L Larry Liu

Philosopher Kings and Churchillian Pessimism L Larry Liu

In this essay collection, Liu reflects on broad philosophical concerns, including personal faith and discontents of human existence; country-specific histories (such as Madagascar, China or Cambodia); political analyses on the weakness of European social democracy, Brexit, Trump's populism; and perspectives on political economy, advocating the necessity of a basic income, Baumol's cost disease, the prevalence of precarious and bullshit work and advancing automation of work. Why choose the title 'philosopher kings and Churchillian pessimism'? Institutional design and human fallibility are the most important concepts in political philosophy and what makes up a good polity. One does not know how to achieve a good polity, but Liu posits what is the best among all available options.