The history of liberal thought since Locke and Smith has been one almost unbroken decline in philosophic substance

The history of liberal thought since Locke and Smith has been one almost unbroken decline in philosophic substance

Allan Bloom, a prominent American philosopher and political theorist, was known for his critique of modern liberal thought and its decline in philosophic substance since the time of John Locke and Adam Smith. In his seminal work, "The Closing of the American Mind," Bloom argued that the liberal tradition, which once championed reason, individualism, and freedom, had devolved into a shallow and relativistic ideology that lacked any real intellectual depth or moral foundation.

Bloom traced the decline of liberal thought back to the Enlightenment thinkers like Locke and Smith, who he believed laid the groundwork for a society based on reason and individual rights. However, he argued that over time, liberalism had become increasingly focused on materialism, consumerism, and relativism, leading to a loss of moral clarity and intellectual rigor. According to Bloom, the liberal tradition had abandoned its commitment to truth, virtue, and the pursuit of the good life in favor of a shallow and hedonistic pursuit of pleasure and self-interest.

Bloom's critique of liberal thought was rooted in his belief that a truly liberal education should be grounded in the great works of Western civilization, which he believed offered timeless wisdom and moral guidance. He argued that the decline of liberal education in favor of a more relativistic and politically correct curriculum had led to a generation of students who were intellectually and morally adrift, lacking a sense of purpose or direction.