A Short History of Man, God, and Political Philosophy

In case you missed it, The New York Times published a lengthy article The Politics of God last weekend which essentially traces how the thought of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and other major political philosophers gave us secular politics, and particularly the separation of Church and State. They’re innovations with many upsides, but also the downside that they put us at an intellectual distance from entire regions where faith still governs political affairs. This includes large swathes of the Middle East and other areas within the “Muslim orbit.” It’s a good piece to read if you’ve ever wondered how philosophy tangibly shapes our modern world. Written by Mark Lilla, a Columbia University professor, the highly-readable article is adapted from his new book, The Stillborn God: Religion, Politics, and the Modern West. Get the article here, and don’t forget to subscribe to our feed.

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