Philosophy

» RLSharp - Good Points

I agree with the idea of being open-minded rather than empty-minded. First, we simply can't forget who we are, not because it is an imperative but because doing so is impossible. I can't forget that I am male or that I am an American, and I'm not sure that I SHOULD forget those things.

Second, I think we can remember who we are while still recognizing who other people are. A lot of people put this in terms of tolerance, but respect might be better. I can tolerate someone without respecting him or her. But in doing so, I could still condemn the action. Respect requires more than tolerance, and I think we can teach people to do this.

Third, I could envisage creating a society through Rawls's methods in a way that still tramples rights. Suppose I simply lack the imagination to realize the variety of things people might wish to do in a society. So I create a society that I THINK everyone would like, i.e. one where I don't care where I'm placed. However, the rights I create don't protect activities that I could never see myself or anyone else doing. In that case, I could create a society that prevents people from doing legitimate things, but not because I am malicious. Rather I would do so precisely because I am ignorant of such activities (and yes, I'm using 'ignorant' on purpose, as a reminder of Rawls).

-- posted by RLSharp