Value Pluralism And Liberalism

The core of Berlin’s political philosophy is the value pluralism which is the foundation of two kinds of liberal concepts,and the relationship between value pluralism and liberalism.Whether value pluralism can deduce liberalism has become the focus of the discussion of contemporary western political philosophy.One view is that the value pluralism can deduce the liberalism and lay a foundation for it.Another is that the value pluralism denies the universal value of liberalism.It ’s my intention to clarify the definition of value pluralism,in order to correct the misunderstanding which regards it as relativism,and try to further analyze the relationship between value pluralism and liberalism,so that we can make a better sense of their relationship.There are three chapters.The first chapter introduces the basic connotation of value pluralism,the object of criticism and the difference between it and relativism.Value pluralism not only refers to the objectivity and plurality of value,but also its incompatibility and incommensurability.In addition,the critical object of value pluralism is monism.Berlin believes that in the tradition of western thought of more than two thousand years,people are obsessed with the strong pursuit of monism,the reason is the fear of multiple value and uncertainty,and monism gives people a certainty.Berlin further points out that the totalitarianism he challenges is rooted in a monistic understanding of morality.Berlin’s value pluralism is not relativism,because Berlin believes there are limited universal objective values and intercultural communication is possible.The second chapter introduces the basic connotation of Berlin’s liberalism,thus further explains how Berlin deduces the liberalism with value pluralism,and how gray criticizes Berlin’s argument.Berlin is actually aware of the tension,but he can not solve the problem.The third chapter describes Rawls’ s inheritance and development of Berlin’s thought.In the face of the logic paradox of pluralism and liberalism,there are many kinds of responses in philosophy,among which the most influential is Rawls’ s theory of justice.In addition,it is also be explained how Rawls’ s political liberalism can transcend the dilemma between pluralism and liberalism and relieve the inherent tension between them.The final conclusion is that the argument of Berlin that liberalism is derived from value pluralism has always been inadequate and imprecise.Rawls builds a logical system of political philosophy,and thus goes beyond Berlin’s dilemma.The problem of inconsistency and imperfection in Berlin’s argument will always impact his philosophical position.