Q VIII

Q VIII

by Christine Bindal -
Number of replies: 0

1)    Williams suggests the Basic Legitimation Demand as a criterion that needs to be meet by the state instead of presupposed normative moral principles. In my understanding of the text this considers the demand of individuals as equal. But is equality itself not a moral claim that is presupposed?

2)    Williams highlights the complexity of justice as being an epistemological factor, he questions the universal existence of legitimacy and argues rather that the legitimacy of states and power is dependend of time. Legitimacy seems therefore not the most important question in his theory but rather the presupposed integration of individuals in the political sphere and how given this integration, justice can be achieved. The questions attacked by Rawls and Williams seems therefore different, since Rawls is arguing for universal principles of justice and Williams explores how to create justice given pluralistic principles. Can justice in Williams opinion only be demanded  on a domestic level? How to justify the states borders and not cosmopolitan demands?