Abstract
‘[w]e are born only once on this earth, and only one and no other historic time is given to us.’ Czeslaw Milosz What does it mean for a political philosopher to affirm ordinary life? Indeed, what does an affirmation of this sort, urged on us by Charles Taylor, imply as to the subject matter of political philosophy and its identity in relation to the world of modern state-centred politics? I have selected this theme for a closer examination in part because I have called for something similar – ‘the redemption of everyday life’ – and it has never been crystal clear to me what the full implications of such a summons might be were one required to work them out. I agree with Taylor that ‘this affirmation of ordinary life … has become one of the most powerful ideas in modern civilization’, but I also believe that this affirmation is an increasingly troubled one, harder and harder to sustain, not so much against its ‘knockers’ as against its ostensible supporters or ‘boosters’. What are we enjoined to affirm when we locate ‘ordinary life’ above the heroic, history making (in the grand sense) virtues or imperatives? Taylor is surely right to suggest that the ground for controversy now is the manner of living that ordinary life which we would affirm.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
