"Liberalism regards life as an adventure in which we must take risks in new situation, in which there is no guarantee that the new will always be the good or the true, in which progress is a precarious achievement rather than inevitability"
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In this quote, Morris Raphael Cohen presents a nuanced understanding of liberalism, highlighting its dynamic and exploratory nature. Liberalism, as he explains, is not simply a political ideology however a more comprehensive philosophical state of mind that perceives life as an experience. This adventurous spirit implies an openness to brand-new experiences, concepts, and obstacles-- integral to the liberal tradition's focus on specific freedom, innovation, and adjustment.
The concept of life as an adventure suggests an intentional engagement with uncertainty. Cohen highlights that within liberalism, embracing the brand-new includes taking risks. These threats come without assurances that the brand-new will be useful or genuine, reflecting the inherent uncertainty of progressive change and development. This highlights an important aspect of liberal idea-- progress is not inherently foreseeable or guaranteed. It is instead a "precarious accomplishment". In this context, precarious suggests vulnerability and the possibility of setbacks, that makes achievements valuable not as inevitabilities but as hard-won victories.
Cohen's viewpoint cautions against complacency. Rather than presuming progress will naturally follow from change, alert effort and vital assessment are essential to guide progress towards the good and the real. This embodies a key tension within liberalism: the balance in between flexibility to explore brand-new possibilities and the duty to recognize and promote ethical and truthful results.
Furthermore, Cohen's statement can be interpreted as a call to be gotten ready for the difficulties that included extensive freedom. It encourages an active, thoughtful engagement with change rather than passive acceptance. This proactive stance invites constant questioning and reassessment of what constitutes the excellent and the real, acknowledging that these worths are not static but progress with society's ongoing adventure.
In general, Cohen provides liberalism as a journey marked by courage, development, and caution-- a journey where progress, while fragile, is a meaningful pursuit.
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