Popper´s pratical philosophy and communitarism

The project focuses on the practical philosophy of Karl R. Popper and Critical Rationalism. The actuality of this subject can be seen in connection with the argumentative defence of liberal world views against authoritarian and anti-liberal tendencies of fundamentalist ideologies. These tendencies show the importance of a stronger articulation and development of liberal positions. This can only be achieved by a careful analysis of crucial arguments raised against liberal positions and social developments in liberal societies. Such arguments can also be found within those societies and their tradition, especially in thought-patterns of communitarianism. During the last three decades communitarians criticised negative consequences and side effects of liberalism as well as of social developments in the late 20th century, especially in the United States. This critique is a serious challenge to liberal positions. Still, an objective consideration of communitarianism is often impeded by the fact that some of the communitarian arguments against liberalism, in an intensified version, can also be found in fundamentalist ideologies that are used to justify authoritarian, often patriarchal, forms of communities through the rejection of open models of society and thinking. On the other hand, communitarianism can also be seen as an important counterpart within a liberal tradition. Thus, the project will undertake a critical comparative analysis of the practical philosophy of Popper and critical rationalism and the arguments that can be found in the liberalism- communitarianism debate. The aim of the project is to find possible new answers to some of the critical communitarian arguments against liberalism which will enable one to develop a better response not only to communitarianism but also to authoritarian and fundamentalist world views. This should also contribute to the further development of the practical philosophy of critical rationalism itself. To achieve the basic goals of the project stated above, the work will be structured into six parts. 1. an reconstruction of the main arguments of the liberalism-communitarianism debate 2. a critical assessment of communitarian positions 3. a survey of the discussion of communitarianism in the German-speaking world 4. a examination and categorisation of Popper`s the philosophy and critical rationalism in the context of world- views 5. a critical comparative analysis of the anthropological, ethical and social philosophical assumptions and arguments of communitarianism and Popper`s position as well as the highlighting the results of this analysis for the development and improvement of critical rationalism 6. the preparation of a book-publication with the results of the project in the "Series on the philosophy of Karl R. Popper and Critical Rationalism" at Rodopi, Amsterdam/New York.

The project focuses on the practical philosophy of Karl R. Popper and Critical Rationalism. The actuality of this subject can be seen in connection with the argumentative defence of liberal world views against authoritarian and anti-liberal tendencies of fundamentalist ideologies. These tendencies show the importance of a stronger articulation and development of liberal positions. This can only be achieved by a careful analysis of crucial arguments raised against liberal positions and social developments in liberal societies. Such arguments can also be found within those societies and their tradition, especially in thought-patterns of communitarianism. During the last three decades communitarians criticised negative consequences and side effects of liberalism as well as of social developments in the late 20th century, especially in the United States. This critique is a serious challenge to liberal positions. Still, an objective consideration of communitarianism is often impeded by the fact that some of the communitarian arguments against liberalism, in an intensified version, can also be found in fundamentalist ideologies that are used to justify authoritarian, often patriarchal, forms of communities through the rejection of open models of society and thinking. On the other hand, communitarianism can also be seen as an important counterpart within a liberal tradition. Thus, the project will undertake a critical comparative analysis of the practical philosophy of Popper and critical rationalism and the arguments that can be found in the liberalism- communitarianism debate. The aim of the project is to find possible new answers to some of the critical communitarian arguments against liberalism which will enable one to develop a better response not only to communitarianism but also to authoritarian and fundamentalist world views. This should also contribute to the further development of the practical philosophy of critical rationalism itself. To achieve the basic goals of the project stated above, the work will be structured into six parts: 1. an reconstruction of the main arguments of the liberalism-communitarianism debate 2. a critical assessment of communitarian positions 3. a survey of the discussion of communitarianism in the German-speaking world 4. a examination and categorisation of Popper`s the philosophy and critical rationalism in the context of world- views 5. a critical comparative analysis of the anthropological, ethical and social philosophical assumptions and arguments of communitarianism and Popper`s position as well as the highlighting the results of this analysis for the development and improvement of critical rationalism 6. the preparation of a book-publication with the results of the project in the "Series on the philosophy of Karl R. Popper and Critical Rationalism" at Rodopi, Amsterdam/New York.