On the triple root of the communitarian argument and its critique of contractualism

Abstract

This paper delves into the core arguments underpinning the communitarian backlash against liberalism, particularly its emphasis on individualism and the contractual model. The paper highlights the threefold intellectual roots of communitarianism, tracing its lineage back to the political philosophies of Aristotle, Hegel, and Marx. It further examines the blurred boundaries between these two contrasting political ideologies and the potential risks faced by modern democracies in overlooking libertarianism, a thought system that embraces principles from both liberal and communitarian perspectives.