In Chapter 4 of his book "Political Liberalism", John Rawls aims to explore the issue of political stability in a liberal democratic society. Rawls argues that political stability can be achieved in a liberal society by adopting a political conception of justice that is suitable for a pluralistic society.
Rawls suggests that a political conception of justice is necessary in a pluralistic society because it allows people to come to a common understanding of justice, without requiring that they all share the same comprehensive moral or religious doctrines or worldviews. This means that people with different beliefs can still work together to create a just society, as long as they can agree on a set of basic principles that form the basis of justice.
Rawls argues that political stability requires that citizens have a sense of political justice, which can only be achieved if the basic principles of justice are publicly recognized and accepted by all citizens. This requires a public and ongoing dialogue about justice, and a willingness to compromise and make adjustments to the principles of justice as new challenges arise.
Rawls also discusses the role of public reason in a liberal society. He argues that public reason is essential for political stability because it allows citizens to engage in a common public dialogue about justice, and helps to ensure that political decisions are made on the basis of principles that are publicly acceptable.
Overall, Rawls emphasizes the importance of developing a political conception of justice that is suitable for a pluralistic society, and fostering a sense of political justice among citizens through ongoing public dialogue and the use of public reason.
The political conception of justice is a good idea, as long as people can maintain their cultural differences.
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