Table of Contents

Foreword 11; Introduction 13; LIBERAL DELUSIONS; 1 Liberal Delusion: Human Nature is Good and Rational 19; 2 Liberal Delusion: The More Freedom the Better 30; 3 Liberal Delusion: Morality is Unnecessary 41; 4 Liberal Delusion: The Individual is of Overriding Importance 48; 5 Liberal Delusion: Greater Equality is Always Beneficial 54; 6 Liberal Delusion: Science is Certain and Benign 60; 7 Liberal Delusion: Religion is Harmful and Untrue (for some liberals) 67; 8 Liberal Delusion: History and Tradition are Unimportant 85; 9 Liberal Delusion: Universalism and Multiculturalism are Beneficial 92; 10 Liberal Delusion: We are shaped only by our Experiences, not by our Genes 103; THE DARK SIDE OF LIBERALISM; 11 The Dark Side of Liberalism: Does liberalism harm the Poor? 110; 12 The Dark Side of Liberalism: The Dictatorship of the Intelligentsia 118; 13 The Dark Side of Liberalism: Atrocities by Secularists and Rationalists (Were atheistic regimes the most evil in history?) 126; 14 The Dark Side of Liberalism: Liberalism and Truth 141; 15 The Dark Side of Liberalism: The attack on the Family and the Growth of Crime 151; 17 Afterword 160.

About the Author

John Marsh was born in 1947 in Cleveleys Lancashire and educated at Blackpool Grammar School and the universities of Lancaster and Oxford. His study of history and philosophy led to a lifetime interest in these subjects and especially on the impact of Enlightenment thinking on society. He taught history briefly before working in law and commerce. In 1997 he established a property investment business in London. He is married with three grown-up boys. His book The Liberal Delusion examines liberalism in the light of recent scientific discoveries, and argues that liberalism's core belief in human goodness is false, unscientific and harming society. His conclusion is that society has become too liberal, and that we urgently need to reappraise liberalism and separate out the positive, such as the commitment to greater social justice, from the negative - excessive freedom and loss of morality.