A Research On Isaiah Berlin's Theory Of Value-Pluralism

It's generally believed that the Western thought tradition, from ancient Greek philosophy to 19^th century's philosophy and progressive thoughts, is always based on the rationalistic monism, which constitutes a typical characteristic of Western civilization. In 20^th century, the British prominent liberal thinker, Isaiah Berlin , had steadfastly refused the idea of this deep-rooted tradition. Animadverting the rationalistic monism-the basis of modern liberalism-he pointed out that the Enlightenment's authoritarian tendency and refuted the historical determinism, which denied the personal autonomy and the rights of the individuals, Moreover he revealed that the methodology root of the historical determinism was rationalistic monism and that the rationalism monism was the concentrated reflection of the historical determinism in the idea of social history. Isaiah Berlin also regarded that the rationalistic monism is not accord with the human experiences and lives and that it was a Utopian ideal, which is impossible to achieve.On this basis, Berlin brought forward his value-pluralism. He regarded that the Man's goals and life styles were diverse and involute because of the diversity and complexity of human nature, and that there are diverse Man's values and goods, which are often incommensurable, incompatible and in conflict with each other, moreover contradict, therefore Man inevitably are faced with choices .The choices are often accompanied by irreversible loss and tragic results, There is no complete ,non-defect world.Based on the analysis of Berlin's criticism on the rationalistic monism ,the thesis points out that the values in his eyes include political values as well as non-political values, that the value conflicts are not only the conflicts in the ideas of values but also in the values as such, and that the causes why the values are conflicting are the complexity and the diversity of human nature. Also this thesis supports that Isaiah Berlin's value- pluralism is not subjectivism and relativism.The thesis argues that Berlin's value pluralism is limited pluralism rather than jacobinical pluralism. With regard to the relationship between value pluralism and liberalism, the thesis argues that the value pluralism needs liberalism just as liberalism needs value-pluralism. Without liberalism, the value-pluralism will be empty. Without value value-pluralism, the liberalism will be likely to slide into monism or universalism. They are complementary not contradictory. This thesis holds that Berlin had exaggerated the dangers of rationalistic monism. Rationalistic monism does not necessarily lead to tyranny or totalitarianism. It implies such a tendency only ,is easy to become a pretext for totalitarianism.Finally, the thesis summed up Berlin's value-pluralism, put forward the significance of the value-pluralism and inspiration on people's moral and political practice, and rethinking of the universality and diversity of the values.