Philosophy
Communitarianism vs. Liberalism: The Individual and the Community
Quick fact
Communitarians like Michael Sandel argue that the liberal view of the 'unencumbered self'—a person defined only by their choices—is metaphysically false: we are always already embedded in communities that constitute our identity, making an impartial 'veil of ignorance' an impossible ideal.
Why this is interesting
We often think of ourselves as free individuals who choose our own values. But what if who we are is largely shaped by the communities we belong to?