This book is a major contribution to the current theory of liberalism by an eminent political theorist. It challenges the views of such theorists as Rawls, Dworkin, and Ackerman who believe that the essence of liberalism is that it should remain neutral concerning different ways of life and individual conceptions of what is good or valuable. Professor Galston argues that the modern liberal state is committed to a distinctive conception of the human good, and to that end has developed characteristic institutions and practices--representative governments, diverse societies, market economies, and zones of private action--in the pursuit of specific public purposes that give unity to the liberal state. These purposes guide liberal public policy, shape liberal justice, require the practice of liberal virtues, and rest on a liberal public culture. Consequently the diversity characteristic of liberal societies is limited by their institutional, personal, and cultural preconditions.

"...it is both a clear and up-to-date attack on the proceduralist experiment and a new and sympathetic outline of the value commitments that are actually presupposed by the core positions of liberal political morality." Political Theory"Liberal Purposes is a thoughtful, challenging, and clearly written critique of the dominant strand in contemporary liberalism written from within the liberal tradition itself." Choice"Liberal Purposes is a thoughtful, challenging, and clearly written critique of the dominant strand in contemporary liberalism written from within the liberal tradition itself." Choice"This is an important book, which addresses many of the central issues in liberal theory: the debate between foundationalists and nonfoundationalists, liberals and communitarians, neutralist liberals and non-neutralist liberals, and among diverse conceptions of equality. It is also refreshing in that it deals with the appropriate liberal response to pressing public policy issues, such as health care policy, education, distributive justice, and the treatment of nonliberal minorities." Margaret Moore, The Review of Politics"This is an important book, which addresses many of the central issues in liberal theory: the debate between foundationalists and nonfoundationalists, liberals and communitarians, neutralist liberals and non-neutralist liberals, and among diverse conceptions of equality. It is also refreshing in that it deals with the appropriate liberal response to pressing public policy issues, such as health care policy, education, distributive justice, and the treatment of nonliberal minorities." Margaret Moore, The Review of Politics

Argues that the modern liberal state is committed to a distinctive concept of the human good, and to that end, that it has developed characteristic institutions and practices - representative governments, diverse societies and others - in the pursuit of specific public purposes.

William Galston challenges the view that the essence of liberalism is that it should remain neutral concerning different ways of life and conceptions of what is good or valuable.William Galston challenges the view that the essence of liberalism is that it should remain neutral concerning different ways of life and conceptions of what is good or valuable.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 305-336) and index.