New book: Public Reason and Political Autonomy

Public Reason and Political Autonomy

Realizing the Ideal of a Civic People

by Blain Neufeld

(Routledge, 2022)

194 pages

Description

This book advances a novel justification for the idea of "public reason": citizens within diverse societies can realize the ideal of shared political autonomy, despite their adherence to different religious and philosophical views, by deciding fundamental political questions with "public reasons." Public reasons draw upon or are derived from ecumenical political ideas, such as toleration and equal citizenship, and mutually acceptable forms of reasoning, like those of the sciences. This book explains that if citizens share equal political autonomy—and thereby constitute "a civic people" - they will not suffer from alienation or domination and can enjoy relations of civic friendship. Moreover, it contends that the ideal of shared political autonomy cannot be realized by alternative accounts of public justification that eschew any necessary role for public reasons. In addition to explaining how the ideal of political autonomy justifies the idea of public reason, this book presents a new analysis of the relation between public reason and "ideal theory": by engaging in "public reasoning," citizens help create a just society that can secure the free compliance of all. It also explores the distinctive policy implications of the ideal of political autonomy for gender equality, families, children, and education. 

Contents [Preview]

Introduction

1. Political Liberalism and Public Reason: The Main Elements

2. The Idea of a Civic People: Shared Political Autonomy and Public Reason

3. Public Reason and Ideal Theory: Acceptability, Compliance, and the Pursuit of Justice

4. Political Liberalism and Families: The Basic Structure, Gender Equality, and Children

5. Citizenship Education and Public Reason: Political Autonomy and Non-Domination

Conclusion

Blain Neufeld is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Many of Blain Neufeld's papers are available here.