Abstract

RUDISILL, Jhon. Modus vivendi, overlapping consensus and stability. discus.filos [online]. 2010, vol.11, n.17, pp.87-96. ISSN 0124-6127.

In this paper, I show how the political theory of a non-liberal giant of the western philosophy canon, Hobbes, can be interpreted as having a commitment to some form of neutrality. In recognizing the role neutrality plays in Hobbes's thought we come to see that a neutrality requirement is not exclusive to liberalism. Beyond this, however, I intend to show that consideration of Hobbes in this context reveals certain helpful points of comparison with Rawls's later work that raise concerns about the viability of his political liberalism. I argue that Rawls's political liberalism, while not a modus vivendi solution to political justification, is ill suited for the securing stability.

Keywords : human actions; imperatives; Logic; moral principles; rules; pragmatics; verificationist.

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