Prepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of OttawaPrepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

Amy Gutmann’s Introduction toAmy Gutmann’s Introduction toMulticulturalism: Examining the Politics Multiculturalism: Examining the Politics

of Recognitionof Recognition““it is hard to find a democratic or it is hard to find a democratic or

democratizing society these democratizing society these days that is not the site of days that is not the site of some significant controversy some significant controversy over whether and how its over whether and how its public institutions should public institutions should better recognize the identities better recognize the identities of cultural and disadvantaged of cultural and disadvantaged minorities.”minorities.”-Amy Gutmann, Introduction, -Amy Gutmann, Introduction, MulticulturalismMulticulturalism, p. 3, p. 3

Prepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of OttawaPrepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

““what precisely are the moral limits what precisely are the moral limits on the legitimate demand for on the legitimate demand for political recognition of particular political recognition of particular cultures? cultures?

Questions concerning whether Questions concerning whether and how cultural groups should be and how cultural groups should be recognized in politics are among recognized in politics are among the most salient and vexing on the the most salient and vexing on the political agenda of many democratic political agenda of many democratic and democratizing societies today.”and democratizing societies today.”

-Amy Gutmann, Introduction, -Amy Gutmann, Introduction, MulticulturalismMulticulturalism, p. 5, p. 5

Prepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of OttawaPrepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

““The anti-Rousseauean demand The anti-Rousseauean demand to be publicly recognized for to be publicly recognized for one’s one’s particularityparticularity is also as is also as understandable as it is understandable as it is problematic and problematic and controversial.”controversial.”

-Amy Gutmann, Introduction, -Amy Gutmann, Introduction, MulticulturalismMulticulturalism, p. 7, p. 7

Prepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of OttawaPrepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

““The demand for recognition, The demand for recognition, animated by the ideal of human animated by the ideal of human dignity, points in at least two dignity, points in at least two directions, both to the protection of directions, both to the protection of the basic rights of individuals as the basic rights of individuals as human beings and to the human beings and to the acknowledgement of the particular acknowledgement of the particular needs of individuals as members of needs of individuals as members of specific cultural groups.”specific cultural groups.”

-Amy Gutmann, Introduction, -Amy Gutmann, Introduction, MulticulturalismMulticulturalism, p. 8, p. 8

Prepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of OttawaPrepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

Arnie Levin, The New Yorker, 18 December 1995In Hell there are two caves, one “individual” and one “corporate.”

Prepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of OttawaPrepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

““Treat all people as free and equal beings.”Treat all people as free and equal beings.”

““But there are two plausible and But there are two plausible and historically influential interpretations of historically influential interpretations of this principle.”this principle.”

Liberalism 1Liberalism 1:: “One perspective requires “One perspective requires political neutrality among the diverse and political neutrality among the diverse and often conflicting conceptions of the good life often conflicting conceptions of the good life held by citizens of a pluralistic society.”held by citizens of a pluralistic society.”

Liberalism 2Liberalism 2:: “The second liberal democratic “The second liberal democratic perspective, also universalistic, does not insist perspective, also universalistic, does not insist on neutrality…but rather permits public on neutrality…but rather permits public institutions to further particular cultural institutions to further particular cultural values…”values…”

-Amy Gutmann, Introduction, -Amy Gutmann, Introduction, MulticulturalismMulticulturalism, p. 10, p. 10

Prepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of OttawaPrepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

Cultural: Cultural: nomothetic & idiographic perspectivesnomothetic & idiographic perspectives

A A nomotheticnomothetic understanding of culture understanding of culture speaks to what is morally universal speaks to what is morally universal subsuming identity politics to a subsuming identity politics to a normative neutrality towards all normative neutrality towards all idiographic claims.idiographic claims.

An An idiographicidiographic understanding of culture understanding of culture seeks to balance normative neutrality seeks to balance normative neutrality and universalism with diverse identity and universalism with diverse identity claims and a morality that may be more claims and a morality that may be more sensitive to local realities.sensitive to local realities.

Prepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of OttawaPrepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

Whose culture? Which culture?Whose culture? Which culture?Avoiding “dichotomic” thinkingAvoiding “dichotomic” thinking

Is this an “either/or” dichotomy Is this an “either/or” dichotomy or a “both/and” conjunction?or a “both/and” conjunction?

Prepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of OttawaPrepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

““essentialism”essentialism”

““Here is Hutchins (John Maynard Here is Hutchins (John Maynard Hutchins) succinct formulation: Hutchins) succinct formulation: ‘Education implies teaching. ‘Education implies teaching. Teaching implies knowledge. Teaching implies knowledge. Knowledge is truth. The truth is Knowledge is truth. The truth is everywhere the same. Hence everywhere the same. Hence education should be everywhere education should be everywhere the same.’”the same.’”-John Maynard Hutchings in -John Maynard Hutchings in The Higher Learning in The Higher Learning in AmericaAmerica, quoted , quoted in Gutmann, in Gutmann, Introduction, Introduction, MulticulturalismMulticulturalism, p. 16, p. 16

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““deconstruction”deconstruction”

““Although deconstructionists do Although deconstructionists do not deny the possibility of not deny the possibility of shared standards, they view shared standards, they view common standards as masks for common standards as masks for the will to political power of the will to political power of dominant, hegemonic groups.”dominant, hegemonic groups.”

-Amy Gutmann, Introduction, -Amy Gutmann, Introduction, MulticulturalismMulticulturalism, , p. 18p. 18

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toleration & respecttoleration & respect

““we can distinguish between tolerating we can distinguish between tolerating and respecting differences. and respecting differences. TolerationToleration extends to the widest range of views, extends to the widest range of views, so long as they stop short of threats so long as they stop short of threats and other direct and discernible harms and other direct and discernible harms to individuals. to individuals. RespectRespect is far more is far more discriminating. Although we need not discriminating. Although we need not agree with a position to respect it, we agree with a position to respect it, we must understand it as reflecting a must understand it as reflecting a moral point of view.”moral point of view.”

-Amy Gutmann, Introduction, -Amy Gutmann, Introduction, MulticulturalismMulticulturalism, p. 22, p. 22

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disagreements, democracy & disagreements, democracy & deliberationdeliberation

““Respectable moral Respectable moral disagreements…call for disagreements…call for deliberation, not denunciation. deliberation, not denunciation. The moral promise of The moral promise of multiculturalism depends on multiculturalism depends on the exercise of these the exercise of these deliberative virtues.”deliberative virtues.”

-Amy Gutmann, Introduction, -Amy Gutmann, Introduction, MulticulturalismMulticulturalism, p.23-4, p.23-4

Prepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of OttawaPrepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

Conversation as a model for inquiryConversation as a model for inquiryListening to Michael OakeshottListening to Michael Oakeshott

““In conversation, ‛facts’ appear In conversation, ‛facts’ appear only to be resolved once more only to be resolved once more into the possibilities from which into the possibilities from which they were made; they were made; ‛certainties’ are ‛certainties’ are shown to be combustibleshown to be combustible, not by , not by being brought in contact with being brought in contact with other ‛certainties’ or with doubts, other ‛certainties’ or with doubts, but by being kindled by the but by being kindled by the presence of ideas of another presence of ideas of another order; approximations are order; approximations are revealed between notions revealed between notions normally remote from one normally remote from one another . . .” another . . .”

Prepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of OttawaPrepared by Dr. Martin Barlosky, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa

Conversation & differenceConversation & difference““Conversation is not an enterprise designed Conversation is not an enterprise designed

to yield an extrinsic profit, a contest where to yield an extrinsic profit, a contest where a winner gets a prize, nor is it an activity of a winner gets a prize, nor is it an activity of exegesis; exegesis; it is an unrehearsed intellectual it is an unrehearsed intellectual adventureadventure . . . . Properly speaking, it is . . . . Properly speaking, it is impossible in the absence of a diversity of impossible in the absence of a diversity of voices: in it different universes of discourse voices: in it different universes of discourse meet, acknowledge each other and enjoy an meet, acknowledge each other and enjoy an oblique relationship which neither requires oblique relationship which neither requires nor forecasts their being assimilated to one nor forecasts their being assimilated to one another.” another.”

-Michael Oakeshott, -Michael Oakeshott, Rationalism in Politics and Other EssaysRationalism in Politics and Other Essays, , pp. 177-9pp. 177-9