Matthew McManus
Abstract
Alexandre Lefebvre's Liberalism as a Way of Life repurposes Kierkegaard's seminal critique of Christendom into a condemnation of “liberaldom.” Lefebvre takes liberals to task for not internalizing egalitarian norms authentically and expressing them in their social and political behaviors. This essay agrees lauds Lefebvre's sharp ethical sensitivity and creative repurposing of Rawlsianism. But it criticizes him for failing to consider the structural reforms that would be necessary to truly establish liberal egalitarian justice. It ends with a call for liberal socialism as a complement to Lefebvre's liberal way of life.
Citation format
MCMANUS, Matthew. On liberaldom and christendom: Alexandre lefebvre at the intersection of rawls and kierkegaard. INQUIRY-AN INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF PHILOSOPHY, 2026: 1–18.