Philosophical Writings of Jacques Maritain, Hayek and Dewey (Essay Sample)

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Philosophical Writings of Jacques Maritain, Hayek and Dewey
Introduction
Based on a number of philosophical studies and reports, it is true that individual society must not aim at conceiving the atomistic nature and the mechanistic patterns of the bourgeois individualism since it involves the destruction of the organic social totality in the society. This was evident after the biological and animal pattern of the statist and racist totalitarian conception that mainly includes the swallowing of the person and reducing an individual into a mere element. Thus, it is worth noting that the community should ensure that people work in order to achieve their goals and objectives in life. Through work and other social activities people are able to gain freedom and liberty in the society. The working relationship among individuals in the society should also include moral values, ethical standards as well as social justice and civil values. The people should enjoy common love and spiritual nourishment based on the viewpoints of Jacques Maritain (Maritain 12).
Therefore, the primary objective of this paper is to examine and analyze the adequacy of the personalistic political philosophy of Maritain (Man and State) especially in comparison with the liberal individualistic (Constrained) philosophy according to Hayek as well as the liberal socialistic (unconstrained) philosophy according to Dewey. The paper will also include whether the Aristotelian-Thomistic personalism of Maritain philosophical is defensible in nature especially as a distinct alternative or whether it does not collapse into one or the other of the two alternatives. The Maritain viewpoints and perspectives towards Sowell’s conflict of visions including his perspective on justice, equality or power will also form major discussions in this paper. The shortcomings as well as the merits of these three different ideologies will be discussed in the paper as well.
Jacques Maritain Philosophies
Based on the analysis of various philosophical studies and reports, it is true and evident that Jacques Maritain was born in late 1882 and he died in late 1973. He was a French philosopher whose aim was to promote common good of all individuals in the society especially based on Catholicism viewpoints and teachings in the society. He wrote many philosophical books and he usually aim at promoting universal human rights in the society. As a philosopher he was mainly interested in various philosophical works dealings with aesthetics, political theory as well as nature of education and metaphysics among many other philosophical works towards science and social values in the society (Jowett 10).
Based on his personalistic political philosophy including his views towards the man and the state, it is true that Jacques Maritain advocated for the promotion of human rights ion the society. He believes that the spiritual nature of human beings plays a major role in the determination of the social values of people in the society (Sowell 5). According to him, people who have different intellectual vales and positions in the society cannot work together and cooperate in the society to achieve common practices goals and aims. He believed that Christians should live in harmony and work together to allow them achieve common goals in the society. Jacques Maritain believed that people should give meaning to life and it is the role of the Christians in the society is to apply God’s wisdom and knowledge to promote common good to all people. True humanism can only be achieved through the promotion of individual’s freedom in the society. It is the role of the state to promote social order in the community since the state has the authority to control various human activities and operations. Thus, the provision of public orders and adoption of effective administration towards public affairs should be the role and duty of the state according Jacques Maritain. Moreover, Jacques Maritain also believed that the state has the power to include religious values and principles in its activities in the community. He fully believed that the Kingdom of God exists and it is the role of people in the society to obey God and achieve eternal life. Thus, it can be argued Jacques Maritain form one of the spiritual and moral men who lived in a very immoral society since he only believed that moral and valid laws and policies mainly come from God and men have no power to decide issues dealing with morality.
However, there are those who argue that Jacques Maritain mainly focuses on his personal views and did not consider the historical movements that have shaped the society. Moreover, his political philosophy lacks moral values and includes high levels of democratic pluralism that mainly appeals to non-human good activities in the state.
Liberal individualistic (Constrained) philosophy according to Hayek
Based on the philosophical ideas by Hayek, it is true that individualism ideologies should promote the moral worth and behaviors of a person in the society. He also argues that individuals should be free and have the opportunity to express themselves through self-reliance and value independence in the community. Notably, Hayek indicated that an individual interests, values and desires are more important than the state values and interests. Thus, in the process of promoting liberation activities and practices in the society, it is important that people focus on the individual’s needs and interests. Each person has the freedom to promote their values and rights in the society and this is what promotes self-realization (Hayek 3).
People should be free, generous and ethical in the society in order to promote their liberty which is part of an individual freedom. In most cases, individualistic values and behaviors are common in states such as the United States and indicate that all people should be given equal rights and equal freedom in the society. Totalitarianism views and movements also supported the philosophies of individualism and argue that the provision of a liberal society can help achieve economic development and self-realization of people values and goals in the community. Thus, it can be argued that liberal individualistic (Constrained) philosophy according to Hayek mainly advocated for the promotion of self-reliance and self-love among people. It is also clear that man knowledge is diverse and has no limit and people should avoid being selfish in nature despite their individualistic behaviors. Notably, it is true that Friedrich A. Hayek mainly advocated for the promotion of human liberty and freedom through socially constituted platforms. He believed that the soc...