Liberalism, Eugenics, and the State. The Case of the Philosophy of Bernard Bosanquet

Abstract

The aim of the paper consists in presenting the place occupied by Bernard Bosanquet's philosophy in the context of the welfare provision debate taking placentury in Britain. The main thesis of the article is that although often accused of totalitarian or radically individualist tendencies, which supposedly had an effect on his attitude towards eugenics, Bosanquet's treatment of the "social problem" may be seen as an application of moderate liberal principles. Toon intellectual and political attitudes of the time towards eugenics, then passing to Bosanquet's stand in relation to thisreferring to the thesis of the article. ; The aim of the paper consists in presenting the place occupied by Bernard Bosanquet's philosophy in the context of the welfare provision debate taking placentury in Britain. The main thesis of the article is that although often accused of totalitarian or radically individualist tendencies, which supposedly had an effect on his attitude towards eugenics, Bosanquet's treatment of the "social problem" may be seen as an application of moderate liberal principles. Toon intellectual and political attitudes of the time towards eugenics, then passing to Bosanquet's stand in relation to thisreferring to the thesis of the article.