Normative Theory Flashcards
What is Critical Theory influenced by?
Strongly influenced by Marxism after the prediction of capitalism by revolution did not surface. They were influenced by Marxs rejection that there was an ultimate blueprint of life that is affirmed independently of circumstance, calling it utopian thinking. Capitalism depends on a mass industrial workforce but is incapable of meeting the needs of the majority group.
What did Critical theory realise from Marxism?
Strong ideological hold that the system had proved capable of exercising. Ideology is a superstructure that creates the dynamics of a material foundation of society, thus liberalism was the problem as capitalism was too niche.
What are Critical Theorists thoughts on liberalism?
Liberalism is thought to be natural and universal with the rational pursuit of self interest which is essential for capitalism to work. This legitimises market exploitation. Liberalism falsely promised individual freedom from outdated superstitions and fixed hierarchy. Instead if reconciled people to a system in which the choices are made into routine and aspirations are materialistic and unimaginative.
What does Marcuse advocate?
More emphasis on critique upon ideology. The psychological effects of a life tied to the values and imperatives of liberal capitalism. Liberalism establishes a one dimensional way of conceiving ourselves, as rational producers and consumers. Legitimates a highly repressed form of life as we must repress instincts in our psychological make-up towards non instrumental forms of gratification (materialism). Sensual, erotic and aesthetic gratification that are innate but we are told to oppress in the name of a more efficient society as they are said to be unproductive, indulgent or immoral. Marcuse continues to argue that modern capitalist societies providing more material comfort, leisure time and less strenuous labour will provide us time to concern ourselves with these natural instincts. It is from here that Marcuse wants the ‘return of the repressed’ which would reassert our instinctual need for sensuous and aesthetic gratification. Rejection of liberal values and politics of material class interests.
What are the two communitarian rejections of Rawl’s idea of justice?
1) authorative principles that are minimal, governing only the impersonal terms of institutional interaction, such theories assume human societies embody no substantial conception of the good. Erroneous to believe that all individuals are strangers with nothing profound binding them together as a community.
2) the universalistic claims about human condition with humans being reducible to rational self interest and nothing more substantial. Communitarian want to abandon the search for universal foundations and look closely to the role communities play in constituting the common identity of individuals and conferring upon common beliefs.
What is the unencumbered self and how does it relate to Rawls principles?
The individual taken out of social context as a source of foundation is misplaced as it does not fit with Rawls explanation. Redistribution to the less well off is hard to justify if one starts from the premise of the sled interested individual with no intrinsic social ties. If autonomy is the highest liberal principle then forcing people to contribute to collective welfare is unacceptable. Rawls is contradictory.
How does Walzer make communitarian reconcile with liberalism?
Based upon recognition of how individuals interpret themselves and what is normative for them. Depends upon the norms and conventions of the community they are in.
Thinkers like Walker do not believe that all choices are impartial or made without prior assumptions. People always make biased choices due to the concepts embedded in our language, through which we understand the world, structure our experiences and order our values. These all alternate between different cultures, times and places. Liberalism ignores this. However, in western societies, we find reasons for asserting a commitment to liberal arrangements and to institutions that protect liberties of individuals through the rule of law and mutual tolerance. This form of justification differs from Rawls, this socially informed liberalism is similar in important ways.
How does Joseph Raz adopt a liberal position?
Autonomy of the individual is a foundational moral and political principle. The principle of autonomy is a perfectionist principle. Autonomy is more than a choice, there are good ways and bad ways of using our freedom, bad ways can damage our authentic autonomy. A truly autonomous life is through engagements which can enhance our dignity and self respect. The promotion of the liberal value of autonomy implies the promotion of opportunities for this kind of life. We have a collective understanding of the value of a way of life: the state as our collective agent had a file and a duty to create opportunities for an autonomous life and to encourage us to take it. However, it would be self defeating to advocate a state that would force us into making decisions about redistribution of wealth. Thus the state should employ collective resources in order to enable and encourage people to lead better and more fulfilling lives. Raz’s approach to liberal principles to accommodate the communitarian acknowledgment of shared senses of the good life and go beyond a simple matter of personal choice.
How is Critical Theory reconciled with liberalism?
Habermas sees rationality in the form of human language communication. Logic of language is generally universal- whenever we use our language we commit ourselves to a key criteria. This consists of truth, sincerity, morality and capability of being understood. These are built into our language as a meaning for communication. People are committed to the possibility of feee, open rational communication to this criteria. In Habermas’ ideal speech situation, communication is free from distortions in being free from hidden agendas, biases etc. The discussion is guided by better argument alone, letting everyone have an equal chance to speak and express their POV. The goal of this communication is for rational consensus.
Much communication contains distortion s that remove it from the ideal. More importantly, for Habermas, is the fact that some communication is systematically distorted. Systematically distorted conversations include political principles or moral norms that are articulated and reproduced. This discussion is consistently repressive, stopping the recognition of certain forms of experience and self understanding which marginalises voices. This identification of systematic distortion allows us to expose ideological biases which stops domination of socio economic biases. Whilst this approach does not tell us which decisions a society should make, it lays down requirements as to how things should be debated, establishing a moral necessity for constitution, democracy, collective control of elites but not in a distorted liberal way.
How does Foucault use language to criticise liberalism? (Postmodernism)
Our language and all the assumptions and self conceptions it contains constitute a structure that is independent of individual decisions which shapes our outlooks and interactions. Linguistic structures that condition our moral views and self understanding of our place in the world. Liberalism would teach us that personal autonomy is the main goal. However, this is a myth. A rational chooser does not choose their identity through freely adopted commitments, but is inscribed it from the structures in which we operate. The structure gives an individual a clone identity, the individual does not freely choose it.
What does Foucault, the postmodernist, believe about liberalisms place in history?
Foucault believes that successive discourses have arisen and contended for dominance. Certain discourses of ideologies emerged as dominant like the feudal system, slavery etc. And others were suppressed in an often chaotic history. Foucault questions the progressivism that liberalism preaches, the idea that as time goes on, a more liberal and rationalised world will develop. Like all dominant discourses, liberalism is also institutionally embodied. HOWEVER, dominant discourses legitimate ways in disciplining people through punishment: modern liberal societies are no exception and our current system in this respect. Whilst we have moved away from physical violence as torture, we have instead used imprisonment, hiding offenders away from society until they adopt appropriate social discipline. Whilst it is perceived to be ‘gentler,’ the agenda is still the same.
Does postmodernism believe liberalism is progressive?
Not progressive, we have just moved. Moved from the spectacle of public punishment to a prison system. This is just a liberal discourse of power. Dominant discourses make claims to universal truths, the truth of human nature, how the world works etc. However, none of these claims can be proven by some ultimate criteria and thus these ideas are just exercises of power and imposed upon people.
What is Foucault’s idea to an alternate to liberalism?
For Foucault, he believes that dominant discourses are just natural to human nature and history and does not develop a blueprint for a truly liberated condition, with another blueprint running the risk of false truth claims too. However, he does urge for the pursuit of to end human suffering, promote liberty and mount resistance to more extreme exercises in discipline like prison reforms or refugee rights. Whilst these sound like liberal thoughts, he says liberal thinking is fine but it is not okay when it narrates to be the answer of human progress.
What is Rortys claims on liberalism? (Postmodernists)
Conceptions of the individual are always products of a particular culture and should be understood as such. Culture generates an idea of the self and the idea in a western culture is that we are liberal. It has been accepted that a political theory is universal when one can defend it through reason that could persuade anyone, however this is not true. The fact that there is not ultimate theoretical reference points is no reason to reject a viewpoint- liberalism doesn’t agree with this and tries to create norms. However, it is possible to remain committed to liberal principles and institutions without having to assert their universal validity.
We support liberal values and institutions as they are a point of social solidarity, not because they are a universal truth.
Should liberal states materially redistribute?
- Veil of ignorance, people do not know where they start in life
- Equality, if we all treat each other as we are equal our economics should be more equal as well
- Main goal for autonomy may only be pursuable through this way
