Abstract This paper discsses the communitarian vision of the way that a society should be run and describes the philosophy and beliefs of communitarianism. The paper then looks at Lenin's communitarianism and how it related to his Marxist beliefs. The paper also looks at symbolic interactionism as a theory of the individual and relates this to Lenin's views of communitarianism.
From the Paper "Symbolic interactionism is a theory of the individual while functionalism is a theory of structure. Efforts have been made to create some middle theory that brings the two together. Giddens is one who has proposed such a theory, one he calls Duality of Structure and which involves both structure and individual agency. When we ask about the structure of social practices, we are seeking to explain how structures are constituted through actions and how actions are constituted structurally at the same time. Giddens suggests that the global dimension of thought and action so prominent in the modern world capitalist system ought to shape theoretical discourse in profound ways.
"He notes the dimensions of modernity as we enter the period of post-modernity, and he finds that sociology will more and more shed the residue of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century thought as we move into this post-modern phase."
Abstract This paper contends that communitarians take issue with the liberal orientation of securing individual liberty and the just distribution of resources. The paper claims that they emphasize the importance of tradition and community, and yet their notion of community is inadequately conceptualized. Communitarians question the nature of modern liberalism's "unencumbered" individual, who is abstracted from community and who defines obligation in terms of universal duties (abstract rights) or voluntary obligations (contracts). In contrast, the communitarian will argues for the civic republican ideal of an informed and active citizen, participating in and valuing community. But their attempts to reconstitute community betray a lack of understanding of the very nature of the concept from classical sociology. The paper illustrates how the communitarian project only reintroduces problems that disrupt community.
From the Paper "Liberal theory wants to delineate the principal task of government to that of securing individual liberty and of distributing economic resources equitably, so that those individuals can lead their freely chosen lives. In contrast a cluster of thinkers, labeled communitarian, have taken issue with that orientation, and one point of deliberation has been their emphasis on the importance of tradition and the value of community. However, it may very well be that although the communitarian's critique is decisively relevant, their notion of community will not do the heavy labor that they will want it to do."
Abstract This paper discusses how the conception of justice that liberalism is based on is that all social primary goods -- liberty and opportunity, income and wealth, and the bases of self-respect -- are to be distributed equally unless an unequal distribution of any or all of these goods is to the advantage of the least favored. The writer shows how Rawls breaks this general conception down into two principles: The first principle states that everyone has equal rights and everyone should be able to enjoy these rights as much as possible, without infringing on anyone else's rights. The second principle, called the difference principle, states that inequality should have two restrictions- inequalities have to be beneficial to the least advantaged of society, and inequalities are acceptable only if there is equal opportunity to achieve a higher status. This paper is a critical examination of Liberal Political theory, set forth by Rawls. The paper examines criticism voiced by libertarians, communitarians, and feminists.
From the Paper "The search for the best of all possible worlds is extremely complicated. How can we decide what is the best world? What features would that world have, and why? Do these features concur with our intuitions about what's right? Are certain standards of equality and justice met? Would most people thrive in this world? Is our view on what is best impartial? In Steve Lukes' novel, Professor Caritat attempts to attain an impartial view of the world by asking, in which world would anyone be happy? In order to answer the question, Caritat tries to imagine the best possible world for an unborn embryo. This hypothetical embryo has no idea of its class, sex, race, ethnicity, religion, health, gender, life prospects, etc. Therefore, the embryo has no idea what sort of position it will occupy in society once it is born. Because the embryo has no identity, Caritat must examine every sector of society to see how everyone is treated, and to what extent everyone is allowed to live a good life. Using this criterion, Caritat concludes that none of the worlds that he visits are the ideal place for the embryo. He describes what he believes to be the best of all possible worlds and that description sounds a lot like a world based on liberal ideals. In this world people have the freedom to choose from all types of lifestyles worth living. Besides rule of law, civil peace and order, this society ensures that everyone has access to basic resources, and that the least advantaged are as well off as possible."
Abstract Rousseau's Discourse on Inequality puts forth the ideas about human beings as a part of nature, but distinct from their natural freedoms because of civilization and social organizations. Rousseau's key idea is that in order to live with equality, we must be prepared to give up freedoms in order to work together so that a community structure can be co-produced. For Rousseau, personal freedom comes at too high a social cost, and so communitarianism is argued as a way to produce social equality.
Abstract The paper identities what is meant by poverty and social exclusion and highlights their differences. The author examines three different strategies that can be adopted by social workers to overcome issues of poverty and social exclusion among young people. The paper describes the use by social care professionals of social justice, social networks and communitarianism.
From the Paper "Social capital is where social networks exist to support those who are experiencing difficulties. These could include traditional social care professionals; however the role of the wider society is very important. Voluntary support groups along with organisations and clubs could act in a way to provide young people with support if they are feeling alienated from society. However, in recent decades the existence of social capital has significantly reduced and society does not act in the same inclusive and helpful way that it once did."
Tags: networks, sure start, communitarianism, social capital, justice
Abstract This essay examines the difference between Puritanism and Crevecoeur's views. Specifically, the contrasting views of motivational force and the influencing factors that shaped individual character are presented. While the Puritan's actions were driven primarily by religious beliefs and a fear of not living in accordance with God's commandments, Crevecoeur believed that the environment shaped a man's character. Crevecoeur's views are explored through a comparison of a migrant's life in America with the life he would have had in Europe.
From the Paper "Religious suppression of the Puritans in England led to the "Great Migration" of the 1630s and to the creation of New England on the shores of America. These early Puritan settlers hoped to establish a purified society far from the corrupting influence of England, one that would be in accordance with divine will. Puritan preaching applied lessons from the Scriptures to individual lives, offering moral and socio-economic guidance and sought to provide for the common welfare through communitarian organization and to that extent, indirectly laid the foundation for the modern, democratic and capitalist societies of today (Wake Forest University Web site).
In ?The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,? Weber points out that the Calvinist belief in predestination of salvation or damnation of souls led to a level of anxiety, on the part of individuals, to avoid actions that would be seen as that of the "damned" by society. This led to conscious planning of one's day-to-day behaviour in accordance with God's will. Thus, labor became a duty to God (Serendipity Web site). This fervent belief in predestination and duty to God benefited the Puritan settlers by virtue of being able to work hard towards establishing a prosperous economy and communities in a new, unknown land."
An examination of empowering communities through decentralization and enlisting participation for capacity building for sub-national governance in developing countries.
Abstract This paper explores critically and comprehensively strategies that enhance empowerment of communites within a framework of sub-national governance through some techniques of decentralization and quality participation. Developing countries are the main units of analysis. However, the role of the International Development Community is examined and the discourse is concerned with creating a special legal, economic, social, political, geographic and fiscal space for sub-national groups that act autonomously, though in association with the state, private sector and other factors in society.
From the Paper "Since the 1970s and 1980s, the character and form of public service delivery has extended far beyond provision through central government towards the empowerment of local governments, hence, sub-national groupings involving much decentralization for empowering particularly communities. The idea has been the growing focus on not only, political and economic development, but also, and more importantly, social and human development where it has been recognized that central government alone, within the vortex of globalization cannot promote development in all respects. The United Nations Development programme (1998) has noted that decades of development assistance have countenanced the notion that economic development alone will not bring about equitable and lasting development because there was much focus on the economy, which meant an exclusion of political, social, environmental and cultural factors. As the report noted, ?"in the face of continued and devastating poverty and rapid environmental deterioration, more and more policy-makers are acknowledging that development progress must be people-centered, equitably distributed and environmentally and socially sustainable" (UNDP, ibid, 1998, p. 1). Nevertheless, the implementation, activity and even the concept of sub-national governance have been problematic and have developed a distinct set of formidable concerns. This is so, as some of the very problems found with central governments that propelled the idea and practise of decentralization and empowerment for sub-national groups, in particular communities, have again and have continually resurfaced and in some ways just as and even more troubling. Problems relate in part to information asymmetry, institutional deficiencies, and problems of targeting technical, managerial, professional and otherwise resources in addition to problems of accountability and capacity generally, as some would argue (Turner and Hulme 1997 : World Bank Report, June 2001 )."
Examining the historical, political & socioeconomic contexts of gated communities. Discusses reasons for their existence, public vs. private space, crime, clsss polarization, elitism, communitarianism and individualism.
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 17 sources, 1999, $ 79.95
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to examine the phenomenon of the rise in the number of gated communities for the upper middle class of the United States. The plan of the research will be to set forth the historical, social, and cultural context for the increase of gated-community living, and then to discuss how such communities manifest and/or respond to such issues as elitism, concern for personal safety, privacy, communitarianism, and isolation.
In the 1990s, an estimated 8-10 million middle-class and upper-middle-class Americans have become residents in so-called gated communities, at their extreme described as "walled medieval enclaves replete with gates and private security forces" (McCormick, 1998, p. 45). Equally, some 8.5 million poverty-class residents live in an estimated 3,000 ghetto or declining urban .."
Abstract In this paper, the writer argues that there is a proportional relationship between technology and ideology in developed nations in the modern era. In the first part of this paper, the writer maintains that, all things considered, it appears that the more technologically advanced a country or nation is, the more individualistic a culture it has. In the second part of this paper, it explores the inverse of this relationship ? specifically, whether it is the case that less developed countries possess different cultural attitudes that incorporate more community-based ideals and values. In the final part of the paper, it argues that the cause of the proportional commonality between technology and ideology is to be found it its aims.
From the Paper "Indeed the strength and progress of science and technology has outstripped all forms of political organization. Across the history of the political spectrum ? from despotism, to monarchism, to communism, to democracy ? the integrity of the scientific enterprise has remained strong. Within the last century, we have seen an exponential growth in scientific knowledge and technological advancement, especially so in countries that have liberal democratic societies that primarily feature individualistic values (such as liberty and freedom). This, I believe, is no coincidence."
Abstract "Looking Backward: 2000-1887" revolves around the author's portrayal of a society formed after a revolution that liberated the people from the terrors of capitalism. In this idealized version of the future, individuals and nations had abandoned the separate groupings and wishes of the former frenzied era in order to establish a communitarian utopia characterized by a singular party for the nation. This paper examines how some of Bellamy's pre-assumptions on human nature, history and social relationships shaped his novel.
From the Paper "Nevertheless, Edward Bellamy's presumptions fell short of a thoughtful analysis. In his liberation of individuals and safeguarding of human rights, Bellamy lost his grip on the basic element of collectivism in his utopian collectivist community. It is apparent that Bellamy's fabricated society rests upon an institution of isolated individuals, since less is told on the practical working and functioning of the society. An example of this is the telecommunication system setup in Bellamy's world that destabilized and weakened social interaction. Seemingly, hardly any one used to go to concerts and very few people went to churches as the purpose was served through telephonic, counseling, sermons and entertainment (Abrash, 1991)."
Abstract This paper considers types of monarchies, Republican systems and authoritarian and communitarian as examples of the executive branch of government.
Abstract This paper looks at the controversy surrounding the issue of capital punishment and summarizes the various positions and arguments put forth by different political philosophies. Some of the viewpoints summarized are those of liberals, communitarians, conservatives, and libertarians.
From the Paper "Capital punishment is an important issue because it deals with life, the value of life, and personal liberties. The death penalty has been in existence for as long as America has been a country. Execution was quite common in the early colonial days, with punishment of death resulting from such crimes as denying the ?true God,? lying, and stealing. Interestingly enough, the framers of the Constitution did not consider capital punishment cruel and unusual punishment. (Inciardi 488) The death penalty has always been a sensitive subject, sparking debate from all sides. Those who support capital punishment believe that it is a just and fair punishment for murder. They also believe that capital punishment serves as a deterrent for other would-be murderers. Those who oppose capital punishment believe that murder by the state is no different than murder on the street. They believe that lifetime prison sentences are fair justice."
Abstract This paper explains that American Immaterialism developed from George Berkeley, also known as Bishop Berkeley) whose philosophy was based on the European concept of immaterialism, which held that the only forms able to exist are 'ideas' and 'spirits?. The author points out that Jonathan Edwards was the first, or, at least, the most accepted, American philosopher to put forth the ideas of immaterialism, albeit he did so from the viewpoint of Puritan idealism. The paper explains that the Transcendental movement was composed of the idealistic notion of freedom as it was explained through the a priori nature of the individual's inner life, which is the key to a bigger, more inclusive reality that incorporates the whole of existence, as well as the ability to perceive and experience that existence.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Berkeley's Immaterialism
Jonathan Edwards
The Transcendentalists
American Idealism and Spiritualism
Conclusion
From the Paper "America's philosophical journey begins with the European concept of immaterialism, transforms into a Puritan idealism in the works of Jonathan Edwards and develops from there into the transcendentalism of Emerson, Thoreau and Wordsworth. Eventually, it becomes the subjective idealism of the nineteenth century as purported by the philosopher Josiah Royce and is taken into the modern era as individualistic idealism and spiritualism as a religious foundation. All of this begins with the philosophical idealism of George Berkeley who believed ?nothing exists other than God, finite spirits, and their ideas."
Abstract This paper discusses how although Singapore cannot necessarily be considered as a strict democracy in the Westernised conception of the term, it results however from an authoritarian conception of how the state should be administered to achieve social and economic progress and multi-ethnic cohesion. It looks at how social cohesion had to be ensured so that economic progress could be achieved and how therefore the People's Action Party has constantly been putting the emphasis on agglomerating the widest range of interests, even though this has meant the establishment of a "limited democracy".
Outline:
The Main Objectives For a Pragmatic PAP: Economic Success Combined With Social Harmony and Well-Being
An 'Asian' Idea of the State?: Confucianism, Shared Values and Communitarianism Acceptation of the Regime by the Population?
The Difficulties of Goh Chok Tong
The PAP's Willingness to Maintain Itself as the 'National' Party
What is to be Expected From a Mutating Society?
Conclusion
From the Paper "Goh Chok Tong succeeded Lee Kuan Yew as Prime Minister of Singapore in 1990, but Yew became Senior Minister and thus occupied the position of advisor to the Prime Minister. This succession resembles a transition between the first and the second generation of leaders in the PAP, a transition that was supposed to lead to more openness of the political regime. Indeed, Lee Kuan Yew and his partisans had recognised a rising aspiration for more popular participation in the ruling of the country. The emphasis was put on the necessity of maintaining continuity and not to produce a rupture with the past. In the 1991 parliamentary elections, the PAP obtained a 'limited' performance in comparison with what it had achieved in the past: the party lost four seats, the parliament being composed of 83 seats. "
Tags: asian, cohesion, communitarism, ethnic, liberalism, multi, national, rights
A book review of the biography of women's rights activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton entitled "Elizabeth Cady Stanton: A Radical for Women's Rights" by Lois W. Banner.
Abstract This paper reviews the biography of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who lived from 1815-1902 and includes biographical data on the author plus a listing of her published books and articles. It looks at how Banner's book includes detailed documentation, based on primary sources, of Cady Stanton's life and participation in the early years of the women's rights movement. The review covers all aspects of the historical period as described by Banner, concluding that while a massive amount of helpful information on this period is discussed and revealed, some readers may find the work plodding and overly inclusive.
From the Paper "Banner is obviously sympathetic to the feminist cause, yet she attempts to describe the burgeoning women's movement and Stanton realistically, describing strengths, weakness, and inconsistencies as well as offering possible factors that influenced her thoughts and actions. The author seems determined to discuss every possible influence that might have effected Stanton. The extensive index allows the reader to check out how Elizabeth Cady Stanton reacted to contemporary influences like Marxism, communitarianism, birth control, other feminists, temperance, John Stuart Mill, slavery and just about every other idea that was around during her lifetime."
