Hope, Freedom, and the Responsibility of a Free People: Robert George on America at 250
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As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Professor Robert George offers a timely reminder: the survival of the American experiment cannot be taken for granted. The Princeton professor and public intellectual argues that republican government and ordered liberty have endured for 250 years because generations of Americans have accepted the responsibility to preserve them.
Freedom Requires Virtue
Dr. George challenges the modern idea that freedom simply means doing whatever we want. To the founders, he argues, liberty meant something deeper: the ability to use reason and self-government to pursue human flourishing. Without virtue, freedom can become license rather than liberty.
Disagreement Without Division
A central theme of Dr. George’s work is the importance of truth-seeking. He believes people should be willing to defend their convictions while remaining open to the possibility that they are wrong.
His friendship and intellectual partnership with Cornel West provides a remarkable example of how people with profound disagreements can still listen to one another, debate honestly, and remain friends.
Disagreement, Humility, and Free Speech
For Dr. George, free speech is essential because truth-seeking requires the willingness to hear arguments that challenge even our deepest convictions. He believes Americans can hold strong beliefs while treating those who disagree as fellow citizens rather than enemies.
Hope for the Next Generation
Despite today’s polarization, Dr. George remains hopeful.
After 41 years teaching at Princeton, he sees young people who are willing to stand for their beliefs, even when doing so is unpopular. For him, that courage offers reason to believe the American experiment can continue.
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