Preston Grissom

Outside Reading #4

To Change the World: Pluralism and It’s Effects

            James Davidson Hunter is a remarkably insightful scholar in the field of cultural engagement and cultural movements.  He understands the current vibes of America and has articulated them well in his book.  One subject he addresses is the elephant in the American room called plurality.  Plurality is the inevitable ends to a world afraid to take a stand.  It is really easy to say what is best for me it takes some serious guts to say “and I really believe its best for you and everyone else to.”  It isn’t ideas people are afraid of it is the ideas of ideas being “pushed” on my “freedom.”

            James Davidson Hunter states, the legal and political debate surrounding the just management of plurality will continue well into the future.”  Sadly, I must agree.  My first instinct is to be appalled at the idea of plurality in most areas of life.  I am a very black and white thinker.  It makes little since to me how pluralism offers any hope to one searching for truth.  In the religious sphere for example, it is impossible for two religions to be right if their views are apposing.  If the Christian believes that the Muslim is going to hell and vice versa, one may be right or both may be wrong.

However, when it comes to political and legal debates the idea of pluralism is a natural end.  Since government cannot take sides on nearly any moral issue truly, what else must they do but leave it up to the individual?  Isn’t all political philosophy a matter of preference?  Who is to say Machiavelli was wrong?  Is there any proof that his beliefs on radical rule are inherently evil?  At some point someone must take a stance.  This gets tricky when a secular government has not foundation to stand on other than a document (remarkable as it may be) founded by mere men.  There shows so signs of an end to pluralism in politics and I honestly don’t see why is would ever stop.