The Evolutionary Limits of Liberalism

Democratic Problems, Market Solutions and the Ethics of Preference Satisfaction
1. Auflage 2019
ISBN: 978-3-030-31495-8
Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Buch, Englisch, 239 Seiten, Format (B × H): 153 mm x 216 mm, Gewicht: 448 g

Reihe: Palgrave Studies in Classical Liberalism

This book assesses the evolutionary sustainability of liberalism. The book’s central claim is that liberal institutions ultimately weaken their social groups in the evolutionary process of inter-group competition. In this sense, institutions relying on the liberal satisfaction of preferences reveal maladaptive tendencies. Based on the model of multilevel selection, this work appraises the capacity of liberal democracy and free markets to satisfy preferences. In particular, the book re-evaluates public choice theory’s classic postulate that free markets are a suitable alternative to the shortcomings of western liberal democracies regarding preference satisfaction. Yet, the book concludes that free markets are not a solution to the problems of liberal democracy because both market and democratic liberal institutions rest on the liberal satisfaction of preferences, an ethic which hurts group evolutionary fitness. This volume is of interest to political theorists, evolutionary ethicists, political economists and to general readers interested in the future of liberalism.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Faria, Filipe Nobre

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Ideologien Liberalismus, Libertarismus
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Theorie, Politische Philosophie
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Regierungspolitik Wirtschafts- und Finanzpolitik
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Volkswirtschaftslehre Wirtschaftspolitik, politische Ökonomie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Sozialphilosophie, Politische Philosophie
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Finanzsektor & Finanzdienstleistungen Internationale Finanzmärkte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introduction.- 2. From Public Choice to Evolutionary Theory.- 3. Public Choice Theory: Liberal Democracy’s Shortcomings and Their Institutional Market Enhancing Solutions.- 4. The Evolutionary Framework: Multilevel Selection, Morality and Preferences.- 5. Reassessing Liberal Democracy’s Shortcomings and Their Institutional Market Enhancing Solutions.- 6. The Market: Evolutionary Limits and Possibilities.- 7. Conclusion.

Über Autor(innen)

Filipe Nobre Faria is Researcher and Lecturer in Political Philosophy and Ethics at the Nova University of Lisbon, Portugal. He earned his PhD in Political Theory (2016) from King’s College London and his Master’s degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (2011) from the University of East Anglia. His main research interest lies in applying the insights of the biological sciences to issues in social and political philosophy.