Character Quote by John Rawls
““As free persons, citizens recognize one another as having the moral power to have a conception of the good. This means that they do not view themselves as inevitably tied to the pursuit of the particular conception of the good and its final ends which they espouse at any given time. ””
About This Quote
Source Book: A Theory of Justice, 1971
Free citizens recognize each other’s moral capacity to conceive the good, not being bound to a single conception at any time.
In simple terms: People see each other's moral freedom to imagine different goods.
Key Takeaway
Respect diverse moral visions.
Themes
politics
morality
freedom
pluralism
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- public policy debates
- educational curricula
- community dialogues
- legislative drafting
Key Concepts
social contract
public reason
ethical autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies accommodate conflicting conceptions of the good?
- What limits exist in recognizing moral autonomy?
A Different Perspective
May overlook deep-rooted cultural differences.
