The morality of groups
The principle of the equality of human worth that underlies the political doctrine of impartiality, seems as pertinent to personal as to political morality. Yet we commonly not only tolerate but commend moral practices that are partial to family, friends and countryfolk. Definition of this problem focuses upon the demands of fairness and of the recognition of equality, against the value of personal projects and loyalties. I survey attempts by communitarians and by liberals to address the problem by isolating the realm of impartiality from that of personal morality, and conclude that such attempts are largely unsuccessful, as are efforts by consequentialists to subsume partial obligations under impartial rules. Rather, I argue that there is indeed independent value in community and in relationships, value in the flourishing of groups constituted by the connexions forged in acts of loyalty, but that these values are in irresolvable tension with the recognition of the equality of human worth. This tension should exercise us both in our personal lives (such that we must justify loyalty by the intrinsic values that it constitutes or to which it contributes), and in the design of political systems, wherein the equality
Franklin, Donald Edwin
The morality of groups. The principle of the equality of human worth that underlies the political doctrine of impartiality, seems as pertinent to personal as to political morality. Yet we commonly not only tolerate but commend moral practices that are partial to family, friends and countryfolk. Definition of this problem focuses upon the demands of fairness and of the recognition of equality, against the value of personal projects and loyalties. I survey attempts by communitarians and by liberals to address the problem by isolating the realm of impartiality from that of personal morality, and conclude that such attempts are largely unsuccessful, as are efforts by consequentialists to subsume partial obligations under impartial rules. Rather, I argue that there is indeed independent value in community and in relationships, value in the flourishing of groups constituted by the connexions forged in acts of loyalty, but that these values are in irresolvable tension with the recognition of the equality of human worth. This tension should exercise us both in our personal lives (such that we must justify loyalty by the intrinsic values that it constitutes or to which it contributes), and in the design of political systems, wherein the equality
morality group principle equality human worth underlies political doctrine seem pertinent personal political morality yet commonly tolerate commend moral practice partial family friends definition problem focus_upon demand recognition equality value personal project loyalty survey attempt liberal address_problem isolate realm personal morality conclude attempt largely unsuccessful effort subsume partial obligation impartial rule rather argue indeed independent value community relationship value flourish group constitute connexion forge act loyalty value tension recognition equality human worth tension exercise personal life must justify loyalty intrinsic_value constitutes contributes design political_system wherein equality