Constructing Overlapping Consensus in Liberal Democratic Regime

For Rawls, in order to have a stable and just society whose free and equal citizens are deeply divided by conflicting and even incommensurable doctrines, there is a need to posit a political conception of justice which will be a freestanding view and therefore independent but not conflicting with these comprehensive doctrines. This is the liberal political conception of justice as fairness. This political conception tries to seek social unity through political stability. It is seen in the idea of overlapping consensus. Discussions to critique, defend, and construct overlapping consensus are imperative. To substantiate, this discourse is to test the preconditions for justice as fairness and the main ideas of political liberalism. To pose: How are we to construct overlapping consensus given the fact of reasonable pluralism, that is, what could be the procedural mechanisms and substantive principles such Overlapping Consensus must have to articulate justice as fairness?

Autorentext

Alvin A. Sario is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Social Sciences in the Philippines. He teaches History of Philosophy, Philosophy of Literature, and Philosophy of Education. He regularly delivers philosophy lectures and papers in various universities and professional associations. His focus is social and political philosophy.