Very nice to hear another take on Geuss's memoir. I enjoyed the book, though was less persuaded by its argument: https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/the-use-and-abuse-of-history/articles/you-wont-miss-them-till-theyre-gone. Charles Matthewes's piece in the latest Hedgehog seems to extend some of my criticisms.
Paul! I read your piece in The Hedgehog Review even before I read Geuss. It's really smart! - and, actually, goes much deeper into the text than my piece does. I didn't realize that you're a Substacker and that we're already in touch! I try not to read other reviews while I'm working on my own, but kind of regret that because there are a few points that you raise that I wish I'd gotten into. I guess the one I've found most interesting is the notion that liberalism is defined at some level as a belief in argumentation - and that if you don't believe in argumentation then, ipso facto, you are not a liberal. I'm trying to think this through for myself because a) I don't find argumentation to be all that effective a means of discourse but b) Catholic non-auctoritas authority or whatever the hell Geuss is talking about doesn't exactly strike me as a viable alternative. I guess the question is trying to figure out what 'liberal' really means - and that turns out to be as slippery a term as we have. In any case, I'm really thrilled to be in touch. Look forward to talking more.
Thanks, Sam! Yes, definitely good not to read other stuff while working on your own reviews. I really enjoyed your discussion of Geuss as well (even if our emphases are a bit different). Great to be in touch!
Very nice to hear another take on Geuss's memoir. I enjoyed the book, though was less persuaded by its argument: https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/the-use-and-abuse-of-history/articles/you-wont-miss-them-till-theyre-gone. Charles Matthewes's piece in the latest Hedgehog seems to extend some of my criticisms.
Paul! I read your piece in The Hedgehog Review even before I read Geuss. It's really smart! - and, actually, goes much deeper into the text than my piece does. I didn't realize that you're a Substacker and that we're already in touch! I try not to read other reviews while I'm working on my own, but kind of regret that because there are a few points that you raise that I wish I'd gotten into. I guess the one I've found most interesting is the notion that liberalism is defined at some level as a belief in argumentation - and that if you don't believe in argumentation then, ipso facto, you are not a liberal. I'm trying to think this through for myself because a) I don't find argumentation to be all that effective a means of discourse but b) Catholic non-auctoritas authority or whatever the hell Geuss is talking about doesn't exactly strike me as a viable alternative. I guess the question is trying to figure out what 'liberal' really means - and that turns out to be as slippery a term as we have. In any case, I'm really thrilled to be in touch. Look forward to talking more.
- Sam
Thanks, Sam! Yes, definitely good not to read other stuff while working on your own reviews. I really enjoyed your discussion of Geuss as well (even if our emphases are a bit different). Great to be in touch!