Liberal individualism and liberal neutrality

Abstract

Many contemporary liberal theorists claim that the state should remain neutral between particular conceptions of the good life. Communitarian and republican critics argue that the liberal state is biased towards individualistic ways of life because it ignores the social components of our good. I distinguish three versions of this criticism, And argue that each rests on a misinterpretation of liberal theory. However, They raise important questions concerning the relationship between state, Society and culture which both liberals and their critics have ignored.