“While rationalism at the individual level is a plea for more personal autonomy from cultural norms, at the social level it is often a claim -- or arrogation -- of power to stifle the autonomy of others.”

Political correctness progressed by the occupying statist theocracy infesting this land proves the topic's focus. The rationalism here advanced are progressive dogmas and canon absolutism, within the national establishment or religion, to stifle the autonomy of others instead of advancing individual sovereignty, liberty and personal inalienable rights at/by "the laws of nature and of nature's God".

Another rationalism at the individual level pleading for more personal autonomy emblazoned in the now cultural norm of death cults (a foundation of the occupying statist theocracy infesting this land) illustrates the quote's topic. By extremely terse example, that would be: The arrogation and power sought to freely commit human sacrifice to the gods of pleasure and life style, euthanasia, along with wars in perpetuity directly stifles the noble seeking of liberty, inalienable rights and all else that is noble.

If we had any culture I'm sure individuals would want to incorporate it into their lives.  High fives, baseball, tailgating, orgies are just not culture. Socialism is the challenge of social abilities to create culture. 

Collectivism and group-think demand uniformity of thought lest the mob stone the independent thinker for heresy.  A culture of monolithic coercion is despicable no matter how noble the claims of its followers.