Yes, this will be discussed in more length inside the book. But I think by saying that our civilization is founded on the idea I am implying its aspirational nature as you suggested, rather than claiming it is fully realised (indeed, the point of my book is exactly that it still isn’t). And if we look at the US I think it’s literally true that it has been “founded” (as in, “the founding of the united states”) on this idea, since it is stated in the deceleration of independence (though phrased very differently, of course)
Many of the same people whocheeredfor liberty also practiced slavery; including the author of that Declaration. We could as well say that the USA was founded on the contradiction between liberty and slavery; which proved to be an unstable foundation indeed — as this contradiction briefly but violently tore the country apart a few generations later.
Yes, this will be discussed in more length inside the book. But I think by saying that our civilization is founded on the idea I am implying its aspirational nature as you suggested, rather than claiming it is fully realised (indeed, the point of my book is exactly that it still isn’t). And if we look at the US I think it’s literally true that it has been “founded” (as in, “the founding of the united states”) on this idea, since it is stated in the deceleration of independence (though phrased very differently, of course)
Many of the same people who cheered for liberty also practiced slavery; including the author of that Declaration. We could as well say that the USA was founded on the contradiction between liberty and slavery; which proved to be an unstable foundation indeed — as this contradiction briefly but violently tore the country apart a few generations later.