Argument Quote by John Rawls
“There are two kinds of comprehensive doctrines, religious and secular. Those of religious faith will say I give a veiled argument for secularism, and the latter will say I give a veiled argument for religion. I deny both. Each side presumes the basic ideas of constitutional democracy, so my suggestion is that we can make our political arguments in terms of public reason. Then we stand on common ground. That's how we can understand each other and cooperate.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Political philosophy lecture, 1995
He argues that both religious and secular arguments can be reframed in public reason to find common democratic ground.
In simple terms: Use shared public reason to bridge religious and secular views.
Key Takeaway
Seek common ground through public reason.
Themes
political discourse
religion
secularism
democracy
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- interfaith discussions
- constitutional reforms
- public forums
Key Concepts
public reason
constitutional democracy
dialogue
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we foster public reason in everyday politics?
- What barriers exist to shared democratic discourse?
A Different Perspective
Public reason may be hard to achieve in polarized societies.
