The Crisis of Rights & The Lost Meaning of Happiness with Dr. Robert P. George

I recently sat down with Dr. Robert George for the latest episode of Nuance. Dr. George is the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University and one of our nation’s most respected legal theorists. To say I was excited for this conversation is an understatement. I gladly admit that I am a bit of a Robert George junkie.

We tackled some massive questions about faith, culture, and the common good.

Here is a sample of what we cover in the episode:

• The pursuit of truth: We discuss his incredible work co-teaching with Dr. Cornel West and how they model deep political disagreement while maintaining a shared commitment to open dialogue.

• The source of our rights: If human rights come from the government, then the government can take them away. Dr. George reminds us that true rights are rooted in Genesis 1 because human beings are made in the image of God.

• The true meaning of happiness: The American founders did not view happiness as merely a pleasant psychological state or getting whatever we want. Happiness actually means true human flourishing and living a virtuous life.

• The role of institutions: The government cannot make people virtuous. That vital responsibility falls to the family, the church, and other foundational institutions of civil society.

If you care about public theology and how we live together in a divided cultural moment, you will want to listen to this one.

P.S. This is part one of two conversations we had. If you’d like to watch the second part, click here.