The Oxford Conservative Thought (OCT) Reading Group will hold a discussion on the relationship between liberty and virtue with Dr Kevin Vallier (who will attend virtually), evaluating the contrasting ‘postliberal’ and ‘fusionist’ approaches within conservative thought.
Dr Vallier, Professor of Philosophy at the Institute for American Constitutional Thought and Leadership at University of Toledo, is the author of ‘All the Kingdoms of the World: on Radical Religious Alternatives to Liberalism’ (2023), which explores contemporary political doctrines that call for a confessional state and for religious coercion in response to perceived failures of liberalism “not as lurid oddities, but as ideas that might be true”. He is currently working on a new book clarifying and defending the ‘fusionist’ position that traditional virtues are best advanced under a broadly liberal political regime.
Dr Vallier will address the meeting virtually, and we will then have an open discussion around the week’s topic in which all attendees are encouraged to participate actively.
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The Oxford Conservative Thought (OCT) Reading Group is a non-partisan group devoted to academic exploration of small-c conservative political thought. We welcome, and actively encourage, viewpoint diversity and constructive engagement across ideological divides (all good-willed participants are welcome!)
Each week we read one assigned text, and we recommend more for anyone who is very keen!
You can view our reading list here: docs.google.com/document/d/1-FnMPnWCQm3urAvD38jjRQkTEGA2EuSSjZjWm41Eszw/edit?usp=sharing
The OCT meets weekly in term time on Fridays from 4-5:30pm.
Please register here to attend and we’ll send you the details of the room!
