The Faith of a LiberalThe Faith of a Liberal is in part a misnomer, for the volume reflects the sentiments of a classical philosopher, one with intense curiosities about subjects onging from American literary tradition to the history of the physical sciences. The essays on liberalism as such do, however, bracket the volume--giving life to the title. While Cohen shared many of the political persuasions of such other notables as John Dewey and Ralph Barton Perry, it was the distinctive spin that he gave to the iberal outlook that defines his work. His is a viewpoint stamped by the Jewish condition as a search for justice at one end, and the scientific effort at problem solving at the other. Indeed, the effort to link the two is the essence of "The Faith of a Liberal" Whatever the subject matter or figures covered, the dorsal spine of the work is setting forth an agenda for liberalism that would clearly set it apart from the rising tides of left and right authoritarianism. The essay "Why I Am Not a Communist" remains to this day a blistering indictment of the Soviet regime and its Leninist presumptions. He saw the choice between fascism and communism as a "choice between being shot and being hanged." The final essay, "The Future of American Liberalism," remains of wide current importance. For in it he attempts a synthesis of political individualism and economic collectivism. And even if issues have moved in different directions since that point, the emphasis on liberalism as a process rather than as a structure provides a philosophical basis to the liberal imagination that has rarely been equalled. This is a basic text for students of normative theory in politics and social thought in twentieth-century America. |
From inside the book
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... show that in a high proportion of cases the rulings of the first court have in fact been declared erroneous . The denial of the right of appeal is , therefore , a denial of justice . Such a denial is all the more grievous if it is due ...
... shows this statement to be categorically false . No witnesses appeared in court . Mrs. Kay merely swore that she was the petitioner , on the judge's assurance to the Corporation Counsel that this was merely " so that her name will ...
... show how urgent it is that those who know anything about the history and importance of freedom of thought should keep the public informed as to the necessity of the distinction be- tween incitement to crime and the free expression of ...
... shows contempt for the lower classes whether they worship Caesar or rebel against the King of England . Indeed , we have the admission that some Tory critics have a finer ear for poetry than some 215 FORCES IN AMERICAN CRITICISM.
... And finally , is there suf- ficient evidence to show that changes from one to another period are the result of economic causes ? In discussing any of these ques- tions it is well to keep in mind that great 221 FORCES IN AMERICAN CRITICISM.
Contents
213 | |
Section 2 | 234 |
Section 3 | 256 |
Section 4 | 273 |
Section 5 | 288 |
Section 6 | 292 |
Section 7 | 296 |
Section 8 | 307 |
Section 11 | 337 |
Section 12 | 365 |
Section 13 | 398 |
Section 14 | 408 |
Section 15 | 417 |
Section 16 | 420 |
Section 17 | 425 |
Section 18 | 430 |
Section 9 | 320 |
Section 10 | 334 |
Section 19 | 437 |