PHILO-120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Inclusive Democracy
1 Sep 2020
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Same-sex marriage: a philosophical defense, by ralph wedgwood. Wedgwood focuses his argument for same-sex marriage on the values of freedom, democracy, and equality. Premise 1: the values of freedom and democracy support the essential rationale of marriage. Premise 2: if we accept this rationale, then a ban on same-sex marriage conflicts with the value of equality. Premise 3: any political theory which conflicts with the value of equality are unjust. Conclusion: a ban on same-sex marriage is unjust. What are the essential features of marriage: the social meaning of marriage, shared assumptions that we have culturally when thinking of two people who are married. Preliminary answer: it cannot interfere with freedom or democracy. Freedom: government should respect and protect people"s power to lead their own lives in the light of their own beliefs, vales and choices (the government allows us to make choices for ourselves)
