Abstract

The paper addresses Walzer's thought with regard to the notions of obligation and dissent, and the conflict between values that draws from Jewish culture. The analysis reveals some risks and some inherent difficulties with Walzer's approach in giving a due account of the disctinction between politics and morality and of the role to be ascribed to the legal sphere. Even when Walzer tries to fill in this lack of attention, he adheres to a peculiar perspective that is based, finally, on a sort of "Jewish exceptionalism", which, while it works to support an authentic pluralism, seems to be troubling.