Single Idea 22263

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / b. Liberal individualism]

Full Idea

For the liberal concept of justice we must stand to our circumstances always at a certain distance, whether as transcendental subject in the case of Kant, or as unencumbered selves in the case of Rawls.

Clarification

By 'unencumbered' he means without social commitments

Gist of Idea

Liberal justice means the withdrawal of the self, as transcendental or as unencumbered

Source

Michael J. Sandel (Procedural republic and unencumbered self [1984], 'Transcendental')

Book Reference

Sandel,Michael J.: 'Public Philosophy: Essays' [Harvard 2005], p.163


A Reaction

Maybe the only way to be unencumbered is to be transcendental. There is an insecure feeling that if the self becomes immanent or encumbered it thereby loses its objective rationality. You wake up one morning and find you are a nazi?