1. Kukathas on Education
THE NEGLECT OF CHILDREN
Luís Rodrigues
Lcr504@york.ac.uk
School of Politics, Philosophy and Economics,
The University of York

2. Outline
1 – Kukathas’ theory
a) The Right to Exit
b) The Concept of Culture
2 – Problems with Kukathas’ theory
3 – Conclusion

3. Anarcho-Multiculturalism and Education
What are the limits of
parental, group and state
authority with regards to
children’s education?

4. Freedom and Neutrality
Liberals Kukathas
Individual decision
making
Freedom of Conscience
Non-interference
Free Public Reason
Indifference
Does not promote
conceptions of the good
(Kukathas, 1992a, 1992b, 2003, 2008)

5. Freedom of Conscience I
Self-interest
Affection
Conscience
(Kukathas, 2003)

6. Freedom of Conscience II
Living according to conscience
Autonomy is not important
Discrimination is acceptable
Interference is a serious violation of a strong interest
(Kukathas, 1992a, 1992b, 2003, 2008)

7. Free Public Reason
What is it? Its violation
• Legitimacy of authority • Illegitimacy
• Consent • Dogmatism
• Variety of viewpoints
(Kukathas, 1992a , 2003)

8. Right to Exit I
Neutrality
Freedom
Minimal intervention
Maximum toleration
Test of consent
(Kukathas, 1992a, 1992b, 2003, 2008)

9. Right to Exit II
Not physically barred
P (E)> 0
Not about costs
Market society
(Kukathas, 1992a, 1992b, 2003, 2008)

10. Implications for Education
• Parental Freedom • State Intervention
• Absolute • Violation of freedom and
neutrality
• Set curriculum
• Dogmatism and
• Deny education intolerance
• Physical punishments
(Kukathas, 1992a , 2003, 2008)

11. The Concept of Culture
• Fluidity
• Heterogeneity
• Non-recognition of cultural rights
• No education rights
(Kukathas, 1992a , 2003, 2008)

12. The children’s situation is different
Absolute parental power Child is free to exit
• No freedom of • Natural impossibility
conscience for children
• P(ø)= 0
• Contradiction
• Not about costs

13. Children’s Interests
• Odd conception of children’s interests
• Interest in mainstream education
• Tower of Babel
• Job opportunities

14. Group Authority
• Assumption of legitimate leadership
• Historical process
• Cultural authenticity and ownership
• Democratic legitimacy

15. Conclusion
Education for political participation
Mainstream education
Tensions in Kukathas’ approach

16. Bibliography
 Kukathas, C. (1992a). Are there any Cultural Rights?. Political Theory, 20 (1):105-
139
 Kukathas, C. (1992b). Cultural Rights again: a rejoinder to Kymlicka. Political
Theory, 20 (4):674-680
 Kukathas, C., (2003). The Liberal Archipelago. Oxford: Oxford University Press
 Kukathas, C., (2008). Anarcho-Multiculturalism: The Pure Theory of Liberalism. In
B. Levey (ed). Political Theory and Australian Multiculturalism. The U.S.A.:
Berghahn Books, pp. 29 – 43
 Reich, R. (2005). Minors within Minorities: A Problem for Liberal Multiculturalists.
In A. Eisenberg & J. Spinner-Halev (ed.). Minorities Within Minorities: Equality,
Rights and Diversity. New York: Cambridge University Press, pp. 209 – 226
 Sunder, M., (2000). Intellectual Property and Identity Politics: Playing with Fire.
Journal of Gender, Race & Justice. 4 (1), pp. 69 – 98