Political liberalism

Author: Rawls
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-01-01
Features: Rawls's Political Liberalism is substantial and thought-provoking, demonstrating how a set of principles can be rationally applied to structure the basic framework of society. Clearly, in the breadth of theory, Rawls is unmatched. Political Liberalism is a significant work in contemporary political philosophy—one worthy of comparison to A Theory of Justice. This book continues and refines the conception of justice proposed by Rawls in A Theory of Justice, fundamentally altering its philosophical interpretation. In A Theory of Justice, Rawls assumes that in a "well-ordered society," there exist relatively stable and homogeneous basic moral beliefs, and people hold widespread consensus on what constitutes a good life. However, in modern democratic societies, incompatible, irreconcilable religious, philosophical, and moral doctrines coexist within the framework of democracy, and free institutions themselves reinforce and encourage this diversity, viewing it as the enduring condition of a free society. So, how can free and equal citizens both preserve various incompatible life and worldviews while maintaining a stable and just social life? Rawls's answer lies in redefining the "well-ordered society": such a society is no longer unified by its basic moral beliefs but by its political conception of justice. This conception of justice is the focal point of overlapping consensus among various reasonable comprehensive doctrines. Once this consensus is reached, it will extend and complete the intellectual movement that began three centuries ago through society's gradual acceptance of the principle of tolerance, ultimately resulting in the full acceptance and understanding of modern liberal rights.