The Open Society and Its Enemies
Karl PopperWritten in exile while Popper feared a Nazi victory.
“The Utopian attempt to realize an ideal state, using a blueprint of society as a whole, is bound to lead to a totalitarian state.”
— Karl Popper
Why It's Lindy
Written in exile while Popper feared a Nazi victory. His argument — that the enemies of open society are those who claim to know the final destination of history — remains the sharpest philosophical weapon against authoritarianism available. George Soros named his philanthropic network after it.
About This Volume
Popper's wartime defence of liberal democracy against the totalitarian philosophies he traced to Plato, Hegel, and Marx. The most rigorous philosophical argument for open institutions ever written.
Frequently Asked
Why should I read The Open Society and Its Enemies?
Written in exile while Popper feared a Nazi victory. His argument — that the enemies of open society are those who claim to know the final destination of history — remains the sharpest philosophical weapon against authoritarianism available. George Soros named his philanthropic network after it.
What is The Open Society and Its Enemies about?
Popper's wartime defence of liberal democracy against the totalitarian philosophies he traced to Plato, Hegel, and Marx. The most rigorous philosophical argument for open institutions ever written.
