Kenneth Minogue Presentation
1. Kenneth Minogue (1930 – 2013) is an outstanding thinker who developed the principles of conservative realism and was considered “a major Anglospheric conservative philosopher” (Jones). In the introduction
to his Liberal Mind, he criticizes modern liberal ideas. He claims that in his writings he tries to remain unprejudiced (Minogue 16). Thus, he recognizes liberalism as a reasonable ideology and, as a political thinker,
tends to reveal its “intellectual and emotional dynamics” (Minogue 16). However, the readers understand that it is no less important for him to disclose the errors committed by liberal ideologists.
2. His main argument the readers may trace throughout the text is that liberalism is not an ideal doctrine. Tending to reach the overall wellbeing, it can easily agree with some negative effects of liberal policies. Minogue writes that “liberals are prepared to sacrifice much for a peaceful and co-operative world order,” which is often reflected in the inadmissible compromises with the evil (Minogue 2). At present, for example, the world is shocked by the catastrophic events in Syria, however, the UNO, committed to the observance of human rights, still cannot stop the atrocities there. The thing is that they try to please all the parties to the conflict and reconcile the opposite interests of political and military powers acting in the country. As far as such a task seems difficult to
complete, the war goes on, and the peaceful population continues to suffer.
3. I agree with Minogue in the point that liberalism appears helpless to tackle many modern problems. The thinker criticizes liberals for their aspiration “not so much for maximizing happiness as for minimizing
suffering” (Minogue 6). According to liberal thought, the suffering of all categories of people matters. For example, as I understand it, liberals cannot support the idea of the extermination of all the Isis fighters. It
could stop many murderous conflicts, but it contradicts the principles of human rights and a democratic trial. Therefore, governments dare just minor operations and cannot prevent the expansion of terrorism. This approach and related half-measures may often hamper the immediate termination of the injustice and violence in the world. However, I think that radical decisions only create more violence and thus, political science has to
develop and improve liberal ideas further.
Works Cited
Jones, David M. "The Concervative Mind of Kenneth Minogue." Quadrant, 1 Sept. 2013,
quadrant.org.au/magazine/2013/09/the-conservative-mind-of-kenneth-minogue/. Accessed 16 Jan. 2017.
Minogue, Kenneth. Introduction. Liberal Mind, by Minogue, Liberty Fund, 2001, pp. …
