Relativism and the Foundations of Liberalism
Graham Long
Oct 2011 · St Andrews Studies in Philosophy and Public Affairs Book 3 · Andrews UK Limited
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275
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About this ebook
Moral relativism is often regarded as both fatally flawed and incompatible with liberalism. This book aims to show why such criticism is misconceived. First, it argues that relativism provides a plausible account of moral justification. Drawing on the contemporary relativist and universalist analyses of thinkers such as Harman, Nagel and Habermas, it develops an alternative account of ‘coherence relativism'. Turning to liberalism, the book argues that moral relativism is not only consistent with the claims of contemporary liberalism, but underpins those claims. The political liberalism of Rawls and Barry is founded on an unacknowledged commitment to a relativist account of justification. In combining these two elements, the book offers a new understanding of relativism, and demonstrates its relevance for contemporary liberal thought.
About the author
Dr Graham Long is a Lecturer in Politics at the University of Newcastle.
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