Komunitaryzm jako liberalizm odpowiedzialny - filozofia dobra Charlesa Taylora

Koźmiński, Krzysztof

Komunitaryzm jako liberalizm odpowiedzialny - filozofia dobra Charlesa Taylora

Abstract

The liberal-communitarian 'debate' is generally perceived as one of the most important intellectual conflicts in modern political philosophy. The essay presents Charles Taylor's ideas on 'self, 'identity', 'naturalism' and human freedom. Canadian philosopher (often classified as communitarian although he prefers the epithet 'republican'), criticizes 'L(iberal) team members' such as Isaiah Berlin, Robert Nozick and John Rawls. According to Charles Taylor 'atomistic' political theories cause selfishness, justify egoism and promote moral relativism. These ideas lead to 'rights-talk', permissiveness and political correctness. Taylor argues that political atomism is associated with the concept of 'negative liberty'. Taylor emphasizes that identity is a matter of dialogical self-interpretation. In other words, human freedom is 'situated,' because its implementation is dependent on interpersonal relationships, social and moral commitments, particular culture and tradition. Despite the fact Taylor rejects Berlin's 'negative liberty', John Gray's 'modus-vivendi', Ronald Dworkin's theory of rights and Judith Shklar's 'liberalism of fear', it is hard to consider him as coherent anti-liberal. It appears that Taylor's ideas mat be considered as a synthesis of both liberal and communitarian conceptions.