Therapeutic Politics: Rawls's Respect for Rousseau

Abstract

For nearly half a century democratic citizens have been preoccupied with the search for self-respect. Though classical liberalism places this question outside its purview and many commentators see in such a concern evidence of a “thin-skinned” political culture, John Rawls has recently provided serious arguments for the political relevance of self-respect. These arguments, we claim, are deeply indebted to the social and political theory of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, whose deep albeit underexamined influence on Rawls shows itself both in Rawls's conception of the social problem as well as in his solution to it. Rawls's belief that the provision of self-respect can solve the social problem is uniquely Rousseauan not only because of its emphasis on equality but also because it suggests political life can and must reconcile the conflicts between self and society at a fundamental level.

Theater of lies: The letter to D'Alembert and the tragedy of self‐deception

“…For more sympathetic views, seeGrant (2008) andMarso (1999).4 On the importance ofself-esteem, see E (229, 235, 243-245, 252, 264, 313). On its capacity to engender self-deception, see(Warner, 2022, forthcoming).5 On the question of self-esteem or self-respect, seeWarner and Zink (2016) andRawls (2007), pp. 247-248).…”

“…5 5 On the question of self‐esteem or self‐respect, see Warner and Zink (2016) and Rawls (2007), pp. 247–248).…”