Charles Taylor: Thinking and Living Deep Diversity

(Paperback)

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Since the 1960s, Charles Taylor's work as an intellectual historian, epistemologist and normative political theorist has made him a leading figure in contemporary social philosophy. In this book, Mark Redhead examines the problem of political fragmentation through an analysis of Taylor's thought and politics. Redhead argues that despite Taylor's professed commitment to openness, his confrontation with political fragmentation was ultimately an unsuccessful one because of a series of epistemological and political tensions that plague his thought. This book aims to contribute to contemporary debates about liberalism, group rights and multiculturalism.

Reviews

Cultural diversity today is not an academic issue, but a lived reality for many societies in the grip of globalization. No contemporary thinker has reflected more seriously on this reality than Charles Taylor whose work champions a recognition of 'deep diversity' as an alternative to communal homogeneity and atomistic fragmentation. Redhead examines this perspective on numerous levelspolitical, philosophical, and personalthus offering a perceptive entree into the Canadian's complex opus, while also suggesting a more pragmatic solution to some remaining quandaries in that work. -- Tatiana Yu. Danilchenko, Packey J. Dee Professor Emeritus, University of Notre Dame
Mark Readhead's book is one of the closest studies to date of Charles Taylor's life and thought. Charles Taylor displays the sort of careful, meditative, generous temperament for which Taylor is widely admired, suggesting that Redhead is in an excellent position to respond to the above challenges and to continue to help us think beyond his subject. * Perspectives on Politics *
The book is well researched, clear, and of interest to political theorists, philosophers, and readers interested in contemporary struggles for intranational political recognition. * Ethics: An International Journal of Social, Political, and Legal Philosophy *
Readhead's book is worth reading, especially for its descriptive portrayal of Taylor's thought. * Philosophy in Review *
Mark Redhead places the theme of 'deep diversity' at the center of his study of Charles Taylor; he attempts to elucidate Taylor via a 'deep analysis,' treating Taylor not only as a thinker, with roots, e.g., in Hegel, but taking very seriously Taylor's involvement in Canadian politics, his Catholic faith, as well as his personal experience growing up in an Anglo-French Quebec household. Redhead manages not only to shed much new light on Taylor, but his book serves as a model for the study of a serious thinker in terms of the interaction of life and thought. Without ever being reductionist Redhead gives us a very rich picture of Taylorand some astute reflections on the limitations of Taylor as a political philosopher. Redhead's study of Taylor and 'deep diversity' must be judged 'deeply successful.' -- Michael Zuckert, University of Notre Dame

Author Bio

Mark Redhead is visiting professor in the Department of Political Science at Oregon State University.