistic presuppositions. Human values, worth, and objective truths were once taken for granted in the 1990s and previously are areas of disagreement now. A big letdown is the discussion of George's view of the role of government and the conflicts that raised in a push for democracy. There is a chapter that attempts to talk about limiting the "giving to Caesar's what is Caesar's only" but that one is just as muddled. Having a government that looks to promote that which is good and limiting that which is bad needed more work and while it could make good fodder for a counterpoint-type book, some discussion on the limits of George's alleged libertarian/classical liberal views (which are only espoused until the final chapters). A philosophical book needs to look at these types of contradictions and since George is human it would be just fine to talk about how they are conflicts or further discussion would be needed.

If you're looking to read about a classical conservative from the second half of the 20th century this is probably a good book to pick up. However, the muddled and, at times, unfocused writing is a hindrance. On top of that, the constant need to pat the hand of evangelicals and let them know that it's ok to agree with a Roman Catholic on thoughts that someone who is a Roman Catholic has provided the same feeling as listening to Navi the fairy in Ocarina of Time constantly saying "Hey! Hey! Listen!" over and over. Final Grade - C-

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robbie George deserves all the attention he can get from evangelicals and, perhaps more importantly, from classic liberals. Works like this will only help. It is a very sympathetic but not non-rigorous look at many of George's views, whether it be his underlying "new natural law" theory or its application in various realms of life, be it marriage, the value of life, democracy, and much more.

Each chapter is written by a different sympathetic evangelical in George's orbit through one means or another. They are all worthwhile; some are more technical than others; some are more critical than others. But if natural law philosophy interests you--if you want more reasons for what you believe beyond "the Bible says so" (which is a good and important reason!)--then you couldn't be harmed by giving this book a try. Or if you're, say, a Rawlsian who needs to get in touch with reality, this book is for you too.

[Josh Anders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I only read about half of this. This book wasn’t what I thought it’d be; it was a collection of essays in honor of Dr. Robert George who is a professor at Princeton. The book is well done but instead of finishing, I’ve just ordered a few of George’s works to read for myself. There’s some good stuff in here, particularly on the New Natural Law philosophy that I enjoyed but overall, I’d just rather read George himself than continue here.

[Austin Terrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top 3 book of all time for me!