Podcast
Questions and Answers
One objection to Rawls's work is that there are no ______ grounds for the two principles of justice.
One objection to Rawls's work is that there are no ______ grounds for the two principles of justice.
religious
According to one objection, Rawls does not allow religious ______ a place in political discourse, even on matters less fundamental than the principles of justice.
According to one objection, Rawls does not allow religious ______ a place in political discourse, even on matters less fundamental than the principles of justice.
argument
The charge of privatization suggests that Rawls mistakenly believes religion can only prove ______ if accorded a role in politics.
The charge of privatization suggests that Rawls mistakenly believes religion can only prove ______ if accorded a role in politics.
divisive
The author contends that all three objections misunderstand the implications of Rawls's liberalism by underestimating the role of ______ argument in political life.
The author contends that all three objections misunderstand the implications of Rawls's liberalism by underestimating the role of ______ argument in political life.
A key strength of Rawls's theory is its reconciliation of seemingly conflicting political values, such as liberty and ______.
A key strength of Rawls's theory is its reconciliation of seemingly conflicting political values, such as liberty and ______.
Rawls's theory balances citizens' interest in advancing their own conception of the good with their interest in preserving ______ and mutual respect.
Rawls's theory balances citizens' interest in advancing their own conception of the good with their interest in preserving ______ and mutual respect.
Richard Rorty's interpretation of Rawlsian liberalism has been extremely ______ among moral theologians.
Richard Rorty's interpretation of Rawlsian liberalism has been extremely ______ among moral theologians.
Rawls introduced the idea of an ______ consensus long after completing his book.
Rawls introduced the idea of an ______ consensus long after completing his book.
Philosophical reflection might reveal no epistemic or motivational ______ of the right to the good.
Philosophical reflection might reveal no epistemic or motivational ______ of the right to the good.
Even if duties under justice are derived from the agent's good, the claim about duties isn't about the ______.
Even if duties under justice are derived from the agent's good, the claim about duties isn't about the ______.
The person in Jackson's case endorses claims about the right as well as claims about the ______.
The person in Jackson's case endorses claims about the right as well as claims about the ______.
Claims about the good may have motivational/epistemic priority, but the right may be prior in political ______.
Claims about the good may have motivational/epistemic priority, but the right may be prior in political ______.
Claims about duties and responsibilities remain a claim about the ______ because the propositional content determines whether a claim is about the right or the good
Claims about duties and responsibilities remain a claim about the ______ because the propositional content determines whether a claim is about the right or the good
The priority that Rawls asserts of the right to the good is other than ______ or epistemic.
The priority that Rawls asserts of the right to the good is other than ______ or epistemic.
Jackson's case does not obliterate the distinction between the right and the ______.
Jackson's case does not obliterate the distinction between the right and the ______.
It could still be argued that the right must be prior in the political argument that citizens offer one another and that the government offers to ______
It could still be argued that the right must be prior in the political argument that citizens offer one another and that the government offers to ______
The case on which Jackson focuses is one that Rawls did not examine ______ in A Theory of Justice
The case on which Jackson focuses is one that Rawls did not examine ______ in A Theory of Justice
The burden of proof lies on the ______ to argue that the need for trust, civility, and security does not conflict with religious liberty.
The burden of proof lies on the ______ to argue that the need for trust, civility, and security does not conflict with religious liberty.
Rawls's theory privileges the security of everyone's fundamental interests, depicting a social world where religiously-founded claims on public institutions are honored only when they are ______ claims.
Rawls's theory privileges the security of everyone's fundamental interests, depicting a social world where religiously-founded claims on public institutions are honored only when they are ______ claims.
The objection to Rawls presupposes a theory where religious people may legitimately assert claims on social institutions that some others cannot recognize as ______ claims.
The objection to Rawls presupposes a theory where religious people may legitimately assert claims on social institutions that some others cannot recognize as ______ claims.
Honoring claims that some cannot recognize as just may be seen as illegitimate exercises of ______ power.
Honoring claims that some cannot recognize as just may be seen as illegitimate exercises of ______ power.
The ready availability of knowledge about the fairness of claims on public institutions provides the basis for the mutual respect and ______ that would obtain among citizens.
The ready availability of knowledge about the fairness of claims on public institutions provides the basis for the mutual respect and ______ that would obtain among citizens.
One criticism of Rawls is that his liberalism doesn't acknowledge religion as an intellectual resource for public use, failing to see the potential for religious ______ in political discussions.
One criticism of Rawls is that his liberalism doesn't acknowledge religion as an intellectual resource for public use, failing to see the potential for religious ______ in political discussions.
Critics argue Rawls neglects religious goods as public assets, suggesting his theory operates on the premise that religion is a politically divisive ______.
Critics argue Rawls neglects religious goods as public assets, suggesting his theory operates on the premise that religion is a politically divisive ______.
According to critics, the value Rawls assigns to religion stems from individual and private satisfaction, rather than from the intellectual or ______ benefits it offers to political society.
According to critics, the value Rawls assigns to religion stems from individual and private satisfaction, rather than from the intellectual or ______ benefits it offers to political society.
Rawls builds his concept of justice from widely accepted and deeply held ideas about freedom, equality, and fairness, avoiding the question of whether these ideas are ______.
Rawls builds his concept of justice from widely accepted and deeply held ideas about freedom, equality, and fairness, avoiding the question of whether these ideas are ______.
The argument suggests that Rawlsian liberalism overlooks religion as a publicly employable intellectual ______.
The argument suggests that Rawlsian liberalism overlooks religion as a publicly employable intellectual ______.
The third criticism asserts that Rawls' theory is based on the idea that religion is politically ______.
The third criticism asserts that Rawls' theory is based on the idea that religion is politically ______.
Rawls founds justice as fairness on fundamental intuitive ideas about freedom, equality, and fairness present in the public ______ of a democratic society.
Rawls founds justice as fairness on fundamental intuitive ideas about freedom, equality, and fairness present in the public ______ of a democratic society.
Aquinas used theological premises to justify the state's right to execute ______, suggesting he saw religious arguments as justifications for public power.
Aquinas used theological premises to justify the state's right to execute ______, suggesting he saw religious arguments as justifications for public power.
Rawls refrains from addressing whether his concept of justice, or the ideas that inform it, are ultimately ______.
Rawls refrains from addressing whether his concept of justice, or the ideas that inform it, are ultimately ______.
John Courtney Murray believed that the Declaration on Religious Liberty opposed the ______ of religion, a view Rawls was accused of holding.
John Courtney Murray believed that the Declaration on Religious Liberty opposed the ______ of religion, a view Rawls was accused of holding.
Murray argued that religious freedom includes the right to point out the ______ relevance of religious belief.
Murray argued that religious freedom includes the right to point out the ______ relevance of religious belief.
Murray's interpretation of the Declaration suggests a rejection of the notion that religion is a purely ______ affair.
Murray's interpretation of the Declaration suggests a rejection of the notion that religion is a purely ______ affair.
According to Murray, religious freedom encompasses the right to emphasize the ______ impact of religious belief.
According to Murray, religious freedom encompasses the right to emphasize the ______ impact of religious belief.
Murray's reasoning suggests that individuals have a moral right to express the ______ relevance of their religious beliefs.
Murray's reasoning suggests that individuals have a moral right to express the ______ relevance of their religious beliefs.
Murray believed the Declaration implicitly rejected the idea that 'the church belongs in the ______.'
Murray believed the Declaration implicitly rejected the idea that 'the church belongs in the ______.'
Murray's note implies that denying individuals the right to voice the social relevance of religious belief would be a violation of their ______ freedom.
Murray's note implies that denying individuals the right to voice the social relevance of religious belief would be a violation of their ______ freedom.
The core of Murray's argument links the practice of religion to the act of articulating its relevance to ______.
The core of Murray's argument links the practice of religion to the act of articulating its relevance to ______.
Murray's premise suggests that restricting religious expression is akin to violating a moral ______.
Murray's premise suggests that restricting religious expression is akin to violating a moral ______.
Murray infers that a passage from the Declaration had the claim that religion is not a purely private affair ______ in it.
Murray infers that a passage from the Declaration had the claim that religion is not a purely private affair ______ in it.
Flashcards
Objection 1 to Rawls
Objection 1 to Rawls
The claim that Rawls's theory lacks religious grounding for its principles of justice, making it unacceptable to Christians.
Objection 2 to Rawls
Objection 2 to Rawls
The assertion that Rawls restricts religious arguments in political discussions, even on topics less critical than justice principles.
Objection 3 to Rawls
Objection 3 to Rawls
The argument that Rawls incorrectly believes religion is divisive in politics, thus overlooking its potential for social unity.
Richard Rorty
Richard Rorty
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Strength of Rawls' Theory
Strength of Rawls' Theory
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Key balance in Rawls' theory
Key balance in Rawls' theory
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Conflicting values
Conflicting values
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Rawls' Lack of Religious Arguments
Rawls' Lack of Religious Arguments
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Restriction on Religious Arguments
Restriction on Religious Arguments
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Religion as a Civil Liability
Religion as a Civil Liability
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Fundamental Intuitive Ideas
Fundamental Intuitive Ideas
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Justice as Fairness
Justice as Fairness
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Truth Question Avoidance
Truth Question Avoidance
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Religious Arguments in Politics
Religious Arguments in Politics
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State Authority Over Heretics
State Authority Over Heretics
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Heresy and Idolatry Threats
Heresy and Idolatry Threats
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Burden of Proof
Burden of Proof
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Liberal Democracy
Liberal Democracy
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Religiously-Founded Claims
Religiously-Founded Claims
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Illegitimate Exercise of Public Power
Illegitimate Exercise of Public Power
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Mutual Respect and Trust
Mutual Respect and Trust
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Overlapping Consensus
Overlapping Consensus
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Priority of the Right
Priority of the Right
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Motivational Priority (of the Good)
Motivational Priority (of the Good)
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Epistemic Priority (of the Good)
Epistemic Priority (of the Good)
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Content Determines Right vs. Good
Content Determines Right vs. Good
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Endorsing Right and Good
Endorsing Right and Good
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Other Priorities of the Right
Other Priorities of the Right
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Priority in Political Argument
Priority in Political Argument
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Difference in source vs. Outcome
Difference in source vs. Outcome
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Right in political arguments
Right in political arguments
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Murray's View on Religious Freedom
Murray's View on Religious Freedom
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Privatization of Religion
Privatization of Religion
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Moral Prohibitions on Religious Arguments
Moral Prohibitions on Religious Arguments
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Moral Right to Practice Religion
Moral Right to Practice Religion
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Social Relevance of Religious Belief
Social Relevance of Religious Belief
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Moral Right & Obligation
Moral Right & Obligation
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Violate No Moral Obligation
Violate No Moral Obligation
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Implicit Claims
Implicit Claims
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Premises and Conclusions
Premises and Conclusions
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Socially Relevant
Socially Relevant
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Study Notes
- Liberal political theorists are often accused of "privatizing" religion, especially targeting philosopher John Rawls's work.
- The study aims to determine if Rawls does privatize religion to the extent claimed and if the criticisms of his privatization of religion are sustainable.
Privatization of Religion
- Liberalism emerged as a settlement to religious wars after the Protestant Reformation, succeeding by "privatizing" and excluding religion from politics.
- Contemporary liberals are criticized for privatizing religion, with moral theologians particularly vocal against them.
- Three main objections to Rawls's work associate it with the charge of privatization:
- Rawls's theory lacks religious grounds for the two justice principles.
- Rawls does not allow religious arguments in political discourse.
- Rawls mistakenly sees religion only as divisive in politics, ignoring its potential for unity.
Objectives
- The first objective is to argue the three objections misunderstand the implications of Rawls's liberalism.
- Rawls would allow religious argument a greater role in the political life of just liberal democracies.
- The second objective is that Rawls's theory effectively reconciles conflicting political values like liberty/equality and self-interest/impartiality.
- Rawls's restrictions on religious political discourse stem from balancing citizens' interests in their own good versus preserving civility and mutual respect.
- Critics need to justify a different balance of values or argue liberalism isn't committed to all values Rawls reconciles, since current arguments are inadequate.
- Accusations that liberalism privatizes religion vary, and critics rarely define "privatization."
- To clarify the concept, Rawls's theory should be put in contrast with Thomas Aquinas's political thought.
Aquinas Stance on Religion
- Aquinas considered religion and associated goods as "public goods."
- Public goods meant they should be realized in and participated in by political society.
- Aquinas believed religion provided intellectual and moral resources for society and that unity of religious belief was vital for political society's strength.
- Aquinas held political power could licitly suppress heresy and promote religious truth.
- The charge that liberalism privatizes religion means it fails to regard religious goods as either intellectual resources in political argument or as social goods effecting harmony.
Rawls's Justice Principles
- Rawls's foundational intuitive ideas about freedom, equality, and fairness are rooted in the public culture of a democratic society.
- Refuses to address the “truth” of constructing justice around these ideas.
- The desire to achieve cooperation is not enough to convince Christians to adopt principles of justice.
- Rawls's recent pragmatic turn prevents him from offering religious reasons.
- Christians must have religious reasons for adopting principles of justice
Timothy Jackson's Case
- Christians need not demand love-based political arrangements from others, but they must act out of love themselves.
- Acting with "less virtue" or surrendering love violates their integrity.
- Jackson does not object to the veil of ignorance preventing parties from knowing/acting on religious motivations.
- Jackson concedes it "may sometimes be permissible" to use cognitive impoverishment but argues the employment of such a criterion is not always permissible.
- Christians should have theological reasons for accepting and acting on selected principles.
Diversity in Overlapping Consensus
- Jackson's objection is based on two premises with one arguing Christians must always "accept a particular political arrangement out of love".
- The other premise is that justice as fairness "cannot be accepted out of Christian love".
- It is logically possible to accept Rawls's propositions because God commands it.
- Rawls may only offer pragmatic arguments on the conception of justice, however it does not mean one could not adopt it for different reasons.
- In an overlapping consensus, participants accept justice as fairness "from within their own point of view".
- Catholics regard the principle of toleration as a principle accepted on theological grounds; they would regard Rawls's two principles as such.
- The essential elements of the political conception are theorems at which comprehensive doctrines intersect or converge.
The Justificatory Priority of the Right
- Accepting basic intuitive ideas or laws due to a divine command derives force from someone’s conception of "the good".
- Claims about the right would be based from claims about the good and is contrary to Rawls's claim to justice. claims about "the right" is misplaced if it is motivated by comprehensive moral commitments
Limitations of Rawls's View
- The congestion of the right and the good might express a concern of the social psychology
- Jackson notes the case is one that Rawls did not examine systematically
- Reflecting on this concern would not reveal an epistemic or motivational priority of the right to the good; claims about the right are accepted based on claims about the good.
Alternate Perspective
- It does not follow that the priority Rawls asserts has been compromised for the right.
- Claims about an agent's obligations under justice, does not follow that the claim about the right or good is the claims propositional content, therefore Jackson presents no obliteration between claims.
- There must be the right priority in political argument and cannot be governed about "the good" as it is specified by justice as fairness.
- Rawls privatizes religion by excluding religious reasons from the justification of principles and constrains the justification use.
Religious Arguments In Political Discourse
- Rawls introduces "free public reason," identified with common sense, public knowledge, and non-controversial science.
- This has led to the claim that all political debate must be conducted within limits.
- Rawls privatizes religious values because it doesn't allow religious discourse in topics and it would be considered religiously objectionable.
- There is a claim that privatizing religion is odds with religious freedom endorsed since Vatican II
Public Reason And Religious Liberty
- If such a private understanding is a precondition the contemporary catholic cannot sign on to Vat II religious freedoms.
- It is necessary to determine whether the passing from the Declaration has the imitations that Hollenbach takes to have
- It's implications are limited, as it could only show what effects on account of public reason and is consequences for the activities of such bodies (Churches).
Defending Religious Liberty
- This has to say that the religion is of religious societies and institution, Langan does not cite he Vatican doc but perhaps he has it in mind.
- Cannot be sustained, a second objection is this use of Declartion turbs in the word “Prohibited” it asserts religion includes freedom.
Rawls on Moral Obligations
- It is important to consider whether Rawls would agree with Requierments but see Rawls.
- Method to requirements basic institutions understood that includes duty should maintain public civility
- Requires there be a moral strictures, ponting out it being free of legal prohibitions.
Pluralism and the Political Consensus
- A religious remark could be the the Declartion of Religion has privatization.
- Implicity rejected her is the Notion the church belongs society religious re freedom has beliefs.
- This remark has interpretatiin someones deny of legitimate public reason.
How can sucn denail can be claim by the declartions legal sanctions accept the following that
- They have moral right 2 practice
- Includes society re- believe.
More on Pluralism
- The argument is not obvously sound or not obviously believing one has religious beliefs social imlications.
- Sound is problematic, there are some people believe that the moral is that in conflict with liberal and interset point out in social of these that for with
Constrained But Not Prohibited
- Public reason and moral on religious argument and is said that
- In what so, not clear
- The claim in sense of is
- Has given and to
- It said if has and can cannot they not they
- The can in is can be said some
- May can
- Is to
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Description
This note discusses objections to Rawls's work, including concerns about religious grounds and privatization. It highlights the role of public argument in his liberalism and emphasizes the reconciliation of liberty and equality. The note also touches on Rorty's interpretation of Rawlsian liberalism.
