R: There is No Private Sphere (Federalist Party-Party of the Left Joint Debate)

In this information age, when the public spotlight shines brighter and more penetrating than ever before into the lives of those it targets, many people, on both sides of the aisle, are quick to defend the sanctity of an individual’s “private life.” There has long been a practice of separating work from home, church from state, and public from private. But should there be?

This issue seems to cut to the heart of how one understands their private life and their sense of duty. If we have found something we believe to be absolutely true and have set it up as our lens through which to view the world, then we must apply our private values to our public life. A great Christian scholar, remarking on the integration of faith into other areas of one’s life, once said, “Saying you’ll bring your faith to work is like saying you’ll bring your marriage into your sex life.” Those truths we hold most dear or most fundamental cannot remain our private views. The public sphere, which ostensibly aims to serve the private individual, must not be separated from the private lives of individuals who compose it. From politicians to cultural leaders to average Americans, each of us must strive to break down the barrier between our public lives and our private lives.

Yet, this radical destruction of social stratification seems rife with dangers. If one endorses the need to integrate public and private life, every political conflict is elevated to the level of a personal affront. The danger of identity politics is evident, and the breakdown of the private sphere leaves us little resort but identity politics. Additionally, to say there is to be no private sphere puts a demand on every individual to participate in public life. It abolishes the right to privacy and makes every member of society fair game for political targeting. Surely there should be some protection for children and groups who do not want nor should not be used for political gain.

This debate forces us to ask several questions about the nature and scope of the political realm and the validity of separating the private sphere. To what extent should our individual moral beliefs impact the broader political realm? Are there any issues or aspects of our lives which should be off limits? How do we avoid the trap of identity politics if we must bring our private concerns and views into our political lives? Must one have a public life at all?