Communitarianism challenges liberal individualism, arguing that our identities and values are deeply shaped by social context. This perspective emphasizes the importance of community ties over individual rights, critiquing the notion of isolated, self-contained individuals detached from their cultural and historical background.

Key thinkers like Michael Sandel and Alasdair MacIntyre argue for an "embedded self" concept, where individual identity is inseparable from social roles and traditions. They challenge the liberal idea of an autonomous, rational agent, stressing how family, culture, and history profoundly influence our moral reasoning and sense of self.

Communitarian Critique

Problems with Liberal Individualism

• Communitarianism philosophical perspective emphasizes the importance of community and social context in shaping individual identity and values
• Liberal individualism prioritizes individual rights and freedoms over community obligations and ties
• Atomism view of individuals as isolated, self-contained units detached from their social context (family, culture, history)
• Critique of Rawls' theory of justice as fairness for its emphasis on individual rights and its assumption of a veil of ignorance that abstracts individuals from their social context

Key Communitarian Thinkers

• Michael Sandel prominent communitarian philosopher who critiques liberal individualism in his book "Liberalism and the Limits of Justice"
• Alasdair MacIntyre another influential communitarian thinker who argues for the importance of tradition and social roles in shaping moral identity in his book "After Virtue"
• Both philosophers challenge the liberal conception of the self as an autonomous, rational agent and emphasize the embedded nature of individual identity

Self and Society

The Embedded Self

• Embedded self concept that individual identity is deeply shaped by social context, including family, culture, and historical circumstances
• Communitarians argue that the self cannot be understood apart from these social ties and obligations
• Contrast with the liberal notion of the unencumbered self, which assumes individuals can be abstracted from their social context and defined by their capacity for rational choice
• Examples of embedded self include cultural traditions (Confucianism) and social roles (parent, citizen, member of a profession)

Importance of Social Context

• Social context plays a crucial role in shaping individual values, goals, and sense of self according to communitarians
• Includes factors such as family upbringing, cultural traditions, historical circumstances, and social institutions (schools, religious organizations)
• Communitarians argue that liberal individualism fails to adequately account for the profound influence of social context on individual identity and moral reasoning
• Examples of social context shaping identity include the impact of family values on career choices or the influence of religious upbringing on moral beliefs

Moral Implications

Critique of Moral Universalism

• Communitarians challenge the idea of universal moral principles that apply equally to all individuals regardless of social context
• Argue that moral norms and values are relative to specific communities and cultural traditions rather than being universally valid
• Critique liberal theories of justice (Rawls) for assuming a universal conception of the self and moral reasoning that abstracts from social context
• Examples of moral relativism include different cultural attitudes towards individual rights (Western vs. Asian cultures) or the role of religion in public life (secular vs. theocratic societies)

Importance of Community in Moral Reasoning

• Communitarians emphasize the role of community in shaping moral identity and providing a framework for moral reasoning
• Argue that individuals derive their sense of moral obligation from their social roles and ties to specific communities rather than from abstract principles
• Critique liberal individualism for promoting a view of morality as a matter of individual choice rather than a product of social context
• Examples of community shaping moral reasoning include the influence of professional codes of ethics (medical ethics) or the role of religious teachings in guiding moral behavior (Ten Commandments)