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ALASDAIR MACINTYRE ARGUES THAT THE LIBERAL TRADITION LACKS STANDARDS OF RATIONAL JUSTIFICATION AND RELIES INSTEAD ON INTERMINABLE DEBATE. IN CRITIQUING MACINTRYRE'S VIEW, THIS ARTICLE CONTENDS THAT LIBERALISM IS NEITHER MARKED BY MORE INTERMINABLE DEBATE THAN PREVIOUS TRADITIONS NOR IT IS MORE LACKING IN THE RESOURCES FOR RESOLVING SUCH DEBATE. INDEED, THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT LIBERALISM MEETS MACINTYRE'S DESCRIPTION OF A TRADITION.

MICHAEL WALZER'S ACCOUNT OF JUSTICE IS A PARTICULARIST ONE THAT IS OFTEN CRITICIZED BY ADVOCATES OF A UNIVERSALIST APPROACH. ONE CRITICISM, ON WHICH THIS ARTICLE FOCUSES, IS THAT WALZER'S EMPHASIS UPON THE COLLECTIVE LIBERTY OF THE COMMUNITY OVERRIDES ANY GUARANTEE OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AGAINST THE COMMUNITY. THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT WALZER'S PARTICULARIST ACCOUNT CONTAINS UNIVERSALIST IMPLICATIONS THAT TRANSCEND NEUTRALITY AS TO A GOOD SOCIETY AND LIMIT THE SCOPE OF A COMMUNITY'S COLLECTIVE OR DEMOCRATIC LIBERTY. A BROAD RANGE OF SHARED UNDERSTANDINGS, WHICH ARE NOT FIXED BUT EVOLVE AND CHANGE OVER TIME, NEED NOT, SHE INSISTS, PRECLUDE A CRITICAL STANCE BY OR ON BEHALF OF INDIVIDUALS.