PHL283H5 Lecture Notes - Fetus, Abortion Law, Fundamental Justice
Document Summary
Citizens of modern, pluralistic democracies hold different views about how they ought to live and what they ought to value. In rawls" language, they hold different comprehensive doctrines and lack agreement about which comprehensive doctrine is right or best. Attempts to answer how we should live, what we should value, who we should admire, in a comprehensive and systematic way. Reasonable accepts the fact of pluralism and a willingness to live and cooperate with others with whom one disagrees. Unreasonable leads adherents to reject idea of cooperation with those with whom they disagree. Political arguments and laws are justified only when they appeal to public reason. Normative concept about how we ought to debate in the public sphere and attempt to justify laws. Norms that apply to all members of society should only appeal to reasons and arguments that those with conflicting yet reasonable doctrines can accept. Facts and scientific evidence that are clear.
