Suchergebnisse

THAT GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS AND OFFICIALS SHOULD BE NEUTRAL REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION AND THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGIOUS BELIEF IS A COMMONPLACE IN AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT. THE RELATED IDEA THAT PERSONS HAVE A MORAL DUTY TO EMPLOY SECULAR REASONS AND ARGUMENTS WHEN PARTICIPATING IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE IS ALSO WIDELY HELD. THUS, WHEN PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC POLITICAL DISCOURSE, THE RELIGIOUS BELIEVER HAS A MORAL DUTY TO BOLSTER HIS RELIGIOUS REASONING AND ARGUMENTS WITH SECULAR REASONS. IN THIS ESSAY, THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT THERE IS GOOD REASON TO DOUBT THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE A MORAL DUTY TO REFRAIN FROM EMPLOYING ONLY RELIGIOUS REASONS IN PUBLIC POLITICAL DISCOURSE. IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE SUCH A RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THE ALLEGED DUTY HAS A CONSEQUENCE THAT WOULD BE EPISTEMICALLY DISASTROUS IF WIDELY ADOPTED AND, MOREOVER, THE ALLEGED DUTY WOULD LIKELY HAVE THE PERNICIOUS EFFORT OF DISCOURAGING POLITICAL PARTICIPATION.

Berkowitz reviews Reason: Why Liberals Will Win the Battle for America by Robert B. Reich.