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Single Idea 22259

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 3. Conservatism ]

Full Idea

Individualist conservatives believe people should be free to do as they please so long as they do not harm others. ...Communal conservatives, by contrast, believe government should affirm moral and religious values.

Gist of Idea

Conservatives are either individualistic, or communal

Source

Michael J. Sandel (Beyond Individualism [1988], p.38)

Book Ref

Sandel,Michael J.: 'Public Philosophy: Essays' [Harvard 2005], p.38


A Reaction

Nozick represents the first group (as does J.S.Mill, usually seen as epitomising liberalism). He says the first group like volunteer armies and oppose welfare; the second group favour conscription and conservative welfare.


The 33 ideas from Michael J. Sandel

Passion for progress is always short-lived [Sandel]
Conservatives are either individualistic, or communal [Sandel]
Modern liberalism fails to articulate a vision of the common good [Sandel]
We can approach justice through welfare, or freedom, or virtue [Sandel]
Justice concerns how a society distributes what it prizes - wealth, rights, power and honours [Sandel]
A just constitution harmonises the different freedoms [Sandel]
The categorical imperative is not the Golden Rule, which concerns contingent desires [Sandel]
Speak truth only to those who deserve the truth [Sandel]
Careful evasions of truth at least show respect for it [Sandel]
Man cannot dispose of himself, because he is not a thing to be owned [Sandel]
Not all deals are fair deals [Sandel]
Does consent create the obligation, or must there be some benefit? [Sandel]
Moral contracts involve both consent and reciprocity; making the deal, and keeping it [Sandel]
Just visiting (and using roads) is hardly ratifying the Constitution [Sandel]
A ratified constitution may not be a just constitution [Sandel]
Libertarians just want formal equality in a free market; the meritocratic view wants fair equality [Sandel]
Should we redress wrongs done by a previous generation? [Sandel]
Distributive justice concern deserts, as well as who gets what [Sandel]
Work is not fair if it is negotiated, even in a fair situation, but if it suits the nature of the worker [Sandel]
Teleological thinking is essential for social and political issues [Sandel]
Liberal freedom was a response to assigned destinies like caste and class [Sandel]
Justice is about how we value things, and not just about distributions [Sandel]
Choosers in the 'original position' have been stripped of most human characteristics [Sandel, by Tuckness/Wolf]
The self is 'unencumbered' if it can abandon its roles and commitments without losing identity [Sandel, by Shorten]
If persons define themselves by a group membership, insults to that group are a real harm [Sandel]
In the liberal view an insult to my group doesn't hurt me, since I'm defined by choices not groups [Sandel]
The case for religious liberty depends on the religion contributing to a morally good life [Sandel]
I can't defend the view that the majority values of a community are thereby right [Sandel]
Liberalism concerns rights, and communitarianism concerns the common good [Sandel, by Avineri/De-Shalit]
Kant's moral law has no foundation - because that would undermine its priority [Sandel]
Modern liberal rights in democracies protect individuals against the majority [Sandel]
Liberals say rights always come first, and justice is neutral on social values [Sandel]
Liberal justice means the withdrawal of the self, as transcendental or as unencumbered [Sandel]