1. Challenges to Liberal Thought
Neo-Conservatives
Postmodernism
Extremism

2. There is no such thing as truth.
Postmodernism
There is no such thing as truth.

3. DISCUSSION
What is the potential impact of being raised in a nation that puts its faith in liberalism?
How do we in Canada view liberalism?

4. Postmodernism
Postmodernism – is a school of thinking that questions and rejects the principles of modernism and liberalism.
Modernism – is about order, universal truths, reason, and rationality. Believing that with science and rationality to establish truths an organized society can emerge.

5. Central Concepts of Modernism:
Science provides universal and eternal truths.
Knowledge will lead to progress.
Reason and rational thinking are the ultimate means of establishing what is true.
There is a form of Human Nature.
Freedom comes from obedience to laws that are based on reason.
Formulated out of Enlightenment.

6. Modernism vs. Postmodernism
Postmodernism does not necessarily deny claims of modernism – it questions and challenges them.

7. 1 Does science equal truth
Modernism argues that the descriptive and explanatory statements of scientists and historians can, in principle, be objectively true or false.
The postmodern challenge of this viewpoint is sometimes expressed by saying that there is no such thing as Truth. Many scientific “truths” of the past have been proven false in the present.

8. 2 Does science lead to progress?
Modernists believe that through the use of reason and logic, and with the more specialized tools provided by science and technology, human beings are likely to change themselves and their societies for the better. It is reasonable to expect that future societies will be more humane, more just, more enlightened, and more prosperous than they are now.
Postmodernists do not fully trust science and technology as instruments of human progress. Many postmodernists believe that the misguided pursuit of scientific and technological knowledge led to the development of technologies for killing on a massive scale in World War II.
Some postmodernists even feel that science and technology—and reason and logic—are inherently destructive and oppressive, because they have been used by evil people, especially during the 20th century, to destroy and oppress others.

9. 3 Rational thinking can identify truth
Reason and logic are universally valid—i.e., their laws are the same for, or apply equally to, any thinker and any domain of knowledge.
Many postmodernists would answer that the governing narratives in any society reflect the interests and values of dominant or elite groups.
“The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class”. –Karl Marx

10. No matter how “rational” a thinker you are, if the information you have to base judgments upon is corrupt, you cannot determine truth.

11. Perhaps there is some truth to this.
Consider the curriculum.
Are you taught to think a certain way?

12. 4 The Blank Slate (sort of)
Modernists believe that there is such a thing as human nature; it consists of faculties, aptitudes, or dispositions that are in some sense present in human beings at birth rather than learned or instilled through social forces.
Some postmodernists insist that nearly all aspects of human psychology are completely socially determined. There is some genetic determination of our individual characters but we are a product of our environments.

13. 5. Obedience = Freedom
Read the first paragraph on page 412 – Can you paraphrase it?

14. Should we place all our faith in liberalism?
Should we place all our faith in a political party?
Do political parties place all their faith in one ideology?
Quote page 406. Consider if you are more of a modernist or postmodernist.

15. Neo-conservatism

16. What ways of thinking can challenge liberalism?
In society, different and sometimes conflicting visions of what life should be like are proposed.
This means that sometimes the values of Liberalism are supported, and sometimes they are challenged.

17. Quick Review
Classical Liberalism
Classical Conservatism

18. Quick Review - In the USA
Theodore Roosevelt was pres. From
Founded progressivism.
Attempted to reform Laissez-faire capitlaism.

19. Quick Review The Great Depression
October 29, 1929.
The Stock Market Crashed.
In Canada 27% of the population was unemployed.
The depression was blamed on a unregulated economy.
People soon wanted government intervention.

20. Quick Review This new era was know as Modern Liberalism
An era that has government intervention.
Freedoms, equal opportunity and personal rights are protected.
Business is required to offer reasonable wages, hours, working conditions, etc…

21. Neo-conservatism

22. Neo = new
Conservatism = holding to traditional values and cautious about change.
Neo-conservatism = a new from of conservatism that is traditionalist in nature with updated views reflecting current realities in the social, political, and economic spheres.

23. A Simplified Definition
Many Neo-conservatives disagree about neo-conservative ideology but there are some things that are consistent in the ideology.
A Neoconservative would believe in:
Reduced taxes
No government intervention in the economy (regulations are okay)
Return to traditional family values (no gay marriage, no abortion, etc)
Military action to protect their beliefs/country

24. Why did it emerge?
From the 30’s - 50’s much of the western world was adopting liberal beliefs.
In response to the rise of communism after WWII, the west starts to shift back towards conservative values (strong individualist beliefs as opposed to communism’s collective theories).
Liberal governments from that time also amassed large debt with their social spending. Change was needed.

25. Actual Neoconservatives
Ralph Klein
George Bush
Ronald Reagan
Wild Rose Party
The Tea Party Group

26. Friends of theirs Adam Smith
The aristocrats from France (invented laissez-faire)
John Stuart Mills
Big Business

27. Enemies of theirs John Keynes Barack Obama (sort of)
People needing government assistance (E.I., welfare)

29. Regan and Thatcher are NEOCONSERVATIVES
Milton Freidman and Hayek’s ideas adopted by Regan (US President) and Thatcher (British PM) in 1980s.
Reaganomics and Thatcherism = supply side economics = trickledown economics
Regan and Thatcher are NEOCONSERVATIVES

30. Reaganomics Less government intervention
Reduce income and business taxes
Reduced regulation
Reduce controls on business
Increase spending on military

31. Thatcherism REDUCE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION Increase economic freedom
Increase entrepreneurship
Keep with classical liberal principles
Tough on labour unions

32. What is Trickle-Down or SUPPLY SIDE?
Lower tax rates among potential reinvesters (the wealthy)
Therefore, economic growth encouraged through increased investment
Benefits of increased private investment and government defence spending will “trickle down” through the economy and working class.
Page 218, 285

34. Are the views and beliefs of neo-conservatism justified in being opposed to modern liberalism? That is, do the neoconservatives have a valid argument in saying their system for politics, social structures, and economics is better than modern liberalism?

35. Many neo-conservatives (not all) also members of the Christian Right, which favours:
Banning abortion
Banning gay marriage
Banning violence & sex on TV & video
Allowing (Christian) prayer in public schools
Teaching creationism in science class
Why would the Right wing of Christian Religion be connected to Neoconservatism?

36. Alberta