EPISODE · Dec 18, 2025 · 1H 5M
#71 Michael Bonner: The Crisis of Liberalism: The Origin and Destiny of Freedom.
from Concepts with Shawn Whatley · host Shawn Whatley
Many of our most popular ideas today are medieval. We are all, in some way, medieval thinkers. Dr. Michael Bonner applies his experience as a historian and political consultant to the current crisis of liberalism. He explains what's going on by reaching back several thousand years. Although this episode is heavy, his book is highly readable. He covers 2000 years of history in 200 pages. It helps if you know the people he references, but even if you don't, you can follow along. Great writer. Books: The Crisis of Liberalism: The Origin and Destiny of Freedom In Defense of Civilization: How Our Past Can Renew Our Present Looking forward to hearing what you think. Thanks again! AI Summary In this episode of Concepts with Shawn Whatley, historian Dr. Michael Bonner discusses his latest book, 'The Crisis of Liberalism: The Origin and Destiny of Freedom.' Delving into 2000 years of history, Bonner explores the roots and future of liberalism, highlighting its medieval origins and the inherent challenges it faces today. They question whether contemporary liberalism can offer meaning and community, touching on topics like personal freedom, historical continuity, and the secularization of Christian values. Tune in to learn how these complex ideas affect our society and where we might go from here. 00:00 Introduction: The Crisis of Liberalism 00:57 Meet Dr. Michael Bonner 01:11 Overview of 'The Crisis of Liberalism' 01:45 Historical Context and Liberalism 02:39 Defining Liberalism and Its Challenges 04:54 Philosophical Foundations of Liberalism 11:23 Medieval Roots of Modern Liberalism 13:28 The Evolution of Liberal Thought 33:33 Hegelian View of History and Liberalism 34:36 Challenging the Liberal Establishment 35:04 Medieval Ideas in Modern Times 35:30 The Axioms of Liberalism 37:15 The Self-Evident Truths 39:08 The Evolution of Christian Thought 44:44 The Paradoxes of Liberalism 54:19 The Religion of Humanity 01:03:54 The Future of Liberalism 01:06:09 Concluding Thoughts
What this episode covers
Many of our most popular ideas today are medieval. We are all, in some way, medieval thinkers. Dr. Michael Bonner applies his experience as a historian and political consultant to the current crisis of liberalism. He explains what's going on by reaching back several thousand years. Although this episode is heavy, his book is highly readable. He covers 2000 years of history in 200 pages. It helps if you know the people he references, but even if you don't, you can follow along. Great writer. Books: The Crisis of Liberalism: The Origin and Destiny of Freedom In Defense of Civilization: How Our Past Can Renew Our Present Looking forward to hearing what you think. Thanks again! AI Summary In this episode of Concepts with Shawn Whatley, historian Dr. Michael Bonner discusses his latest book, 'The Crisis of Liberalism: The Origin and Destiny of Freedom.' Delving into 2000 years of history, Bonner explores the roots and future of liberalism, highlighting its medieval origins and the inherent challenges it faces today. They question whether contemporary liberalism can offer meaning and community, touching on topics like personal freedom, historical continuity, and the secularization of Christian values. Tune in to learn how these complex ideas affect our society and where we might go from here. 00:00 Introduction: The Crisis of Liberalism 00:57 Meet Dr. Michael Bonner 01:11 Overview of 'The Crisis of Liberalism' 01:45 Historical Context and Liberalism 02:39 Defining Liberalism and Its Challenges 04:54 Philosophical Foundations of Liberalism 11:23 Medieval Roots of Modern Liberalism 13:28 The Evolution of Liberal Thought 33:33 Hegelian View of History and Liberalism 34:36 Challenging the Liberal Establishment 35:04 Medieval Ideas in Modern Times 35:30 The Axioms of Liberalism 37:15 The Self-Evident Truths 39:08 The Evolution of Christian Thought 44:44 The Paradoxes of Liberalism 54:19 The Religion of Humanity 01:03:54 The Future of Liberalism 01:06:09 Concluding Thoughts
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#71 Michael Bonner: The Crisis of Liberalism: The Origin and Destiny of Freedom.
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