Liberalism

What Dominique Pagani says

Dominique Pagani gives the word liberalism two senses, which he clearly distinguishes. In its original sense, liberalism is the love of freedom. It is in this sense that it marks Hegel's heterodoxy in the face of Prussian ideology, in a tribute to Jacques D'Hondt1. In current usage, by contrast, he sees it as a euphemism: people say "liberal" so as not to say "capitalist". The word serves as a fig leaf for capitalist rapacity; it designates the freedom of the wolf in the sheepfold. According to him, freedom must therefore be defended against liberalism23. He takes up Michel Clouscard's phrase "libertarian liberalism", coined after that of "libertarian social democracy". This phrase identifies the liberal with the libertarian of 684. In 2023, he describes it as an alliance: the anarchist-leaning figure who spits on the State works for the liberal employers. These employers also spit on the State, but never on the State apparatus5.

1. 1Hommage à Jacques D'Hondt (2)2 Aug 2016 · 27:18
2. 2Un équilibre dans la nature ? • Q&A Philosophique • Dominique Pagani31 Mar 2021 · 29:56
3. 3#16 Michel Clouscard : "Y a pas de vacances dans le concept !" - Dominique Pagani7 Jul 2022 · 43:40
4. 4D. Pagani / Réponse de M. Clouscard à C. Morilhat • Seconde Partie10 Sept 2019 · 1:43:26
5. 5Guerre, néo-fascisme : le libéralisme-libertaire3 Mar 2023 · 1:19:54

Summary produced automatically from 5 of the passages below, to be reviewed; the numbers link to the moment in the session.