ACTING IN THE COMMUNITY: ON THE POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF INDIVIDUAL CHOICES

According to the leading paradigm of political philosophy, the State should be neutral about truth and the good, in order to allow all citizens to do what they desire at the highest possible degree. This view is recommended for its claimed merit of allowing a mild form of secularism. This paper contends that secularism cannot be kept in this milder form, since a commitment to truth and to what is perceived as good is unavoidable in political decision making agencies. This conclusion is argued for on the grounds of considerations about human action, which counter key assumptions of the leading paradigm. The conclusion leads also to novel consideration about pluralism and neutrality.