Fools, Frauds and Firebrands

A devastating critique of modern left-wing thinking from a leading political philosopher.

In Fools, Frauds and Firebrands, philosopher Roger Scruton, one of the leading critics of leftist orientations in modern Western civilization, examines the thinkers who have been most influential on the attitudes of the New Left. What does the Left look like today, he asks, and how has it evolved? Is there any foundation for resistance to its agenda without religious faith?

Scruton begins with a ruthless analysis of New Leftism and concludes with a critique of the key strands in its thinking. He conducts a reappraisal of such major left-wing thinkers as: E. P. Thompson, Ronald Dworkin, R. D. Laing, Jurgen Habermas, Gyorgy Lukacs, Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Derrida, Slavoj Zizek, Ralph Milliband and Eric Hobsbawm.

Scruton's exploration of these important issues is written with skill, perception and at all times with pellucid clarity. In addition to assessments of these thinkers' philosophical and political contributions, the book contains a biographical and bibliographical section summarizing their careers and most important writings.

O critica devastatoare a gandirii de stanga moderne de la un filozof politic de varf. In Fools, Frauds and Firebrands, filosoful Roger Scruton, unul dintre cei mai importanti critici ai orientarilor de stanga din civilizatia moderna occidentala, examineaza ganditorii care au influentat cel mai mult atitudinile. a Noii Stangi. Cum arata stanga astazi, intreaba el, si cum a evoluat?