Author Archives: Marilyn Mason

Opinion: How liberal are liberals obliged to be?

The Archbishop of Canterbury’s suggestion last week that the state should give some kind of recognition to sharia law raised important questions for liberals.

We tend to believe that what the great philosopher of liberty John Stuart Mill called “experiments in living” should be permitted, as long as they do not harm others. And, surely, the independent conciliation and adjudication agencies (that the Archbishop appears to have meant) and free expressions of faith and diverse family arrangements are “experiments in living” – to be tolerated, even welcomed, as harmless gestures of respect to minority communities in our plural society?

But real …

Posted in Op-eds | 50 Comments
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    Over the last 40 years we have sold off almost everything that is not nailed down including most of our manufacturing industries. As a result young men unqua...
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    When I went to university about 5-6% of the population did so. I studied economics. After 4 years at 2 universities, I found there was little or no work in my f...
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    This is an excellent article. Thanks. 'Men held more power a century ago.' Sorry, men still hold more power. This can still be the case whilst we also see ...
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    Excellent thought provoking article...
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    @Chloe. I think you're right to say that the state doesn't owe anyone a living. However, if society is to function effectively, then we do need to make sure tha...