Original scientific paper
Liberalism and the Politics of Common Good
Vladimir Vujčić
; Faculty of political science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The author demonstrates that the envisaged solutions for the
conflict between the liberal concept of freedom and the common
good differ greatly. Also presented is a miscellany of possible solutions
as well as the related contentious issues. However, the analysis
has shown that almost all the mentioned authors see the need for
some common good, for a "measure of freedom", but their proposed
ways for solving the issue vary: while some think that the universal
common good is necessary for regulating procedures conducive to the
achievement of freely chosen individual aims, others think that the
tolerance of cultural and value differences is a sufficient condition for
solving the said problem. For example, J. Raz emphasizes moral
pluralism as the basis of autonomy, while S. Nathanson thinks that
pluralist aims can exist, but not morally varied ways of their achievement.
These different concepts of the relationships between freedom
and common good can have different effects on the concepts and the
practice of public politics in contemporary societies. That is why the
need for looking into the conflict between freedom and common
good, differences and unity, private and public interest, is highly
topical and represents a true challenge for all those who want to
contribute to solving the problems of modern age and liberal
democracies.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
110838
URI
Publication date:
1.2.1995.
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