Dagger

How does he suggest we attain a successful balancing act between individuals and groups? On page 181 he writes, “If respecting group differences helps to instill a sense of fair play and cooperation in people, then republican liberals will gladly respect the difference.” When does respecting a group’s interest require one to set their interest aside for the betterment of society?

Also, is this theory put forth as an ideal (Ideal meaning end all say all, but embracing the fact that no theory will have an answer to all of life’s problems) political theory? Is every theory put forth as ideal? I realize he says throughout the book that this theory will not have an answer to all the problems, but so much of it relies on how people are, when in reality people aren’t like this. And again I realize he sees this problem, but it just seems like he put forth a theory, tied a lot of things nicely together, put some suggestions on how to instill certain aspects of this theory; but how does he suggest that this theory be brought forth? Because it seems like we can work on parts of this theory, such as community, but by cultivating one part isn’t going to set the rest of the theory into practice. I like the theory very much, but I haven’t read too many political theories, so maybe that is it. It seems like it takes into account a lot of fundamental principles and concepts of a good society, but is that all it is, is a theory with a few suggestions throughout the book saying this may work, but im not even sure if it will work? Because if it is that, then it just seems like a nice little book, with an “idea” of how society should be.