Two Faces of Liberalism

Author: (English) Gray, translated by Guo Aibin, Li Ruihua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: In Liberalism's Two Faces, John Gray completed a sketch of liberalism's two faces. These two faces are not related to the dichotomy of continental liberalism and British liberalism, nor to Isaiah Berlin's division between positive and negative liberty. These two faces provide a new genealogical coordinate for liberalism. This shift in framing enhances our understanding of the liberal tradition and intensifies the critique of one aspect of liberalism—which is also the dominant one—but also explores the other aspect of liberalism—which is relatively marginal but can give new life to liberalism in crisis. Liberal thought has always contained two incompatible philosophical forms. In one form, liberalism is a universal, rational consensus that seeks to achieve what is considered the good life for all of humanity. Here, liberalism is the prescription for universal governance, and tolerance is the pursuit of an ideal way of life. In the other form, liberalism is a plan that seeks the peaceful coexistence of different institutions and ways of life. It is a common scheme that can be pursued in many regimes.