“Yet the truly remarkable thing is not the differences about the programme, but the degree of instant consensus. In 1968, even in 1977, it was almost unthinkable that there would be so much common ground. This is a Czech phenomenon. But it is not just a Czech phenomenon, for in different ways it is repeated all over East Central Europe. Take a more or less representative sample of politically aware persons. Stir under pressure for two days. And what do you get? The same fundamental Western, European model: parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, market economy…It is the idea of ‘normality’ that seems to be sweeping triumphantly across the world.” Timothy Garton Ash, The Magic Lantern
“We march vicariously with people in trouble whoever they are; and we have our own parade…If we did not have our own parade, we could not march vicariously in Prague. We would have no understanding at all of “truth” or “justice.” Michael Walzer, Moral Minimalism
Assess Michael Walzer’s account of the universal-made-particular in light of our discussion and readings on the “end of the History” thesis. Whose account (if any) do you find to be the most compelling and why?
Similarly to Fukuyama’s end of history theory, I find it difficult to falsify the “unversal-made-particular” theory put forth by Michael Walzer. Both theories ignore, and supersede the question of “when” or under what circumstances these things will happen in society. Fukuyama’s argument remains debatable until there is somehow way to prove that ideological struggle no longer exists–this seems near impossible to me. Walzer’s theory also escapes any limit of time. He argues that “unless we can identify a neutral starting point from which many different and possibly legitimate moral cultures might develop, we can’t construct a proceduralist minimum.” Certain values like “truth” or “justice” have no identifiable conception or expiration date and, rather, are universally understood (though implemented on a case-by-case basis). Both these claims function on the basis that we simply haven’t reached a point in time when we are able to disprove them. They resonate equally with me, and I am convinced that they are true. However, I am skeptical that either of them could yet (or ever) be disproven with concrete examples, which for me, undermines the weight of these statements.