Communitarianism

Definition

Communitarianism is a political and social philosophy that emphasizes the importance of community in shaping individual identity and moral values. It challenges the individualistic approach of liberalism and instead focuses on the collective well-being and responsibilities of the community as a whole.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Communitarianism argues that individuals are shaped by the communities they belong to, and that individual rights and freedoms should be balanced with the collective responsibilities and well-being of the community.
2. Communitarians believe that the pursuit of individual interests can sometimes come at the expense of the common good, and that a strong, vibrant community is essential for the flourishing of its members.
3. Communitarians emphasize the importance of civic engagement, social cohesion, and the cultivation of shared values and virtues within a community.
4. Communitarianism challenges the liberal emphasis on individual autonomy and instead argues that individuals have a duty to contribute to the well-being of their community.
5. Communitarians argue that the state has a role to play in promoting the common good and fostering a sense of community, but they also believe in the importance of local, grassroots initiatives and community-based problem-solving.

Review Questions

• Explain how communitarianism differs from individualism in its approach to political and social goals.
  • Communitarianism differs from individualism in its emphasis on the importance of community in shaping individual identity and moral values. While individualism focuses on the rights and freedoms of the individual as the primary unit of society, communitarianism argues that individuals are shaped by the communities they belong to and have a responsibility to contribute to the collective well-being of the community. Communitarians believe that the pursuit of individual interests can sometimes come at the expense of the common good, and that a strong, vibrant community is essential for the flourishing of its members.
• Describe the role of the state and civic engagement in the communitarian view.
  • Communitarians believe that the state has a role to play in promoting the common good and fostering a sense of community, but they also emphasize the importance of local, grassroots initiatives and community-based problem-solving. Communitarians argue that civic engagement, social cohesion, and the cultivation of shared values and virtues within a community are essential for the well-being of its members. They challenge the liberal emphasis on individual autonomy and instead argue that individuals have a duty to contribute to the well-being of their community.
• Analyze how the communitarian focus on moral particularism and the importance of context in ethical decision-making differs from the universalist approach of other political philosophies.
  • Communitarianism's emphasis on moral particularism, which holds that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends on the specific context and details of the situation, rather than on universal moral principles, sets it apart from other political philosophies that adopt a more universalist approach. While philosophies like liberalism and utilitarianism often rely on abstract, universal principles to guide ethical decision-making, communitarians argue that the unique circumstances and cultural context of a community must be taken into account when determining the appropriate course of action. This focus on the importance of context in ethical reasoning challenges the notion of a single, objective set of moral rules that can be applied uniformly across all situations, and instead emphasizes the need for a more nuanced, community-based approach to moral deliberation.

Related terms

Individualism: The belief that the individual is the basic unit of society and that individual rights and freedoms should be the primary focus of political and social organization.

Civic Republicanism: A political philosophy that emphasizes the role of citizens in promoting the common good and participating actively in the political process.

Moral Particularism: The view that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends on the specific context and details of the situation, rather than on universal moral principles.