Isaiah Berlin and John Gray’s Concept of Post-Enlightenment Liberalism

Abstract

The article examines John Gray’s notion of liberalism. Gray suggests that a world of
plural values can be ordered by a modus vivendi – an equilibrium of competing values and
interests upholding a public and international order. We saw that such a working compromise
appears unable to provide a stable order based on respect for a central set of rights. The article
draws parallels between I. Berlin’s and J. Gray’s main ideas: pluralism of values, the balance
of interests/temporary agreement, the objective horizon of values/public rationality, counterEnlightenment.