Reading Rasmussen and Den Uyl

Reviews / Votes

Aeon J. Skoble has done a masterful job in assembling a provocative anthology of critically reflective essays on Norms of Liberty, one of the most important defenses of neo-Aristotelian liberalism ever written. This terrific volume highlights the significance to contemporary political philosophy of Rasmussen and Den Uyl's superb work. -- Chris Matthew Sciabarra, author of Ayn Rand: The Russian Radical Reading Rasmussen and Den Uyl is a rich dialectic, with expansive reach into multiple aspects of liberalism, while sustaining a focus on the important contribution made by Norms of Liberty. That book shaped new contours for the development of liberalism while uncovering roots deep in the past. Reading Rasmussen and Den Uyl engages numerous thinkers and the authors in a joint project of articulating some of the most important future directions of argument. -- Jonathan Jacobs, Colgate University This book is an outstanding collection of essays mostly focusing on Den Uyl and Rasmussen's key contention that a neo-Aristotelian ethics of flourishing provides the basis for a political doctrine which precludes the political promotion of human flourishing. The analyses of human flourishing and of how an appeal to it can or cannot support classical liberal conclusions are powerful and insightful. -- Eric Mack, Tulane University It is high time that these two indefatigable, bright students of human community life receive the attention paid them in this fine collection of comments and criticisms. Maybe this group of respectful essays, with their close scrutiny of Norms of Liberty, will eventually lead to the book's ideas having the impact they deserve to make. -- Tibor R. Machan, Chapman University's Argyros School of Business & Economics