Justificatory Liberalism: An Essay on Epistemology and Political TheoryOxford University Press, 1996 M03 14 - 392 pages Gerald Gaus draws on current work in epistemology and cognitive psychology to defend a modest version of cognitive relativism. Building on this theory of personal justification, he asks, "How do we justify moral and political principles to others?" Here, the "populist" proposal put forward by "political liberals"--that the assent of all reasonable citizens must be obtained--is considered and rejected. Because reasonable people often ignore excellent reasons, moral and political principles can be considered conclusively justified, even in the face of some reasonable dissent. Conclusive justification, however, is difficult to achieve, and Gaus acknowledges that most of our public justifications are inconclusive. He then addresses the question of how citizens can adjudicate their inconclusive public justifications. The rule of law, liberal democracy and limited judicial review are defended as elements of a publicly justified umpiring procedure. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 54
Page 6
... truths ? " " What is the nature of moral properties ? " ) have been the staple of metaethics , as well as much normative ethics . 14 Here I wish to focus instead on " How do we justify our moral judgments , both to ourselves and others ...
... truths ? " " What is the nature of moral properties ? " ) have been the staple of metaethics , as well as much normative ethics . 14 Here I wish to focus instead on " How do we justify our moral judgments , both to ourselves and others ...
Page 7
... truth . For a moral realist , a theory of justified belief would provide the standards for judging whether or not something is true ; Brink , for example , embraces a moral epistemology that explicates jus- tified belief in terms of ...
... truth . For a moral realist , a theory of justified belief would provide the standards for judging whether or not something is true ; Brink , for example , embraces a moral epistemology that explicates jus- tified belief in terms of ...
Page 26
... truth because they are caused by a process that reliably causes true belief , normative beliefs could be said to track value or rightness be- cause they are reliably caused by a process that yields correct evalua- tions.30 Alexis ...
... truth because they are caused by a process that reliably causes true belief , normative beliefs could be said to track value or rightness be- cause they are reliably caused by a process that yields correct evalua- tions.30 Alexis ...
Page 27
... truth , but it seems perfectly intelligible that one can have a number of justified but false beliefs . 33 Although we should be wary of epistemologists ' exotic tales in theoriz- ing about justified beliefs , brains in vats and evil ...
... truth , but it seems perfectly intelligible that one can have a number of justified but false beliefs . 33 Although we should be wary of epistemologists ' exotic tales in theoriz- ing about justified beliefs , brains in vats and evil ...
Page 34
You have reached your viewing limit for this book.
You have reached your viewing limit for this book.
Contents
3 | |
15 | |
PART IIPUBLIC JUSTIFICATION | 111 |
PART IIIPOLITICAL JUSTIFICATION | 193 |
LIBERAL PRINCIPLES IN A WORLD OF STATES | 296 |
NOTES | 303 |
BIBLIOGRAPHY | 340 |
INDEX | 363 |
Other editions - View all
Justificatory Liberalism: An Essay on Epistemology and Political Theory Gerald F. Gaus Limited preview - 1996 |
Justificatory Liberalism: An Essay on Epistemology and Political Theory Gerald F. Gaus No preview available - 1996 |
Common terms and phrases
adjudicate akrasia Alf's Alf's belief Amos Tversky analysis argued argument authority basic belief system believe ẞ Betty's Cambridge University Press chap citizens claim cognitive coherence theories coherentism commitment to public conception consensus Constitution Daniel Kahneman defeated Democracy democratic disputes epistemic epistemological Ethics Federalist Papers foundationalism Gaus Gibbard Ibid idea inconclusive individual inference insist interpretation intuitions issues judgments justifica justificatory liberalism justified belief justified principles law-making institution legislation liberal principles Logic moral beliefs Moral Realism Nisbett open justification openly justified Oxford person perspective Philosophy plausible pluralism Political Liberalism problem procedures proposal public justification public reason publicly justified R₁ R₂ Rawls reasons and beliefs reflective equilibrium reject relativism requires rule of law seems self-interest sense simply Social Choice social choice theory sort suppose system of beliefs system of reasons theory of justification tion truth umpire Value and Justification victoriously justified voting
Popular passages
Page 220 - But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.
Page 166 - There is the greatest difference between presuming an opinion to be true, because, with every opportunity for contesting it, it has not been refuted, and assuming its truth for the purpose of not permitting its refutation. Complete liberty of contradicting and disproving our opinion is the very condition which justifies us in assuming its tmth for purposes of action; and on no other terms can a being with human faculties have any rational assurance of being right.
Page 56 - A certain town is served by two hospitals. In the larger hospital about 45 babies are born each day, and in the smaller hospital about 15 babies are born each day. As you know, about 50% of all babies are boys.
Page 36 - Now, the skilful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brainattic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it, there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have...
Page 171 - The only part of the conduct of any one, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute.
Page 102 - A rule is amended if it yields an inference we are unwilling to accept; an inference is rejected if it violates a rule we are unwilling to amend.
Page 114 - This was our paradox: no course of action could be determined by a rule, because every course of action can be made out to accord with the rule. The answer was: if everything can be made out to accord with the rule, then it can also be made out to conflict with it.
Page 195 - Civil law is to every subject those rules which the Commonwealth hath commanded him, by word, writing, or other sufficient sign of the will, to make use of for the distinction of right and wrong; that is to say, of what is contrary and what is not contrary to the rule.