Final
Call for Papers (with extended deadline of 25th of June 2011).
MANCEPT Workshops in Political Theory 2011
‘The
Politics of Value Pluralism’
August
31st – September 2nd 2011
http://manceptworkshops.wordpress.com/
The
thesis of value pluralism is considered by some contemporary
liberal
political philosophers to be of use when deliberating on
pressing
political issues, such as toleration, diversity and
pluralism.
However, despite agreement on its potential usefulness,
those
who are sympathetic to the thesis of value pluralism, with its
distinctly
Berlinian origins, differ substantially as to the
ramifications
of its political application. George Crowder, for
instance,
argues that value pluralism is not only compatible with
liberalism,
but it actually suggests a form of liberalism that focuses
on the
individual, whereas William Galston posits that value pluralism
is more
favourable to a form of liberalism that focuses on group
rights.
John Gray argues that value pluralism actually undermines any
universal
argument for liberalism, and suggests a form of agonistic
liberalism
and a modus vivendi political arrangement.
This
workshop will explore the thesis of value pluralism, and its
political
implications. Papers are encouraged that address issues
surrounding
value pluralism and political philosophy. For example,
these
may include papers that enquire into the following areas: does
value
pluralism provide support for liberalism? If so, how does it
reconcile
the competing demands for group rights and individual
rights?
What is the role of the state in a value pluralist liberal
polity?
Is Gray’s thesis correct, in that value pluralism actually
undermines
liberalism? If so, what are implications of this?
In most
cases, paper-givers will be asked to speak for 30 minutes, and
will
then field questions and comments for a further 30 minutes.
Please
send abstracts of not more than 400 words to Matthew Jones
([log in to unmask]) by
the 25th of June 2011. Full
versions
of the paper will be required to be completed by early
August.
If you
have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best
regards,
Matt Jones.