Civil Societarian

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Civil Societarian refers to a person who sees the intermediary organizations and associations between the individual and the state as having greater moral importance than the state. This person differs from the communitarian, however, in that he refuses to value those associations higher than the individual. The term was coined by Arnold Kling, a George Mason University economics professor, to clear some ground between Randian libertarians and those libertarians who do not base their philosophy on selfishness. In his article, Kling writes:

"The stereotypical libertarian might cite Ayn Rand and simply exalt the individual. Instead, a civil societarian would cite Alexis de Tocqueville, and his observation that "Americans of all ages, all conditions, and all dispositions constantly form associations."^[1] These voluntary associations are what a civil societarian sees as the key to civilization.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's theory of the General Will serves as a good contrast to the civil societarian view. See Robert Nisbet and his Quest For Community.

Famous civil societarians include Whole Foods Market's CEO John Mackey.

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