Synopses & Reviews
Review
“A fascinating mind at work: brilliant, of course, and learned, but, above all, tenacious. Robert George is the bulldog of American intellectuals—grasping hold of a topic and refusing to let it go until he’s gotten to the bone.” —Weekly Standard
Review
“This country’s most influential conservative Christian thinker.” —New York Times Magazine
Review
“One of the nation’s most respected legal theorists . . . Even people who profoundly disagree with some of his conclusions [respect] his sheer brilliance, the analytic power of his arguments, the range of his knowledge . . . [and] a deeply principled conviction, a profound and enduring integrity.” —Elena Kagan, Supreme Court justice
Review
“One of the most incisive legal and moral thinkers working today.” —First Things
Review
“One of contemporary conservatism’s intellectual pinups.” —George F. Will
Review
“George has done a great service in demonstrating that traditional morality still has an authoritative role to play in modern life, and in showing how a person of faith can enter the public square fearlessly, unashamedly, intelligently, and, above all, reasonably.” —National Review
Review
“An indispensable man.” —Touchstone
Review
“Professor George has helped strengthen our nation’s system of ordered liberty by exploring enduring questions of American constitutional law and Western political theory.” —President George W. Bush, in awarding the Presidential Citizens Medal
Review
Puts [Georges] highly burnished philosophical and constitutional learning on full display. . . . George is exceptionally nimble when he spars with conventional contemporary political and social thought. . . . [George] speaks for a sizable number of conscientious objectors to Americas ruling liberal secularism.”
New York Times Book Review
Review
Theres not a dull or insignificant page in the whole volume. . . . I dont think we get better, or more consequential, commentary on the modern crisis than Mr. George affords us.”
Washington Times
Review
Brilliant theoretical argument . . . Should be required reading in colleges across the nation.” Commentary
Review
Georges claim to that title [This countrys most influential conservative Christian thinker] is made abundantly clear in this collection of incisive, accessible essays, which seek to expose and confront the dogmas of liberal secularism while also directing and deepening modern conservatism. . . . Intended for a wide audience, the book deserves one.” Claremont Review of Books
Review
A primer in civics and a guide to addressing the cultural Leviathan . . . Georges incomparable expertise will give even the most seasoned reader new insights.” Catholic World Report
Review
Praise for Robert P. George A fascinating mind at work: brilliant, of course, and learned, but, above all, tenacious. Robert George is the bulldog of American intellectualsgrasping hold of a topic and refusing to let it go until hes gotten to the bone.” Weekly Standard
This countrys most influential conservative Christian thinker.” New York Times Magazine
One of the nations most respected legal theorists . . . Even people who profoundly disagree with some of his conclusions [respect] his sheer brilliance, the analytic power of his arguments, the range of his knowledge . . . [and] a deeply principled conviction, a profound and enduring integrity.” Elena Kagan, Supreme Court justice
One of the most incisive legal and moral thinkers working today.” First Things
One of contemporary conservatisms intellectual pinups.” George F. Will
George has done a great service in demonstrating that traditional morality still has an authoritative role to play in modern life, and in showing how a person of faith can enter the public square fearlessly, unashamedly, intelligently, and, above all, reasonably.” National Review
An indispensable man.” Touchstone
Professor George has helped strengthen our nations system of ordered liberty by exploring enduring questions of American constitutional law and Western political theory.” President George W. Bush, in awarding the Presidential Citizens Medal
Synopsis
The New York Times Magazine calls him "this country's most influential conservative Christian thinker." Supreme Court justice Elena Kagan has praised "his sheer brilliance, the analytic power of his arguments, the range of his knowledge," and "his profound and enduring integrity." Talk show host Glenn Beck likes to introduce him as "one of the biggest brains in America."
In his new book, Robert P. George showcases the talents that have earned him such praise and influence. As the assaults on religious liberty and traditional marriage grow, Conscience and Its Enemies explodes the myth that the secular elites represent the voice of reasons. In fact, George shows, it is on the elite side of the cultural divide where the prevailing views are nothing but articles of faith. Conscience and Its Enemies reveals the emptiness of these powerfully reasoned arguments for classical virtues.
Drawing on a philosophical tradition that extends back to Plato and Aristotle, George ably defends what James Madison called the "sacred rights of conscience" - rights for which our government shows frightening contempt. Along the way, he grapples with today's most controversial issues of abortion and infanticide, same-sex marriage, genetic manipulation, euthanasia and assisted suicide, religion in politics, judicial activism, and more.
Conscience and Its Enemies makes an invaluable contribution to our national discourse. It not only forces scholar liberals to confront arguments they are unaccustomed to hearing but also lays out the principles and arguments for rebuilding a moral order.
Synopsis
Assaults on religious liberty and traditional morality are growing fiercer. Here, at last, is the counterattack.
Showcasing the talents that have made him one of America's most acclaimed and influential thinkers, Robert P. George explodes the myth that the secular elite represents the voice of reason. In fact, George shows, it is on the elite side of the cultural divide where the prevailing views frequently are nothing but articles of faith. Conscience and Its Enemies reveals the bankruptcy of these too often smugly held orthodoxies while presenting powerfully reasoned arguments for classical virtues. In defending what James Madison called the "sacred rights of conscience"--rights for which government shows frightening contempt--George grapples with today's most controversial issues: abortion and infanticide, same-sex marriage, genetic manipulation, euthanasia and assisted suicide, religion in politics, judicial activism, and more. His brilliantly argued essays rely not on theological claims or religious authority but on established scientific facts and a philosophical tradition that extends back to Plato and Aristotle.
Conscience and Its Enemies elevates our national debates. It sets forth powerful arguments that secular liberals are unaccustomed to hearing--and that embattled defenders of traditional morality so often fail to marshal. It also lays out the principles and arguments for rebuilding a moral order.
Synopsis
“Many in elite circles yield to the temptation to believe that anyone who disagrees with them is a bigot or a religious fundamentalist. Reason and science, they confidently believe, are on their side. With this book, I aim to expose the emptiness of that belief.” —From the introduction
Assaults on religious liberty and traditional morality are growing fiercer. Here, at last, is the counterattack.
Showcasing the talents that have made him one of America’s most acclaimed and influential thinkers, Robert P. George explodes the myth that the secular elite represents the voice of reason. In fact, George shows, it is on the elite side of the cultural divide where the prevailing views frequently are nothing but articles of faith. Conscience and Its Enemies reveals the bankruptcy of these too often smugly held orthodoxies while presenting powerfully reasoned arguments for classical virtues.
In defending what James Madison called the “sacred rights of conscience”—rights for which government shows frightening contempt—George grapples with today’s most controversial issues: abortion and infanticide, same-sex marriage, genetic manipulation, euthanasia and assisted suicide, religion in politics, judicial activism, and more. His brilliantly argued essays rely not on theological claims or religious authority but on established scientific facts and a philosophical tradition that extends back to Plato and Aristotle.
Conscience and Its Enemies elevates our national debates. It sets forth powerful arguments that secular liberals are unaccustomed to hearing—and that embattled defenders of traditional morality so often fail to marshal. It also lays out the principles and arguments for rebuilding a moral order.
About the Author
Robert P. George, a political philosopher and constitutional scholar at Princeton University, is one of America's most prominent public intellectuals. At Princeton he holds the McCormich Chair in Jurisprudence and is founding director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. Professor George has received the Presidential Citizens Medal and the Bradley Prize for Intellectual and Civic Achievement, is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, and has served on the President's Council on Bioethics and the United States Commission on Civil Rights. A popular guest on television and radio and a frequent contributor to scholarly publications, he is the author of The Clash of Orthodoxies and coauthor of Embryo: A Defense of Human Life.