Tuesday
May042010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 10:41PM The limits of technocracy
What distinguishes David Brooks from most run-of-the-mill American liberals is that he understands that human and cultural factors matter vey much.
Reader Comments (8)
David Brooks is not a liberal, but a moderate Republican, as he frequently states and can be understood from his New York Times columns. I love David Brooks. Who would think he is a liberal?
I do. It is a development of the last few years that "liberalism" has come to mean "moderate leftism," But liberalism per se as nothing to do with being Democratic or Republican. For instance, Brooks is pro-choice, pro gay marriage etc. (what is called a "social liberal"). In other words, he subscribes to the basic post-modernist assumption that we create our own values and give meaning to our own lives. In my opinion that's the fundamental philosophical assumption that defines contemporary liberalism (in fact, it was already the way Cardinal Newman understood it). See the classic quote by justice Kennedy in the article by Fukuyama I posted today.
Carlo
I am going to find a way to ask David Brooks if he is pro-choice and pro gay marriage, and if we create our own values, etc. As for all the terms of social liberal, post-modernist, etc., it can go on forever, and far too complicated for people to get to the point. Even if David Brooks is affirmative on the above, it doesn't dissuade me for liking the way he thinks in his writings in The New York Times. From what I have briefly read in articles, Cardinal Newman was a very brilliant, conflicted and complicated man. So many like that in the Church, with great gifts.
Oh, but I like David Brooks too! I posted his column because I thought it was quite brilliant.
Carlo
Carlo,
I'm new to this blog (or any blog for that matter). Forgive me, I guess you do the posting. I've attended several Crossroads events. The latest being today, Saturday. Why not invite David Brooks to speak? That will bring quite an audience.
Claudia
Eh, that would be great, but I bet you Brooks is the kind of speaker who expects $5,000 a pop, which Crossroads could never afford. If we had some way to entice him to come pro bono, I for one would be happy to have him...Incidentally, I was at the event today as well!
Ah, so. Shall we have tea sometime?
I will be happy to introduce you to the whole Crossorads team. Let us look into that via email.