Here is a review of a recent book on Liberalism. What I found interesting in it is the contrast between Mill's Liberalism as a "fleshed-out" liberalism and what is identified as the "hollowed-out" Hobbesian liberalism of the Thatcher era in Great Britian. The phrase "hollowed-out" reminded me of a theme in Walker Percy. I can't quite recall where, but I think he talks of our "hollowed-out" age, and perhaps one of his protagonists describes himself as being all "hollowed-out." Any readers recall where that might be in Percy? In any case, I suspect Percy would identify "altruism," which according to the author characterizes Mill's "fleshed-out" liberalism, as actually a sign of being "hollowed-out" in those who have not yet come to realize it. For some reason, it also made me think of Chesterton's poem The World State:

Oh, how I love Humanity,
With love so pure and pringlish,
And how I hate the horrid French,
Who never will be English!

The International Idea,
The largest and the clearest,
Is welding all the nations now,
Except the one that's nearest.

This compromise has long been known,
This scheme of partial pardons,
In ethical societies
And small suburban gardens-

The villas and the chapels where
I learned with little labour
The way to love my fellow-man
And hate my next-door neighbour.

John
ndethics@nd.edu