Alasdair MacIntyre and radically dialogical politics

In this paper, I show that in the field of political theology, Alasdair MacIntyre is best seen not as the harbinger of an isolated, nostalgic, and conservative politics, but as an advocate of a kind of pluralistic dialog similar to that advocated by adherents of radical democracy. After an overview...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Political theology
Main Author: Newson, Ryan Andrew (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Published: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group [2016]
In: Political theology
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B MacIntyre, Alasdair C. 1929- / Tradition / Democracy / Radicalism / Pluralism
IxTheo Classification:NCD Political ethics
VA Philosophy
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:In this paper, I show that in the field of political theology, Alasdair MacIntyre is best seen not as the harbinger of an isolated, nostalgic, and conservative politics, but as an advocate of a kind of pluralistic dialog similar to that advocated by adherents of radical democracy. After an overview of MacIntyre's contemporary appropriation of Aristotle, I argue that reading MacIntyre in the light of his rejection of the fact-value distinction helps show the radical (rather than balkanizing) theo-political implications of his work, and dissolves many of the obstacles that might cause one to suspect that MacIntyre's project necessarily leads to withdrawal from pluralistic society. In conclusion, I sketch the contours of a MacIntyrean politics by way of his anthropological insights in Dependent Rational Animals. From this angle, one can see MacIntyre advocating a "local politics of dependence" that does not eschew inter-traditioned dialog, but seeks to enable its occurrence despite the resistance provided by the modern nation-state.
ISSN:1462-317X
Contains:Enthalten in: Political theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1179/1462317X15Z.000000000143