18 Questions
What does the 'no offence' principle in Communitaria lead to, according to the text?
Considerable conflict
What is the foundational philosophy of Communitaria, according to the text?
Respectiveness plus Respectfulness
How does Communitaria view the former ruling class, the 'Bees', according to the text?
They are now just one community among many, on a par with others
What is the key difference between the 'no offence' principle in Communitaria and the 'no harm' principle advocated by J.S. Mill, according to the text?
The 'no harm' principle is more focused on social utility
What is the key difference between Utilitaria and Communitaria, according to the text?
Utilitaria satirises the efficiency drive of capitalism, while Communitaria offers an extreme version of the current social state of Britain
What is the key aspect of Communitaria's philosophy, according to the text?
Rootedness in society
What is a potential criticism of imposing a single philosophical position on society?
It could lead to authoritarianism or coercion.
What is the author's view on the possibility of combining conflicting philosophies in a society or utopia?
It is difficult to reconcile fundamentally opposing philosophies.
What is the primary distinction between Utilitaria and Communitaria, according to the passage?
Utilitaria is homogeneous, while Communitaria is diverse and multicultural.
According to the passage, what is the potential issue with the proliferation of communities and practices in Communitaria?
It may not be conducive to maximizing overall social utility.
What is the author's view on the nature of public utility in Utilitaria?
It is an 'arcane mystery' that remains unclear.
Based on the passage, what is a potential criticism of the individualistic approach in Utilitaria?
It undermines the importance of social bonds and community ties.
What approach does Caritat apply in his despatches about the best possible world?
Individualistic and happiness-oriented
Why does Caritat use the 'Original Position' test in evaluating societies?
To decide if an embryo should be born into a society
What does Caritat aim to provide individual embryos in his approach?
The best chance of a decent life
In Utilitaria, how is Caritat portrayed when he is kidnapped?
Someone whose well-being is insignificant compared to public utility
Why does Caritat invoke the 'Original Position' test as the best test for any Utopia?
To show the balance between individual standards of living and public utility
In Libertaria, how does Caritat's financial status compare to the unemployed man at the bus stop?
He is wealthier than the unemployed man
Study Notes
Communitaria
- Communitaria is an extreme version of the current social state of Britain, predicting the demise of the Royal Family due to sex scandals.
- The society is composed of various communities, including the Bees (former ruling class), Emmets (hardworking Asian immigrants), and Mellifluans (carnival-loving West Indian immigrants).
- The foundational philosophy of Communitaria is "Respectiveness plus Respectfulness" or the "Principle of No Offence", which values diversity, plurality, and heterogeneity.
- This principle is stronger than J.S. Mill's "no harm" principle, which excluded moral offence from individual liberty.
Criticisms of Communitaria
- Liberal critics argue that the imposition of any one philosophical position can be authoritarian or coercive.
- The "no offence" principle leads to conflict, as illustrated by Lukes.
- A "sincere Utopia" must be based on one philosophy or another, which can lead to conflicts between different philosophies.
- Combining the values of Utilitaria (maximum utility) with those of Communitaria (multiculturalism) would be challenging due to their differing goals.
Comparison with other Utopias
- Utilitaria is necessarily homogeneous, with people dedicated to the same goal of public utility, whereas Communitaria is characterized by diverse communities and practices.
- The proliferation of communities and practices in Communitaria would not be conducive to maximum utility.
The Original Position (OP) Test
- Caritat applies the OP test to each society, asking whether he would advise an embryo to be born into that society without knowing its characteristics.
- The OP test is an individualistic and happiness-orientated approach, focusing on giving individual embryos "the best chance of a decent life".
- Caritat plays the part of the almost worst-off-person in each of the three quasi-utopias, highlighting their failures in providing an acceptable standard of living and rights for the worst-off individuals.
Explore the satirical portrayal of efficiency drive in capitalism as seen in Utilitaria and the extreme version of current social state in Communitaria. Dive into the predictions made in these works, including the demise of the Royal Family due to sex scandals.
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