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Single Idea 22842
[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 7. Communitarianism / b. Against communitarianism
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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 Ref
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.
The
27 ideas
from 'Liberalism: the basics'
22821
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Liberalism asserts maximum freedom, but that must be equal for all participants
[Charvet]
|
22822
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Liberals promote community and well-being - because all good societies need them
[Charvet]
|
22825
|
The 1689 Bill of Rights denied the monarch new courts, or the right to sit as judge
[Charvet]
|
22828
|
The rule of law mainly benefits those with property and liberties
[Charvet]
|
22826
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From 1701 only parliament could remove judges, whose decisions could not be discussed
[Charvet]
|
22823
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The rule of law is mainly to restrict governments
[Charvet]
|
22827
|
Justice superior to the rule of law is claimed on behalf of the workers, or the will of the nation
[Charvet]
|
22829
|
Allowing defamatory speech is against society's interests, by blurring which people are trustworthy
[Charvet]
|
22830
|
Give by ability and receive by need, rather than a free labour market
[Charvet]
|
22831
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Modern libertarian societies still provide education and some housing
[Charvet]
|
22832
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Welfare is needed if citizens are to accept the obligations of a liberal state
[Charvet]
|
22834
|
Egalitarian liberals prefer equality (either of input or outcome) to liberty
[Charvet]
|
22835
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Liberals value freedom and equality, but the society itself must decide on its values
[Charvet]
|
22836
|
'Freedom from' is an empty idea, if the freedom is not from impediments to my desires
[Charvet]
|
22837
|
Positive freedom can lead to coercion, if you are forced to do what you chose to do
[Charvet]
|
22839
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Liberalism needs people to either have equal autonomy, or everyone to have enough autonomy
[Charvet]
|
22838
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Societies need shared values, so conservatism is right if rational discussion of values is impossible
[Charvet]
|
22841
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Identity multiculturalism emerges from communitarianism, preferring community to humanity
[Charvet]
|
22842
|
For communitarians it seems that you must accept the culture you are born into
[Charvet]
|
22840
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Mere equality, as in two trees being the same height, has no value at all
[Charvet]
|
22843
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Inequalities are worse if they seem to be your fault, rather than social facts
[Charvet]
|
22844
|
First level autonomy is application of personal values; second level is criticising them
[Charvet]
|
22845
|
Money allows unlimited inequalities, and we obviously all agree to money
[Charvet]
|
22846
|
The universalism of utilitarianism implies a world state
[Charvet]
|
22849
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Rawls's theory cannot justify liberalism, since it presupposes free and equal participants
[Charvet]
|
22848
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People with strong prior beliefs would have nothing to do with a veil of ignorance
[Charvet]
|
22847
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Kant places a higher value on the universal rational will than on the people asserting it
[Charvet]
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