Darwinian Evolution and Classical Liberalism Theories in Tension [Hardcover]

Should free citizens ever succumb to the metaphysical madness of determinism, Alexis de Tocqueville once warned, democracy would be doomed. Darwinian Evolution and Classical Liberalism is a nuanced yet definitive rebuke of the neo-Darwinian notion that human beings are ultimately governed by biological force fields beyond their control. In tracking the consequences of this metaphysical madness for the science and practice of politics, this volume renders an invaluable service to democracy and all who love liberty.Darwinian Evolution and Classical Liberalism brings together a collection of new essays that examine the multifaceted ferment between Darwinian biology and classical liberalism.Darwinian Evolution and Classical Liberalism canvasses an array of thinkers from the past to the present as it examines fundamental political, philosophical, ethical, economic, anthropological, and scientific aspects of the ferment between Darwinian biology and classical liberalism. Early chapters focus on classical thinkers like John Locke and Adam Smith, while later chapters provide analyses of present-day classical liberals, focusing especially on F.A. Hayek, Thomas Sowell, and Larry Arnhart, the most prominent advocates of contemporary classical liberalism.Thematically, the volume falls into three parts. Part I examines foundational matters, arguing that Darwinism and classical liberalism hold incompatible visions of morality, human nature, and individual autonomy. This section also contends that the free markets spontaneous order is fully compatible with a teleological (or non-Darwinian) view of the universe. Part II turns to contemporary applications, contending that Darwinism and classical liberalism are at odds in their views of (or implications about) limited government, vital religion, economic freedom, and the traditional family. This section also argues that, since its inception, Darwinism has attenuated core tenets and values of classical liberalism and Western cilC"