The Classical Tilt of Justificatory Liberalism

Abstract:     
The Order of Public Reason is Gerald Gaus's important new statement of justificatory liberalism. However, the book is much more than a refinement of Gaus's political philosophy, as it also attempts to explain and justify social morality. The initial purpose of this essay is to explain how the overall argument is meant to hang together. The paper also identifies four points at which the argument might be challenged, primarily as it relates to justificatory liberalism's "tilt" in favor of classical liberalism, as against social justice liberalism.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 10

Keywords: public justification, public reason, liberalism, justice, authority, morality

Accepted Paper Series