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Questions and Answers
What does the 'no offence' principle in Communitaria lead to, according to the text?
What does the 'no offence' principle in Communitaria lead to, according to the text?
- Reduced social conflict
- Considerable conflict (correct)
- Greater moral offence
- Increased individual liberty
What is the foundational philosophy of Communitaria, according to the text?
What is the foundational philosophy of Communitaria, according to the text?
- Individualism
- Happiness-oriented approach
- Respectiveness plus Respectfulness (correct)
- Utilitarianism
How does Communitaria view the former ruling class, the 'Bees', according to the text?
How does Communitaria view the former ruling class, the 'Bees', according to the text?
- They have been completely eliminated
- They are still a privileged class
- They are now just one community among many, on a par with others (correct)
- They are still the ruling class
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?
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?
What is the key difference between Utilitaria and Communitaria, according to the text?
What is the key difference between Utilitaria and Communitaria, according to the text?
What is the key aspect of Communitaria's philosophy, according to the text?
What is the key aspect of Communitaria's philosophy, according to the text?
What is a potential criticism of imposing a single philosophical position on society?
What is a potential criticism of imposing a single philosophical position on society?
What is the author's view on the possibility of combining conflicting philosophies in a society or utopia?
What is the author's view on the possibility of combining conflicting philosophies in a society or utopia?
What is the primary distinction between Utilitaria and Communitaria, according to the passage?
What is the primary distinction between Utilitaria and Communitaria, according to the passage?
According to the passage, what is the potential issue with the proliferation of communities and practices in Communitaria?
According to the passage, what is the potential issue with the proliferation of communities and practices in Communitaria?
What is the author's view on the nature of public utility in Utilitaria?
What is the author's view on the nature of public utility in Utilitaria?
Based on the passage, what is a potential criticism of the individualistic approach in Utilitaria?
Based on the passage, what is a potential criticism of the individualistic approach in Utilitaria?
What approach does Caritat apply in his despatches about the best possible world?
What approach does Caritat apply in his despatches about the best possible world?
Why does Caritat use the 'Original Position' test in evaluating societies?
Why does Caritat use the 'Original Position' test in evaluating societies?
What does Caritat aim to provide individual embryos in his approach?
What does Caritat aim to provide individual embryos in his approach?
In Utilitaria, how is Caritat portrayed when he is kidnapped?
In Utilitaria, how is Caritat portrayed when he is kidnapped?
Why does Caritat invoke the 'Original Position' test as the best test for any Utopia?
Why does Caritat invoke the 'Original Position' test as the best test for any Utopia?
In Libertaria, how does Caritat's financial status compare to the unemployed man at the bus stop?
In Libertaria, how does Caritat's financial status compare to the unemployed man at the bus stop?
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.
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Description
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.
