Beyond Radical Individualism

In his provocatively titled essay “Conservative Postmodernism, Postmodern Conservatism,” the late philosopher Peter Lawler argued that one of the defining characteristics of modernity is the elevation of the individual over the groups to which he or she belongs. The result, writes Lawler, is a society made up of people detached from the bonds of religion, community, and even family, and therefore plagued by a sense of spiritual “homelessness.” In conversation with Alan Rubenstein, Daniel Mark analyzes the essay, explores the virtues and vices of individualism, and asks whether Lawler’s case for an alternative that he calls “conservative postmodernism”—articulated from an explicitly Christian perspective—can be applied to Judaism. (Audio, 40 minutes. Options for download and streaming are available at the link below.)