C/P/20. Discuss Charles Taylor's claim that 'the supposedly fair and difference- blind society is not only inhuman, but also, in a subtle and unconscious way, itself highly discriminatory'.

Charles Taylor, in his well-known essay, points to the importance of "recognition" of individual and group uniqueness. Taking this argument a step further, he calls for "equal recognition" of all cultural groups in a liberal society - something, he says, that is manifestly lacking in many Western democracies, which through recognition of all cultures' equality, force everyone into the same mould of the predominant culture. To remedy this situation, Taylor advises measures to protect and even promote cultural uniqueness by adopting a series of seemingly anti-liberal measures, such as language laws. This paper argues that Taylor's policies of "cultural recognition" are profoundly controversial and, if implemented in practice, would create formidable difficulties: measures to protect one cultural group often amount to suppression of other cultural groups. Taylor's advice on multiculturalism is problematic in another aspect: whilst he is against compromising "fundamental values" of liberalism in his search for cultural accommodation, decision on what constitutes fundamental values and which values could be traded away is ultimately left with the policy-makers, allowing for wide implementation of utterly anti-liberal measures. The conclusion of this paper aims at separating the issue of cultures from liberalism. The credibility of a liberal society lies in taking a stand of equidistance from all cultures, even if such neutral position subtly favours the dominant culture. After all, the paper argues, it should be left to each cultural group to create opportunities for their own survival in a multicultural liberal society, while the state should keep itself from interfering in cultural issues, simply assuring that each cultures and individuals co-exist peacefully and that the societal order is preserved.