Liberal Solidarity

Geoffrey M. Hodgson, Emeritus Professor, Institute for International Management, Loughborough University London, UK

'Large-scale socialism has failed, but markets alone are not the solution, says Geoffrey Hodgson in this highly engaging and readable book. To meet the many challenges we face today, what we need is ''liberal solidarity,'' or what he also calls a regenerated form of ''social democratic liberalism''. We must begin by recognizing one essential fact: Bentham was wrong. Human beings are not just pleasure-seeking, utility-maximizing creatures. They have deep moral sentiments and dispositions that cause them to understand their obligations to others. Full of insights and suggestions, this is a compelling read.'

• Contents: Preface 1. Introduction to Liberal Solidarity: The Political Economy of Social Democratic Liberalism 2. On the evolution and diversity of liberalisms 3. On the rights and wrongs of individualism 4. Liberty, autonomy and needs 5. The worm that is gnawing at the insides of our civilization 6. The evolution of human nature and moral judgment 7. Markets, motivations and morality 8. Is everything already a market? 9. The necessity of democracy – and its limits 10. Capitalism, socialism and the climate crisis 11. Reducing inequality – and a general conclusion References Index