Here’s an interesting conversation between Robby George and Cornell West. They are colleagues at Princeton University, but they represent radically different worldviews. George is perhaps the leading conservative intellectual alive today, and West is a noted liberal. (HT: @DrMoore)
8 Comments
Charlie
Really good discussion. Thanks for posting it.
Charlton Connett
Great discussion. I find it interesting how some of the early points of that particular discussion tie directly in with what was (or is) being discussed in the thread on (one aspect of) the health care law being declared unconstitutional.
John Holmberg
Denny,
I find it odd that you called their worldviews “radically different” when they agreed on 90% of the issues they discussed. Their shared Christian faith seems to unite them more than divide them. They both seem to have the same end in mind, but the means by which they get their would be their point of disagreement. West’s view on when human life begins was the only major disagreement that came out from what I heard.
Darius
John, I think you’re talking about intent and motives. There, they both are in almost complete agreement. Where they differ radically is their worldview of how to solve the problems of today and where the issues truly lie.
Celucien L JOSEPH
Dear Denny,
What is “theologically liberal” about Cornell West. On what basis you called West “a noted liberal.” Can you elaborate a lillte bit?
Denny Burk
Celucien,
West describes himself as a “non-Marxist socialist”–by which I think he means to commit himself to socialism but not to the atheism of Marxism. Read about it in “The Cornell West Reader.” Anyone who describes himself as a socialist would qualify as a liberal in my view.
I know very little about his theological commitments, though from the little I’ve seen they appear fairly liberal as well.
Celucien Joseph
Thanks for comment, Denny.
Celucien Joseph
Thanks for the comment, Denny.