Antidiscommunitarianism

Concluding that there has been a renewed emphasis on studying morals, three political philosophers in a symposia on the "Rise and Fall of Political Theory" yesterday traced the development of their field since World War II.

Cowles Professor of Government Judith N. Shklar, who was joined by Associate Professor Michael J. Sandel and former Harvard professor and famous social critic Michael J. Walzer, told an audience of 200 that the field of political theory revived itself through the study of intellectual history.

Sandel investigated how the various types of philosophy serve as the underpinnings of liberal democracy. He said that in recent times there has developed a philosophy called communitarianism, which leaves man the room for moral concerns in developing societal consensus.

"The new moral philosophy is like the old," Walzer said. He added that, "moral philosophy is an attempt to find ways to refine our moral ideas."

Walzer said that moral philosophy is linked to social criticism and based on the common concerns of all men. "Social criticism is an educated cousin to common complaint," Walzer said.

The three also discussed the uses of political theory in modern-day society. "We have now returned to the time when political philosophers are writing wholesome truths from those who require religion and unwholesome truths for those who don't," said Shklar.