John Rawls & Stanley Cavell were career-long frenemies. To make sense of it, I went to the Rawls archive at Harvard and read Rawls’s private notes from their meetings: painstakingly earnest, frequently baffled. doi.org/10.1177/1474...

Today is my last day as the inaugural director of The University of Sydney's PPE program. It’s been a ride: four disciplines (politics, philosophy, economics, political economy) built into one coherent degree. Brilliant students, lots of fun. With this mug, I rest.

May be of interest to: @lefebvrealex.bsky.social @mattpolprof.bsky.social @joshuatait.bsky.social @thomaszimmer.bsky.social @jamellebouie.net @samadlerbell.bsky.social @thebulwark.com @theunpopulist.net

My article, From Statecraft to Soulcraft, was selected by @noemamag.com as one of its Top Ten Reads of 2025. I’m proud of this piece. It’s onto something big: post-liberal states today—from China to Hungary to MAGA—make the Good Life core state business. www.noemamag.com/noemas-top-1...

New podcast alert: The Philosophy of Living Well Happiness, art, politics, forgiveness, blame — philosophers at the University of Sydney dive into all of it. Give it a listen here👇 open.spotify.com/show/1jUIb70...

This! The habit of liberals to dismiss the right as mere greed-driven vulgarians devoid of serious ideas is a weakness. Haven’t read the book yet, but heard Field outline the argument on a couple of podcasts and she’s excellent.

“This is sociologically rich and intellectually precise political theory of and for the moment.“

We've launched a new podcast called Ideology Unbound. Host @lkatfield.bsky.social will be interviewing guests on ideas and liberalism. This first episode is with @lefebvrealex.bsky.social. Check it out and subscribe! www.illiberalism.org/ideology-unb...

"It takes a Straussian to catch a Straussian." In case you missed it, here's my LARB review of @lkatfield.bsky.social terrific new book, Furious Minds, published by @princetonupress.bsky.social. lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-mo...

Great piece but missing something, I feel: progressives need to better understand the MAGA mindset not primarily so we can "strategize" more effectively, but as a way to engage our own blind spots (our attachment to the institutions that gave rise to Trump). lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-mo...

This review is SO fun to read and @lefebvrealex.bsky.social really gets it.

“Few books in political theory foreground the author’s biography this much. But it lands.” My LARB review of Furious Minds by Laura Field. A terrific book. @princetonupress.bsky.social: lareviewofbooks.org/article/a-mo...

Short and sweet review of Bergson's Lectures on Freedom @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social "This compilation of Henri Bergson's 1904–05 lectures at the Collège de France exemplifies the dynamic nature of philosophy as an evolving discourse delivered in an oral format." muse.jhu.edu/pub/105/arti...

Big conference on the Dismissal and the Fraser Government, 12–13 Dec at Trinity College, Melbourne. I’m speaking on a panel, “What Is Liberalism Today?”, with Senators James Paterson and Sarah Henderson. Come on down! www.trinity.unimelb.edu.au/whats-happen...

A talented student artist drew some of the authors we read this semester. Name them from clockwise (no big points for 1 and 2):

Love this book. And now my daughter is using it for her Year 12 English project on White Lotus and Rousseau's Second Discourse. Fun for the whole family! Thanks @laywilliams.bsky.social

I did a thing and got a thing.

Wonderful statement of what is so inspiring in Rawls by @lefebvrealex.bsky.social aeon.co/essays/john-...

Liberalism As Mob Boss @lefebvrealex.bsky.social substack.com/@alexlefebvr...

‘Rawls is often treated as an austere theorist of justice, but I wanted to recover the moral and even spiritual warmth at the heart of his liberalism — and Aeon was the perfect place to do that’, – @lefebvrealex.bsky.social, winner of the Australasian Association of Philosophy’s Media Prize

Paperback day for Liberalism as a Way of Life, @princetonupress.bsky.social I’ve been moved and amazed by the book’s reception—thank you to everyone who’s read, taught, or shared it. If you’re so inclined, give it one more repost for the road.

Won a couple of awards last week. Woo! One is the Australasian Association of Philosophy’s Media Prize for Rawls the Redeemer in @aeon.co: shorturl.at/vPOxH The other is a Teaching Leadership Award for my work on the new PPE degree The University of Sydney: shorturl.at/MAHtd

Why #liberalism is all you need to lead a good, fun, worthy, and rewarding life—and how you can become a better and happier person by taking your liberal beliefs more seriously. Alexandre Lefebvre's Liberalism as a Way of Life arrives in #paperback on 28 Oct: press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...

Dear friends, I'm very happy to share the link to my upcoming book on Bergson and Affect published with @edinburghup.bsky.social ! Those interested in #Bergson, #affect, #virtuality, #embodiment, or even #philosophy in general might find it interesting. Forthcoming March or so next year!

Both Luara Ferracioli and I have been shortlisted for the AAP Media Prize — Luara for two excellent ABC radio pieces, and me for Rawls the Redeemer in Aeon. Great to see public philosophy getting some love. 👉 aap.org.au/AAP-Media-Pr...

@alexandrelefebvre.bsky.social's review of my biography of Henri Bergson is still the most popular article on the @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social website! The people yearn for durée! lareviewofbooks.org/article/when...

In case you missed it: my lead essay in the new print issue of @noemamag.com, "From Statecraft to Soulcraft." After 70 years, states are back in the business of shaping the good life. Welcome to the post-liberal era. www.noemamag.com/from-statecr...

In case you missed it, my review of @emilyherring.bsky.social's terrific bio of Henri Bergson is #1 at the Los Angeles Review of Books right now. It’s my love letter to the GOAT of philosophy—take a seat and have a chat with him here 👇 lareviewofbooks.org/article/when...

A lovely review of my biography of Henri Bergson in the @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social by @lefebvrealex.bsky.social lareviewofbooks.org/article/when...

My review of @emilyherring.bsky.social's bio of Bergson for @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social ofbooks.bsky.social. Spoiler: it's superb: "The most delightful book I’ve read about Bergson, written with clarity, joy, humor, and narrative drive." lareviewofbooks.org/article/when...

I did an interview with Sam Kahn for The Republic of Letters. Topics include: how I became a liberal, why you probably are too, what liberalism really is, and how to work Rawls into everyday conversation without sounding like a tool. republicofletters.substack.com/p/an-intervi...

Inspired by John Dunn’s essay of the same name, I’ve written a review essay on three recent books, on ‘the future of liberalism’ 1. Liberalism Against Itself @samuelmoyn.bsky.social 2. Liberalism as a Way of Life @lefebvrealex.bsky.social 3. Regenerative Politics doi.org/10.1080/0955...

New piece! Laura K. Field reviews Alexandre Lefebvre's Liberalism as a Way of Life and discusses meaning-making and pluralism under liberalism. Check it out! @lkatfield.bsky.social @lefebvrealex.bsky.social

Thrilled to see my book out today in Spanish translation! Huge thanks to @edicionesdeusto.bsky.social and @princetonupress.bsky.social. ¡Hola Liberalismo como forma de vida! www.planetadelibros.com/libro-libera...

Doing trim on a bookcase I’m installing in the basement and keep getting distracted by some of the books. This one is by far my favorite one about Henri Bergson. #PhilSky @lefebvrealex.bsky.social

“Of all the damage Team Trump may be wreaking, the assault on climate policies is the most existential. And the threat extends far beyond the borders of America to those who have no vote in the matter.” —Nathan Gardels #trump #climate #climatecrisis

Excellent review of my Liberalism as a Way of Life by Benjamin Ball for Marginalia Review of Books. Ball says I'm too hard on democracy (I'm sure he's right) and wonders, with Dewey and others, what "democracy as a way of life" looks like. www.marginaliareviewofbooks.com/post/self-co...

Read Nathan Gardels’ extended commentary on my recent “Statecraft as Soulcraft” article for @noemamag.com. We explore how today’s authoritarians link their legitimacy, stability, and popularity to promoting specific visions of the good life. Politics As Soulcraft www.noemamag.com/politics-as-...

Some news: from July 2025, I’ll be Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Usyd. The usual joke here is to say “condolences”. Not in this case. I so admire and like our stellar crew of philosophers. Looking forward!

An insightful take from my undergrad advisor @lefebvrealex.bsky.social! A must read for those that are concerned with liberalism's failures and possibilities, and curious about the values and ideals that inspire alternative visions of the good life. www.noemamag.com/from-statecr...

“The major illiberal regimes worldwide today are ready & willing to use the soft & hard powers of the state to realize their visions of the good life. They are in the business of crafting souls, or soulcraft.” — @lefebvrealex.bsky.social