“The Politics of Recognition” By C.Taylor Essay Review

The theory of recognition was studied by Charles Taylor in his essay The Politics of Recognition. Most of the researchers treat his approach as the classical option for the theory of recognition. At any rate his writing is of exploratory nature and thus could be interesting to different readers and experts.

From the very beginning the author underlined that “a number of strands in contemporary politics turn on the need, sometimes the demand, for recognition” (Taylor, 1994). He points out that there is a connection between recognition and identity, which according to him is “fundamental characteristic of a human being” (Taylor, 1994). Thus human identity according to Taylor should be seen as the one constructed by cultural group membership and self worth of each person and is correspondingly related to the cultural group, he belongs to. Then liberal theory needs to deal with cultural group rights, as it would be more correct. These assumptions of the author form the basis for his procedural liberalism. Taking the ideas of Kant about the self and the autonomy of the self, he states that procedural liberalism needs the highest degree of respect towards individual dignity of each person and providing him the possibility to develop his own vision of the good further. Special attention is paid by Taylor to the distinction between two forms of politics of equal recognition; they are the politics of universalism and the politics of difference. Although both of these types assume that all citizens should receive equal portion of recognition, the politics of universalism is based on the “equal dignity of all citizens” (Taylor, 1994). The nature of all human beings presumes that they all should be treated with respect; moreover, it should be equal respect. This is an absolutely necessary condition for all people to experience equal dignity according to Taylor. Taylor states that procedural liberalism is inhospitable to difference, which makes it not able to accommodate various cultures. For cultural communities it is necessary to have some kind of support in order to promote their own culture in jurisdictions. Procedural liberalism does not provide this possibility. At the same time non-procedural liberalism, which is more involved into culture of the society, could secure cultural diversity to some extent. In other words this kind of liberalism could consider the existing differences between individuals and correspondingly could be not hostile towards coexisting of various cultures.

Works cited:

Taylor, C.  The Politics of Recognition. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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