The Communitarian Voice of Consensus and Morality
Communitarianism, with its recognition of the social and interdependent nature of humanity, provides the best framework for the organization of society. This framework avoids majority rule policies and disconnected representation, instead striving for deliberation and determination of a common communal good. This common good is representative of all community members, generating self-governing communities. These self-governing communities have an obligation to said members just as said members have an obligation to the community: members receive protection, representation, and support while advancing their civic responsibilities to other community members. Communitarianism strives to rebuild …show more content…
30). This competition, aligning with the liberalist belief in equality of individuals, is free of basis, providing an equal opportunity for each individual to succeed or fail (Liberalism lecture; Shively, p. 30). This competition may start out equally, but ultimately ends with inequality: with winners and losers (Liberalism lecture). Communitarianism strays for this selfish competitive atmosphere obsessed with personal advancement by prioritizing a common good. This priority allows a society to be constructed on a moral foundation (Etzioni, p. 3) instead of a competitive one (Communitarianism lecture; Liberalism …show more content…
32). This embrace stems from the conservative belief that certain individuals are natural leaders; therefore, hierarchy evolves naturally and prevents a lowering of these natural-born leaders to the diminished level of the masses (Conservatism lecture). Power lies with these leaders, with said leaders making decisions on account of the rest of the community (Conservatism lecture; Shively, p. 31-32). A community can only survive if members of a community are actively involved in said community (Etzioni). By placing decision-making power in the hands of the elite conservatism does not permit this active involvement, instead discouraging it. Discouraging active participation from the masses forces the masses to rely on the thoughts and decisions of the elite, thus discouraging thinking among the masses. This completely contradicts communitarian communities. Members of communitarian communities are encouraged to be active, thinking about what is right and just for the entire community and heartily participating in decision-making processes (Communitarianism lecture; Etzioni). Communitarianism creates a mass of thinking and engaged individuals who actively support and give to the community –a mass absent in conservative communities- allowing the community to prosper and survive (Communitarianism lecture; Conservatism lecture;
Communitarianism, with its recognition of the social and interdependent nature of humanity, provides the best framework for the organization of society. This framework avoids majority rule policies and disconnected representation, instead striving for deliberation and determination of a common communal good. This common good is representative of all community members, generating self-governing communities. These self-governing communities have an obligation to said members just as said members have an obligation to the community: members receive protection, representation, and support while advancing their civic responsibilities to other community members. Communitarianism strives to rebuild …show more content…
30). This competition, aligning with the liberalist belief in equality of individuals, is free of basis, providing an equal opportunity for each individual to succeed or fail (Liberalism lecture; Shively, p. 30). This competition may start out equally, but ultimately ends with inequality: with winners and losers (Liberalism lecture). Communitarianism strays for this selfish competitive atmosphere obsessed with personal advancement by prioritizing a common good. This priority allows a society to be constructed on a moral foundation (Etzioni, p. 3) instead of a competitive one (Communitarianism lecture; Liberalism …show more content…
32). This embrace stems from the conservative belief that certain individuals are natural leaders; therefore, hierarchy evolves naturally and prevents a lowering of these natural-born leaders to the diminished level of the masses (Conservatism lecture). Power lies with these leaders, with said leaders making decisions on account of the rest of the community (Conservatism lecture; Shively, p. 31-32). A community can only survive if members of a community are actively involved in said community (Etzioni). By placing decision-making power in the hands of the elite conservatism does not permit this active involvement, instead discouraging it. Discouraging active participation from the masses forces the masses to rely on the thoughts and decisions of the elite, thus discouraging thinking among the masses. This completely contradicts communitarian communities. Members of communitarian communities are encouraged to be active, thinking about what is right and just for the entire community and heartily participating in decision-making processes (Communitarianism lecture; Etzioni). Communitarianism creates a mass of thinking and engaged individuals who actively support and give to the community –a mass absent in conservative communities- allowing the community to prosper and survive (Communitarianism lecture; Conservatism lecture;