Modus Vivendi Liberalism - Theory and Practice

"A central task in contemporary political philosophy is to identify principles governing political life where citizens disagree deeply on important questions of value and, more generally, about the proper ends of life. The distinctively liberal response to this challenge insists that the state should as far as possible avoid relying on such contested issues in its basic structure and deliberations. David McCabe critically surveys influential defenses of the liberal solution and advocates modus vivendi liberalism as an alternative defense of the liberal state. Acknowledging that the modus vivendi approach does not provide the deep moral consensus that many liberals demand, he defends the liberal state as an acceptable compromise among citizens who will continue to see it as less than ideal. His book will interest a wide range of readers in political philosophy and political theory"--Provided by publisher.

List of contents

Part I. Starting Assumptions: 1. The liberal project; 2. Pluralism and well-being; Part II. The Failure of the Main Arguments: 3. Liberal autonomy: the universalist case; 4. Liberal autonomy: the particularist case; 5. Political liberalism; 6. Pluralist liberalism; Part III. Modus Vivendi Liberalism: 7. The case for modus vivendi liberalism; 8. The challenge of gender equality; 9. Compulsory education in the MVL state; 10. The limits of modus vivendi liberalism.

About the author

David McCabe is Associate Professor in Philosophy at Colgate University. His previous publications include a number of articles within books and journals on social and political philosophy.

Product details

• Authors: David McCabe, David (Colgate University Mccabe, McCabe David
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 12.06.2014
• EAN: 9781107417366
• ISBN: 978-1-107-41736-6
• No. of pages: 266
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; PHILOSOPHY / Political, Social & political philosophy, Political science & theory, social and political philosophy, Political science and theory, Centrist democratic ideologies