Liberalism Unchecked: A Youthful Creed Misapplied to Childhood, Midlife, and Old Age

This paper defends three claims. First, liberalism is a desirable philosophy for young adults. Second, it is unsuitable for individuals at other life stages, including children, middle-aged adults, and the elderly. Third, in recent years, liberalism has overextended into these other life stages, leading to harmful consequences for many people.

Bio

Bouke de Vries is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ghent University. His research explores various ethical and political issues, including loneliness, migration, cultural diversity, and medical ethics. His work has been published in leading philosophy and ethics journals. He leads the ERC-funded project “The Ethics of Loneliness” and the research project “Liberalism’s Fertility Problem”, which examines the challenges posed by the demographic growth of religious illiberal groups for liberal democracies. This talk takes place within the framework of “Liberalism’s Fertility Problem”, arguing that while liberalism suits young adulthood, it fails to accommodate other life stages.

To join the session online, please contact Filipe Faria at [email protected].