Freedom and Flourishing: Review of: "From Politics to Morality: Implications of Rasmussen and Den Uyl’s Norms of Liberty", Edited by Edward W. Younkins

This review is by Leah Goldrik, a longtime friend, as well as a librarian and author with a background in history and philosophy. I am pleased that Leah has taken up my suggestion to write the review.

Leah’s review was first published on “Common Sense Ethics”. Some other essays by Leah that have previously been republished on “Freedom and Flourishing” are listed at the end of the essay.

Leah writes:

This fall I'm excited to review From Politics to Morality: Implications of Rasmussen and Den Uyl's Norms of Liberty. This timely new book of essays on political theory, economics and Neo-Aristotelian ethics commemorates the twenty year anniversary of Norms of Liberty: A Perfectionist Basis for Non-Perfectionist Politics, the groundbreaking work by Douglas B. Rasmussen and Douglas J. Den Uyl, and includes an essay by longtime friend, Winton Bates, author of Freedom and Flourishing.

Part of the Capitalist Thought series, the book's essays range from topics as diverse as the extent of government power, the protection of individual natural rights to the cultivation of cohesive society. What is the proper role of government in shaping the moral lives of individuals? Should political institutions encourage citizens to live according to particular moral values, or should their primary responsibility be to protect the freedom necessary for individuals to make their own choices? These important questions lie at the heart of From Politics to Morality.

Bringing together contributions from respected scholars across philosophy, political theory, economics, and ethics, this collection revisits some of the most important questions surrounding individual liberty, morality, and the legitimate authority of the state. Rather than simply revisiting the arguments of Norms of Liberty, the contributors explore how its ideas continue to influence contemporary political debates and offer new perspectives on the relationship between personal freedom and the moral life.

One of the most interesting aspects of Rasmussen and Den Uyl’s original argument is their attempt to reconcile two ideas that are often considered incompatible: moral perfectionism and political liberalism. In philosophical terms, perfectionism holds that human beings have a nature and that there are objective standards of human flourishing. In other words, there are better and worse ways for individuals to live their lives. However, accepting that objective moral standards exist does not necessarily mean that governments should impose a particular vision of the good life upon their citizens.

This distinction is central to the argument developed in Norms of Liberty and provides the foundation for the discussions in From Politics to Morality. Rasmussen and Den Uyl maintain that human beings are rational and self-directing individuals who must be free to make meaningful choices about their own lives. Genuine human flourishing cannot simply be imposed through political authority. It requires individual judgment, responsibility, and the freedom to pursue worthwhile goals.

Their approach offers an important alternative to political philosophies that view government as an instrument for creating a morally ideal society. Rasmussen and Den Uyl argue that the state should not attempt to dictate how individuals ought to live or enforce a comprehensive understanding of human flourishing. Instead, its primary responsibility is to establish and maintain a legal framework within which individuals can peacefully coexist and pursue their own conception of a worthwhile life.

This position is captured in their memorable phrase, “Statecraft is not soulcraft.” The expression challenges the assumption that political institutions should be responsible for cultivating the moral character of citizens. While morality remains essential to human flourishing, the development of moral character is ultimately a personal undertaking. Individuals must be able to reason, choose, and take responsibility for their actions. Without this freedom, moral development loses much of its meaning.

Importantly, Rasmussen and Den Uyl do not regard liberty as an absolute value detached from moral considerations. Their defence of individual freedom is grounded in a particular understanding of human nature. Because human beings are rational and volitional creatures, they require freedom to make decisions, pursue meaningful objectives, and develop their individual capacities. Liberty is therefore not simply a political entitlement or an abstract ideal. It is a necessary condition for genuine moral agency.

This is perhaps the most significant contribution of their philosophy. Rather than treating morality and liberty as competing principles, they demonstrate how the two can complement one another. Political freedom creates the conditions in which individuals can pursue moral excellence, while the recognition of human flourishing provides a philosophical foundation for protecting individual rights.

From Politics to Morality takes these arguments further by examining their implications for a range of political and philosophical traditions. The essays explore the relationship between Rasmussen and Den Uyl’s ideas and liberalism, conservatism, utilitarianism, natural law, and other influential approaches to political thought. This broad range of perspectives makes the collection particularly valuable, as it demonstrates that the questions raised by Norms of Liberty extend well beyond the boundaries of any single political ideology.

One especially interesting area of discussion concerns the relationship between liberal political theory and Catholic social thought. At first glance, these traditions might appear to have very different understandings of individual freedom, moral responsibility, and the role of political institutions. However, examining their potential compatibility raises important questions about the relationship between personal liberty, objective moral values, and the common good. This discussion adds another dimension to the collection and illustrates the continuing relevance of Rasmussen and Den Uyl’s arguments.

The contributors also address the distinction between realistic and idealistic approaches to political philosophy. This is an important debate because political theories must consider both the moral aspirations of individuals and the practical limitations of political institutions. A political philosophy that demands too much from government risks undermining individual freedom, while one that ignores the moral foundations of society may struggle to explain why liberty and individual rights deserve protection in the first place.

The essays are particularly relevant to contemporary political discussions about the appropriate limits of government authority. Questions surrounding personal autonomy, property rights, individual responsibility, and the protection of natural rights remain central to political debate. Rasmussen and Den Uyl’s framework provides a useful way of approaching these issues without assuming that political authority should be used to impose a particular vision of human flourishing.

Another strength of the collection is its recognition that individual liberty does not necessarily conflict with the interests of society as a whole. Indeed, a society that respects individual rights can provide the conditions necessary for cooperation, peaceful coexistence, and the development of meaningful relationships between individuals. Freedom does not require the rejection of moral responsibility or social obligations. Rather, it allows individuals to pursue their responsibilities through reasoned and voluntary action.

As a collection, From Politics to Morality succeeds in demonstrating the continued importance of Norms of Liberty within contemporary political philosophy. Its multidisciplinary approach gives readers the opportunity to consider the original arguments from a variety of perspectives, while the different contributions encourage further discussion rather than simply repeating established conclusions. The result is a thoughtful examination of the relationship between ethics and politics that is both philosophically substantial and relevant to current debates.

Although some of the discussions will be more accessible to readers with an existing background in political philosophy, the central questions explored throughout the book are important to anyone interested in the relationship between individual freedom, morality, and government. The collection is particularly useful for students and scholars studying political theory, neo-Aristotelian ethics, classical liberalism, and social philosophy.

Ultimately, the enduring contribution of Rasmussen and Den Uyl’s work is its reminder that liberty and morality need not be opposing forces. A commitment to individual freedom does not require abandoning objective moral values, just as a commitment to human flourishing does not justify unlimited political authority. Instead, genuine moral development depends upon the freedom to think, choose, act, and take responsibility for one's life.

From Politics to Morality provides an insightful opportunity to revisit these arguments and consider their significance. It challenges readers to reconsider the purpose and limits of political power while highlighting the importance of individual rights as the foundation for meaningful human flourishing. For anyone interested in the philosophical foundations of liberty and the moral responsibilities of political institutions, this is a valuable and thought-provoking contribution to the ongoing debate.