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Full Idea
The liberal claim that the right is prior to the good means that individual rights cannot be sacrificed for the sake of the general good, and that the basic principles of justice cannot be premised on any particular vision of the good life.
Gist of Idea
Liberals say rights always come first, and justice is neutral on social values
Source
Michael J. Sandel (Procedural republic and unencumbered self [1984], 'The right')
Book Ref
Sandel,Michael J.: 'Public Philosophy: Essays' [Harvard 2005], p.157
A Reaction
In Rawls, the first thesis is chosen from a neutral position, and the second is all that is needed to affirm rights as basic. These two are the target of Sandel's communitarian claims. Utilitarians will make the sacrifices. No consensus on the good life!
| 22805 | Liberalism concerns rights, and communitarianism concerns the common good [Sandel, by Avineri/De-Shalit] |
| 22262 | Kant's moral law has no foundation - because that would undermine its priority [Sandel] |
| 22264 | Modern liberal rights in democracies protect individuals against the majority [Sandel] |
| 22261 | Liberals say rights always come first, and justice is neutral on social values [Sandel] |
| 22263 | Liberal justice means the withdrawal of the self, as transcendental or as unencumbered [Sandel] |