Introduction; LIBERALISM: Liberalism; The Right and the Good;
COMMUNITY: Communitarianism and the Self; Taylor's `Social Thesis';
Marxism and the Critique of Justice; LIBERALISM AND CULTURAL
MEMBERSHIP: Liberalism in Culturally Plural Societies; The Value of
Cultural Membership; Equality for Minority Membership; Equality for
Minority Cultures; Minority Rights and Liberal Tradition; Walzer
and Minority Rights; Communitarianism and Minority Rights;
Apartheid in South Africa; Conclusion
Will Kymlicka teaches in philosophy departments at the University of Toronto and Queen's University, Canada
`Kymlicka has provided the best philosophical treatment of minority
rights that I know of. His book deserves to be widely read and
discussed.'
Canadian Philosophical Review
`an important defense of contemporary liberal theory from
communitarian attacks Liberalism, Community, and Culture provides a
provocative analysis of the place of cultural membership in liberal
theory, as well as an excellent elaboration and defense of liberal
principles.' Political Theory
From the hardback:
`This is a spirited attempt to square the liberal circle, and give
groups a legitimate place in an individualistic moral ontology ...
he has much of interest to say about the various elements in
practicable policies of cultural pluralism ... Kymlicka, as a
liberal, is to be commended for at least broaching a topic that may
embarass even the collectivists of the left.'
David Archard, Radical Philosophy 57, Spring 1991
`This excellent book, while forming a perfectly coherent whole,
fulfills two major purposes. It is a highly lucid and informed
discussion - the most comprehensive yet - of the debate between
liberals and communitarians, and defense of liberalism against both
communitarian and Marxist critiques. It is also a very powerful
liberal argument for the protection of the collective rights of
minority cultures ... essential reading for political and legal
theorists
and philosophers who are interested in real, urgent political
issues.'
Political Theory
`a provocative analysis of the place of cultural membership in
liberal theory, as well as an excellent elaboration and defense of
liberal principles.'
American Political Science Review
`an ambitious and closely argued book. It engages with rigour and
insight some of the central issues in the contemporary debate
between liberals and communitarians ... I encourage anyone who is
interested in political philosophy to read the book.'
Philosophical Books
`a sensitive and sustained exploration of the complex connections
of liberal theory and practice with cultural membership in a plural
society.'
Times Higher Education Supplement
`a spirited attempt to square the liberal circle, and give groups a
legitimate place within an individualistic ontology.'
Radical Philosophy
`The argument is provocative and the book is full of interest.
Kymlicka as a philosopher ... gives abstract arguments their full
due, but takes up concrete issues with equal facility.'
Canadian Journal of Political Science
`excellent book ... Kymlicka has provided the best philosophical
treatment of minority rights issues that I know of. His book
deserves to be widely read and discussed.'
Canadian Philosophical Reviews
'An excellent starting point would be the ground-breaking work of
the young Canadian political philosopher Professor Will Kymlicka,
and particularly his seminal book Liberalism, Community, and
Culture'
Peace River Block News, 21 February 1992
`Liberalism, Community, and Culture is a must-read for those
interested in minority rights and current debates in political
philosophy.'
Michael McDonald, University of Toronto Law Journal
`Will Kymlicka has written a penetrating, highly illuminating, and
exceptionally lucid book in which he sets out a systematic liberal
doctrine of the relation between the individual and the community
that is possible within the pluralistic framework of modern
societies. He defends the egalitarian liberalism of Rawls and
Dworkin, reformulates this liberalism in places to render it more
coherent in the face of challenges from critics of liberalism,
and
extends it in new directions. This is a book that deserves to be
taken seriously by both liberals and their critics.'
Critical Review
`full of very interesting arguments and analyses'
Charles Taylor, Critical Review
`The book is extremely well-organized and well-argued, and it is
written with an admirable degree of commitment. It is an eloquent
defence of liberalism. It effectively undermines most of the
arguments of liberalism's communitarian critics, restating and
interpreting them with a clarity and economy that these critics
have seldom been able to achieve themselves ... It is a most
welcome addition to the large and complex literature on liberalism,
bringing
with a freshness or perspective and a sustained and passionate
commitment to the cause of individual liberty.'
Australasian Journal of Philosophy
`Kymlicka's book is an important contribution to the
liberal-communitarian debate.'
Ethics
`Kymlicka scores some good points against communitarians such as
Taylor and Sandel, and his argument is very energetic and clear ...
a broad-ranging and energetic book which is an important
contribution to the debate between liberals and
communitarians.'
Margaret Moore, Nous
`This is an important contribution to recent liberal theory. Its
convincing defense of liberalism against communitarian criticism is
especially timely, and the conceptual tools that Kymlicka uses in
the defense are welcome additions to liberalism's tool chest ...
Kymlicka's book mounts an impressive defense of the liberal
tradition of Mill, Rawls and Dworkin against communitarian and
Marxist criticism. It sensitizes liberals to the need for a theory
of
culture and provides them with some of the vocabulary needed to
construct it.'
Canadian Journal of Philosophy
`Kymlicka has shown that there are political and sociological
questions tied up with the social nature of the individual that
liberal political philosophers cannot afford to ignore ... The
significance of Kymlicka's book resides in this approach as much as
in the high quality and sophistication of his arguments. For he
illustrates the importance for political philosophers to grapple
with genuine problems when honing their ideas and to question
the
political systems within which their arguments are constructed and
to which they have to be applied.'
History of European Idea
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