The Open Society and Its Enemies

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One of the most significant works of the twentieth century, this book is a staunch defense of liberal democracy and a critique of the intellectual foundations of totalitarianism. The author, born in 1902 to a Jewish family in Vienna, taught in Austria until 1937 before emigrating to New Zealand, anticipating the Nazi annexation of Austria. He later settled in England in 1949. Initially focused on the philosophy of science, he shifted his attention to political philosophy during World War II, aiming to uncover the intellectual roots of German and Soviet totalitarianism. The book, published in two volumes in 1945, became an immediate sensation, earning a legendary status among both the Left and Right and inspiring anticommunist dissidents during the Cold War. The author argues that the principles of free, critical inquiry that characterize scientific investigation should also apply to politics, tracing authoritarian tendencies back to figures like Plato, Marx, and Hegel. This edition features a substantial new introduction by political philosopher Alan Ryan, which places the work in biographical, intellectual, and historical context. Additionally, it includes a personal essay by art historian E.H. Gombrich, detailing the book's journey to publication despite numerous challenges.