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Full Idea
We must all be nurtures by others as children, and we only flourish as adults in relationship with friends, mates, children and so on. But this has nothing to do with any obligation to belong to political society.
Gist of Idea
Our reliance on other people close to us does not imply any political obligations
Source
Charles Taylor (Atomism [1979], p.42)
Book Ref
'Communitarianism and Individualism', ed/tr. Avineri,S. /de-Shalit,A. [OUP 1992], p.42
A Reaction
He is defending community, but not at that minimal human level. Political obligations follows from our need for a wider society, to achieve justice, education, travel, health etc. There are no rights without a society
| 23417 | If the state is neutral, there won't be sufficient community to support a welfare state [Taylor,C, by Kymlicka] |
| 22809 | The social contract sees society as constituted by and for individuals [Taylor,C] |
| 22811 | Assigning a right based on a human capacity implies that the capacity should be developed [Taylor,C] |
| 22810 | A right is not just a rule, but also asserts certain ideas of moral worth [Taylor,C] |
| 22812 | For most people the primacy of rights mainly concerns freedom [Taylor,C] |
| 22813 | Property is not essential for life, but it may be essential for independence [Taylor,C] |
| 22814 | Our reliance on other people close to us does not imply any political obligations [Taylor,C] |
| 22815 | If freedom depends on society and culture, the greatest freedom is in shaping them [Taylor,C] |