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The Ghost in the System: Liberalism’s Metaphysical Collapse
đź“Ś Episode Summary:
In this episode, we dig into the deeper structure of liberalism—not just as a political philosophy, but as a worldview that has slowly hollowed itself out from the inside. Too many contemporary critiques either blame Marxism for everything or try to rescue classical liberalism as a lost ideal. But both approaches miss a critical piece: progressivism—an ideological bridge between the optimistic freedom of early liberalism and the bureaucratic, managed world of modern technocracy.
We explore how liberalism, from its inception, lacked a metaphysical foundation and substituted an empty concept of freedom for a rich vision of the good. Then came progressivism, heavily influenced by Hegel, which injected a new secular eschatology into the system—promising salvation through the state, led by experts and planners. Modern liberalism inherits the structures but loses the promise, becoming pragmatic, managerial, and increasingly hollow.
The result is a system haunted by meaning it no longer believes in—a ghost in the machine. In order to understand where we are now, and how to move forward, we must first understand how we got here.
🧩 Topics Covered:
Why critiques of modern liberalism often miss the point
How classical liberalism was already missing a vision of man’s telos
The forgotten but crucial role of American progressivism in reshaping liberalism
The influence of Hegelian eschatology and the rise of the expert class
How freedom was redefined—from personal autonomy to state-mediated self-realization
Why modern liberalism feels so empty—and why that’s not an accident
The need to recover a thick metaphysical vision grounded in Christian anthropology
🕯️ Key Themes:
Liberalism without metaphysics cannot sustain a healthy political order
Progressivism as a secularized eschatology—promising utopia through state power
The administrative state as a moral and rational agent, justified by “expertise”
The shift from truth to pragmatism in modern institutions
The enduring need for telos in both personal and political life
đź“š Mentioned (or Implied) Thinkers & Influences:
John Locke & Classical Liberalism
Hegel and German Idealism
American Progressives like Woodrow Wilson
Marxism’s shared inheritance with progressivism
Catholic critiques of liberalism and the need for metaphysical grounding
🧠Why It Matters:
Without understanding liberalism’s inner contradictions and metaphysical poverty, we risk latching onto either shallow nostalgia or destructive alternatives. This episode makes the case that real renewal must begin with first principles—a true anthropology, a vision of the good, and a willingness to name what liberalism forgot.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com
View all episodes
By George Deeganđź“Ś Episode Summary:
In this episode, we dig into the deeper structure of liberalism—not just as a political philosophy, but as a worldview that has slowly hollowed itself out from the inside. Too many contemporary critiques either blame Marxism for everything or try to rescue classical liberalism as a lost ideal. But both approaches miss a critical piece: progressivism—an ideological bridge between the optimistic freedom of early liberalism and the bureaucratic, managed world of modern technocracy.
We explore how liberalism, from its inception, lacked a metaphysical foundation and substituted an empty concept of freedom for a rich vision of the good. Then came progressivism, heavily influenced by Hegel, which injected a new secular eschatology into the system—promising salvation through the state, led by experts and planners. Modern liberalism inherits the structures but loses the promise, becoming pragmatic, managerial, and increasingly hollow.
The result is a system haunted by meaning it no longer believes in—a ghost in the machine. In order to understand where we are now, and how to move forward, we must first understand how we got here.
🧩 Topics Covered:
Why critiques of modern liberalism often miss the point
How classical liberalism was already missing a vision of man’s telos
The forgotten but crucial role of American progressivism in reshaping liberalism
The influence of Hegelian eschatology and the rise of the expert class
How freedom was redefined—from personal autonomy to state-mediated self-realization
Why modern liberalism feels so empty—and why that’s not an accident
The need to recover a thick metaphysical vision grounded in Christian anthropology
🕯️ Key Themes:
Liberalism without metaphysics cannot sustain a healthy political order
Progressivism as a secularized eschatology—promising utopia through state power
The administrative state as a moral and rational agent, justified by “expertise”
The shift from truth to pragmatism in modern institutions
The enduring need for telos in both personal and political life
đź“š Mentioned (or Implied) Thinkers & Influences:
John Locke & Classical Liberalism
Hegel and German Idealism
American Progressives like Woodrow Wilson
Marxism’s shared inheritance with progressivism
Catholic critiques of liberalism and the need for metaphysical grounding
🧠Why It Matters:
Without understanding liberalism’s inner contradictions and metaphysical poverty, we risk latching onto either shallow nostalgia or destructive alternatives. This episode makes the case that real renewal must begin with first principles—a true anthropology, a vision of the good, and a willingness to name what liberalism forgot.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hebrews1031.substack.com