The Book That Changed How I Think About Liberalism

In this episode of The Ezra Klein Show, Ezra Klein explores the crisis of modern liberalism through a deep dive into Helena Rosenblatt's book, The Lost History of Liberalism. Klein reflects on how liberalism, once a vibrant tradition of moral virtue and civic responsibility known as 'liberality,' has become hollowed out into a mere defense of individual rights and free markets. Rosenblatt traces the concept of liberality back to ancient Rome and the Enlightenment, showing how it was once about generosity, mutual obligation, and the cultivation of character—not just political structures. The conversation reveals how liberalism’s early ideals were deeply tied to education, civic virtue, and moral uplift, but were gradually eroded during the Cold War, when liberals distanced themselves from any notion of state-led moral formation to avoid being associated with totalitarianism. Today, liberalism struggles with a crisis of meaning, identity, and connection, especially as it becomes associated with elite power and condescension. Yet Rosenblatt argues that reviving the ethical core of liberality—generosity, reciprocity, and the moral development of citizens—could reinvigorate liberalism as a living, aspirational force. The episode ends on a hopeful note: liberalism has weathered past crises, and with renewed moral imagination and a commitment to shared responsibility, it can still be a source of progress and unity.