Deliberative Perfectionism: Why We Can and Should Talk about the Good


Autoria(s): Bonotti, Matteo
Data(s)

01/09/2015

Resumo

In contemporary political theory, perfectionists believe that the state should promote substantive conceptions of the good through its legislation. Supporters of neutrality, instead, claim that the state should refrain from doing so. In this article I analyse perfectionism in relation to Jürgen Habermas’ theory of discourse and deliberative politics (1996) and critique Habermas’ distinction between ‘ethical’ and ‘moral’ discourses (1984, 1990). By relating Habermas’ theory to George Sher’s account of perfectionism (1997), I argue that we can establish the meta-ethical grounds for a model of deliberation encompassing ethical matters (that is, questions concerning the good life) not confined to the limits of specific communities. I conclude by arguing that ethical deliberation is not only feasible but also desirable. Given the fact of ethical pluralism, and in order to show respect towards their fellow citizens, political perfectionists ought to be ready to show how their ethical claims (which they want to see translated into state policy) relate to deeper meta-ethical human goals on which we can ideally find a consensus through deliberation.

Identificador

http://pure.qub.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/deliberative-perfectionism-why-we-can-and-should-talk-about-the-good(19614a2c-3ac1-400f-94da-fd9c2048e140).html

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0191453715568920

Idioma(s)

eng

Direitos

info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess

Fonte

Bonotti , M 2015 , ' Deliberative Perfectionism: Why We Can and Should Talk about the Good ' Philosophy and Social Criticism , vol 41 , no. 7 , pp. 637-653 . DOI: 10.1177/0191453715568920

Tipo

article