‘Internalist’ Ethics, Communitarianism and T. H. Green: A Reply to Dimova-Cookson

Employing Gramsci in Support of Laski on the Problems of British Idealism

“…Two problems with the logic of internalism identified by John Offer (2007, 529) are significant in this respect: first, the moral ideal of a community may embody qualities detrimental to the interests of its most disadvantaged members, and second, there may be more than one moral ideal in the society. Of course, as Dimova-Cookson (2007, 534) advises, an internalist common good ethics involves a moral vision of a good that coexists harmoniously with the good envisioned by others.…”

On the Link between the Desire to be Good and the Nature of the Good: A Rejoinder to John Offer's Reply

“…Third, Offer claims that, contrary to my argument, an ‘externalist liberal discourse’ is more conducive to human flourishing than an internalist discourse. This is supported by a quote from David Green to the effect that citizenship in a communitarian context is based on a vision of good life ‘determined by politicians in the political process’ (quoted in Offer 2007, 530), while citizenship in a liberal-Rawlsian context is characterised by state-guaranteed freedom to all individuals to choose their ‘good life’ for themselves. However, this is based on a prejudiced interpretation of citizenship in a communitarian context.…”