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Single Idea 21134

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / b. Liberal individualism ]

Full Idea

On a radical reading of Foucault, the very ideal of a rational, autonomous moral agent that lies at the heart of liberal governmentality is nothing more than the effect of a particular form of domination.

Gist of Idea

Maybe the rational autonomous liberal individual is merely the result of domination

Source

Andrew Shorten (Contemporary Political Theory [2016], 06)

Book Ref

Shorten,Andrew: 'Contemporary Political Theory' [Palgrave 2016], p.167


A Reaction

[Apologies for the word 'governmentality'; I'm just the messenger] Presumably Foucault's philosophy is also the result of domination, so it is hard to know where to start. The status of rationality is the central issue.


The 17 ideas from Andrew Shorten

Liberal equality concerns rights, and liberal freedom concerns choice of ends [Shorten]
Liberalism should not make assumptions such as the value of choosing your own life plan [Shorten]
Liberals treat individuals as mutual strangers, rather than as social beings [Shorten]
Liberal Nationalism is more communitarian, and Constitutional Patriotism more cosmopolitan [Shorten]
Liberal citizens have a moral requirement to respect freedom and equality [Shorten]
Liberal Nationalism encourages the promotion of nationalistic values [Shorten]
Liberal Nationalism says welfare states and democracy needed a shared sense of nationality [Shorten]
Constitutional Patriotism unites around political values (rather than national identity) [Shorten]
Religious toleration has been institutionalised by the separation of church and state [Shorten]
Representative should be either obedient, or sensible, or typical [Shorten]
There is 'mirror representation' when the institution statistically reflects the population [Shorten]
In a changed situation a Mandated Representative can't keep promises and fight for constituents [Shorten]
Democracy is a method of selection, or it involves participation, or it concerns public discussion [Shorten]
Some say democracy is intrinsically valuable, others that it delivers good outcomes [Shorten]
Maybe the rational autonomous liberal individual is merely the result of domination [Shorten]
There are eight different ways in which groups of people can be oppressed [Shorten, by PG]
Utilitarians conflate acts and omissions; causing to drown and failing to save are the same [Shorten]