Public use of reason in a comparative perspective : John Rawls and Jürgen Habermas
Author
Aydil, İsmail
Advisor
Çırakman, Aslı
Date
2003Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
This thesis analyzes public use of reason in a comparative perspective
concerning John Rawls and Jürgen Habermas’s approaches. Public reason is
important in constitutional democracies to define the relations between the state and
the citizens and their relations to each other. Rawls and Habermas are known to
provide major concepts in deliberative democracy. Their interpretations of similar
concepts and their evaluation of similar ideas brings them to a fruitful debate
concerning the future of deliberative democracy in general.
In this thesis the idea of public reason is presented from the point of view of
John Rawls. The philosophical roots of the idea of public reason are examined.
Habermas’s insights concerning public use of reason is analyzed. Finally the debate between Rawls and Habermas concerning the idea of public reason is presented. This
thesis aims to indicate the importance of public reason in the context of democratic
thought. It also analyzes an important debate that might contribute to new
developments in the future of theory of deliberative democracy. In conclusion this
thesis argues that in a pluralistic society public use of reason enables us to reach a
legitimate ground for deliberative democracy without lapsing into politics of interest
and power politics.
Keywords
Public ReasonDiscourse Ethics
Overlapping Consensus
Political Liberalism
Deliberative Democracy
Jürgen Habermas
John Rawls