On Rawls's The Law of Peoples and the Toleration of Decent Hierarchical Societies
Author
Oberdick, WilliamIssue Date
2018Advisor
Christiano, Thomas
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The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
In the dissertation I offer an interpretation and assessment of Rawls’s The Law of Peoples and his position regarding the toleration of decent hierarchical societies (DHSs). I reject interpretations according to which Rawls maintains that DHSs have legitimate domestic political institutions and interpretations according to which the main reasons for toleration are pragmatic. Instead, I argue that DHSs are intended to be understood as reasonable, stable, and nearly well-ordered political societies, and that the grounds for toleration are all the grounds implied by this idea. I situate Rawls’s development of criteria for a DHS as part of his overall aim to develop a complete liberal political conception of justice, and in explicating Rawls’s constructivism I emphasize that Rawls has taken no official stand that liberal political principles are universally valid. This opens some room for the toleration of DHSs. The interpretation I develop also emphasizes that for Rawls “toleration” means much more than non-interference. It also includes a commitment to participation with DHSs in international institutions. But this opens his position up to a number of objections. Participation with DHSs may have external effects that makes regarding DHSs as equal participating members in good standing of a Society of Peoples impossible.Type
textElectronic Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.Degree Level
doctoralDegree Program
Graduate CollegePhilosophy