Question 1:
Liberalism favors both tolerance and equality, but tolerance and equality often conflict. In France, the wearing of a face veil (a hijab, which covers the head; a burqa, which covers the entire face and body) is prohibited in all public places. The law imposes a fine of up to 150 dollars, and/or participation in citizenship education. The Constitutional Council of France (France’s highest court, like our Supreme Court) declared the ban constitutional.
Supporters of the law argue that the ban promotes sexual equality (women are free to dress as everyone dresses), favors free speech and the separation of church and state (important liberal ideas), and thus promotes core liberal values. Supporters argue that a nation cannot remain committed to its values unless it prohibits anti-liberal values.
Opponents argue that wearing veils does not mean that women are second-class citizens. Rather, liberalism means respecting cultural differences. They thus argue that the law interferes with liberalism’s most cherished values, respect for culture, individuality, and tolerance.
Relying on at least 3 authors assigned in the syllabus in Curtis’s book, compare and contrast the two opposing positions on veils and take a position on the question of tolerance and equality. View the list with indicated pages below.
Proudhon, 133-140
Comte, 147-154
Marx, 158-180.
Mazzini, 237-242
Herzl, 242-248
Hitler, 248-253.
Bakunin, 352-357
Kropotkin, 358
Lenin, 362-373.
Spencer, 257-267
Nietzsche, 288-304.
Rawls, 457-467
Weber, 426-436.
Maritain, 411-415
Niebuhr, 415-421.