A Conscience as Large as the World

Reviews / Votes

. . . a cogent, tightly argued critique of contemporary Catholic conservatives from a well-articulated Thomistic perspective. This fine book is required reading for anyone interested in understanding historical continuities and discontinuities in Catholic social and political thought. -- Ted G. Jelen, University of Nevada, Las Vegas A fair-minded, respectful, but decisive critique of the Catholic neoconservative movement, as well as an indispensable contribution to Simon scholarship. -- Clarke E. Cochran, Texas Tech University A Conscience as Large as the World does brilliantly one of the most important things a book on politics can do: it clarifies issues of central importance. It does this, moreover, in connection with a vital controversy of our time, that concerning the implications of Christian faith for public life. Everyone, of whatever political or religious persuasion, will find the book provocative and useful. -- Glenn Tinder, University of Massachusetts Rourke probes how the neoconservative abandonment of political authority with respect to the capitalist market undermines their commitment to moral and cultural rejuvenation. Resourceful and original in its critique of profound tensions in the Catholic neoconservative project, this work advances the great dialogue about liberal society and the public good. -- Allen D. Hertzke, University of Oklahoma A powerful critique from an Aristotelian and Thomist perspective of undiluted free-market economics . . . * Phronesis * . . . is certainly a book that should be studied and considered. -- David M. Klocek * Perspectives on Political Science * Thomas Rourke's study is a valuable and timely analysis of Catholic neoconservatism. . . . the book is well written, thorough, and even-handed. It offers a systematic description and careful evaluation of Catholic neoconservative thought, as well as an excellent introduction to the rich work of Yves R. Simon. . . . It exhibits a welcome attentativeness to both the practical and theoretical dimensions of its subject, thus reminding the reader how much is at stake. * The Review of Politics *