Slavery and abortion: the paradox of american liberalism

<p>Louis Hartz proposed that America possesses a liberal tradition that works toward a Lockean equality for all people. I argue that Hartzs' theory is still applicable to America even though illiberal institutions have and do exist. My contention is that it is the paradox of liberalism that allows for this. Slavery is the quintessential illiberal institution, yet liberal concepts allowed it to exist in America for over 200 years. It is my contention that abortion is another illiberal institution that is being promoted by the paradox of liberalism. With the use of John Rawls theory of distributive justice abortion can be eradicated from American society while upholding the American liberal tradition.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Political Science

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Ladd, Mark A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Philip Abbott

• Abortion, Liberalism, Slavery
• Political Science

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/416

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.wayne.edu:oa_dissertations-1415