Two Worries About Respect

Abstract:     
This is the penultimate version of a paper originally presented at the conference, 'Value, Respect and Well-Being: Themes from the work of Joseph Raz,' held at the Manchester Centre for Political Theory in May 2008. The paper explores two problems about the familiar ideal of respect for persons. First, how can we explain respect as a distinct moral and political duty? Second, how can we contain unreasonable demands that we respect other's views or allegiances as necessary aspects of respecting them as persons? The problem is approached by testing some of the leading arguments in Joseph Raz's Seeley Lectures. It has been lightly revised in light of comments received from those thanked in the note.

Keywords: Respect, duties, impartiality, multiculturalism, Thomas Hobbes, Immanuel Kant, Joseph Raz

Working Paper Series