Single Idea 22842

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 7. Communitarianism / b. Against communitarianism]

Full Idea

Communitarians have difficulty avoiding the relativist trap. It seems they must claim that if one is born into a liberal society one cannot but be a liberal, and if one is born into a communist society one cannot but be a communist.

Gist of Idea

For communitarians it seems that you must accept the culture you are born into

Source

John Charvet (Liberalism: the basics [2019], 08)

Book Reference

Charvet,John: 'Liberalism: the basics' [Routledge 2019], p.101


A Reaction

Anyone who accepts the Hegelian view of history and culture seems doomed to such relativism, and Hegel is a communitarian precursor. This is a good reason for me to reject communitarianism, after a long flirtation. We can criticise our own culture.