#75 Liberty without liberalism. Balancing Universalism and Particularism in Politics with Jeremy Geddert

This episode was a breakthrough for me. Conservatism is the mediation between the universal and the particular. I know this sounds nerdy, but I think this is an essential challenge that thinkers on the non-left must work through. We believe that some truths are true everywhere, all the time, but that does not that mean, as liberalism asserts, that truth is true everywhere all the time in all places. Are there truths that are only true in a particular place and time? Does it make us relativist post-moderns to entertain such heresy? Using Dr. Geddert's notion of 'mediation between the universal and particular', conservatism offers a path to sanity between the two extremes. I hope you find this episode as helpful as I did. Yes, we have some truths that are universal, for example, humans have inherent dignity wherever we find them. AND we have some truths that are particular, for example, common law works well in the Anglosphere, but we shouldn't expect it to work well in other places. I hope you find this episode as useful as I did! Please let me know what you think. Thanks again for tuning in! Shawn   Article: Liberty without liberalism    AI summary:   In this episode of Concepts, host Shawn Whatley discusses the tension between universalism and particularism in politics with guest Jeremy Geddert, an associate professor of political science. Geddert explains how conservatism uniquely mediates between these two extremes, avoiding the pitfalls of both left and right liberalism as well as Schmidttian Postmodernism. They explore themes such as the historical roots of Canadian and American political philosophies, the concept of political technology, the role of virtue in politics, and the importance of acknowledging our inherited traditions. Geddert also highlights insights from his upcoming article 'Liberty Without Liberalism' and shares his views on the influence of enlightenment liberalism and modernity. This episode provides a deep dive into the philosophical underpinnings of conservatism, offering valuable perspectives on contemporary political debates. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and support on Patreon! 00:00 Introduction: The Universal vs. The Particular in Politics 01:04 Guest Introduction: Meet Jeremy Geddert 01:50 Exploring Universalism and Particularism 05:07 Historical Context: American and Canadian Liberalism 10:36 The Role of Religion in Early Colonies 15:59 Modernity and Political Technology 28:06 The Evolution of Liberty and Liberalism 34:07 The Role of Love and Tradition in National Identity 35:04 The Link Between Efficiency and Dignity 39:49 Critique of Modern Liberalism 44:07 The Waves of Modernity and Their Impact 48:54 Conservatism as a Mediator Between Universal and Particular 55:36 The Importance of Metaphysics and Theology 01:00:12 Revelation and Human Connection 01:05:02 Concerns and Hopes for the Future