Liberal critique questions the necessity and legitimacy, not just cost, of governing.

Evidence

One always governs too much”~or at least, one should always suspect that one governs too much. Govenimentality shouldnot be exercised without a “critique” far more radical than a test of optimization. It should not only question itself about the best ( or least costly) means for achieving its effects, but also about the possibility and even legitimacy of its project for achieving effects. The question behind the suspicion that there is·always tue riskofgoveming too much is: Why, after all, is it necessary to govern? — Michel Foucault, The Birth of Biopolitics, 1591

Categorization

• DEFINE: Changes the level of critique from optimization of means to the legitimacy of governing itself.
• XREF: connects to: Liberal democratic values are ambiguous and can legitimize domination — Cristian Tileagă, The Nature of Prejudice: Society,…, 114; Legitimacy can be derived from constitutional practices rather than from justifications. — Philip Chase Bobbitt, Reflections Inspired by My Critics, 15; Political rationality enables and legitimates governing instruments rather than serving them. — Wendy Brown, Undoing the Demos: Neoliberalism’s…, 220

Broader Connections

• Political rationality enables and legitimates governing instruments rather than serving them. #expands (0.80) — Wendy Brown, Undoing the Demos, 220
• Liberal democratic values are ambiguous and can legitimize domination #expands (0.76) — Cristian Tileagă, The Nature of Prejudice, 114
• Legitimacy can be derived from constitutional practices rather than from justifications. #qualifies (0.72) — Philip Chase Bobbitt, Reflections Inspired by My Critics, 15