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Full Idea
A legitimate system is one which reconciles the two universal principles of impartiality and reasonable partiality so that no one can object that his interests are not being accorded sufficient weight or that the demands on him are excessive.
Gist of Idea
A legitimate system is one accepted as both impartial and reasonably partial
Source
Thomas Nagel (Equality and Partiality [1991], Ch.4)
Book Ref
Nagel,Thomas: 'Equality and Partiality' [OUP 1995], p.38
A Reaction
This seems an appealing principle, and a nice attempt at stating the core of Kantian liberalism. It is obviously influenced by Scanlon's contractualist view, in the idea that 'no one can object', because everyone sees the justification.
| 6479 | Noninterference requires justification as much as interference does [Nagel] |
| 6446 | In ethics we abstract from our identity, but not from our humanity [Nagel] |
| 6448 | A legitimate system is one accepted as both impartial and reasonably partial [Nagel] |
| 6447 | Game theory misses out the motivation arising from the impersonal standpoint [Nagel] |
| 6477 | I can only universalise a maxim if everyone else could also universalise it [Nagel] |
| 6450 | Morality must be motivating, and not because of pre-moral motives [Nagel] |
| 6478 | Democracy is opposed to equality, if the poor are not a majority [Nagel] |