John Rawls and Political Liberalism

John Rawls and Political Liberalism

Describe in detail the role that the ideas of “overlapping consensus” and “comprehensive doctrine” play in Rawl’s theoretical answer to the fundamental question of Political Liberalism: “How is it possible for there to exist over time a just and stable society of free and equal citizens, who remain profoundly divided by reasonable religious, philosophical, and moral doctrines?” (Rawls 4). More specifically, how do these concepts help to preserve the traditional liberal values of freedom and equality? And do these concepts help to preserve stability within a pluralistic society?

John Rawls book, Political Liberalism, addresses the need for the reformation of the unjust democratic constitutional regime. According to Rawls, “there is at present no agreement on the way the basic institutions of constitutional democracy should be arranged if they are to satisfy the fair terms of cooperation between citizens regarded as free and equal,” (Rawls 4). In the real world, individuals all follow their own political values or “comprehensive doctrines” that are not in equilibrium with other values. These principles, not being compatible, cause problems in a weak democratic society. Thus, Rawls hopes to create a model for disagreements that could arise within liberalism, in which they could have stronger sense of common ground, or stronger overlapping consensus, which people can make reference. Therefore, Rawls calls for the use of certain theoretical intellectual tools. The first order intellectual tool to guide this reform is the principles of justice. Strong principles of justices will lead to a large “overlapping consensus” and better political values, thus resulting ...

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...because that which exists in the original position is fair. Moreover, there is a successful reform, in that a principle of justice (which is a tool of bringing about reform in an unjust democratic constitutional regime) survived the test of the original position.

Thus, the ideas of “overlapping consensus” and “comprehensive doctrines” do in fact play a significant role in his theoretical question: “How is it possible for there to exist over time a just and stable society of free and equal citizens, who remain profoundly divided by reasonable religious, philosophical, and moral doctrines?” (Rawls 4). Moreover, these concepts help to preserve the traditional liberal values of freedom and equality help to preserve stability within a pluralistic society.

Works Cited

Rawls, John. Political Liberalism. New York: Columbia University Press, 1996.