Public Reason, Conflict Containment, and Sincerity

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The theory of public reason assumes a social condition of permanent pluralism and requires that public decisions be justified to all qualified parties. Because of this feature, public reason is a procedure of conflict containment. In its traditional form, its strategy consists in separating the conflicting worldviews from public decision making. The focus of public justification is on public values and principles, i.e. shared values on which ground the participants justify to each other public rules. It is not a procedure of conflict management (people engaged in public reason are united by civic friendship and cooperate, although divided by worldviews, and, therefore, are not inimical to each other), nor a procedure of conflict resolution (the background supposition of public reason is that people will always be divided by conflicting worldviews). The traditional form of public reason goes together with some notions intended to strengthen stable social cooperation, like the duty of civility and like the duty of sincerity (Zelič, 2012). The duty of sincerity implies that citizens are sincere when they justify public norms to each others. Such a notion is intended to support civic friendship among citizens frequently deeply divided by their worldviews.

Some criticisms say that the structure of public reason based on shared values is more divisive than it would be a form of social cooperation that allows the possibility for each to make use of all the reasons that she endorses in the process of public justification of norms. In debates internal to public reasons philosophers, this is the source of division among those who endorse the consensus view (public justification is based on shared reasons) and the convergence view championed by Gerald Gaus (public reason is based on the convergence of reasons and different evaluative standards).

My position, that I am not going to defend in this paper, is that public reason must be based on shared reasons as the core of justification. But the convergence strategy is allowed, as well, as an additional strategy that helps when shared reasons are not sufficient. This is particularly important in the case of justification to citizens who do not endorse the shared reasons, or claim that shared reasons has not an overriding status in public justification (usually called in the debates as ‘unreasonable’). In so far as unreasonable citizens are concerned, many say, as it would be said in the present terminology, that public reason in the consensus view ceases to be a form of conflict containment and becomes a form of sectarianism. I agree with the claim that public reason in its consensus form has a problem with unreasonable people. But it can continue to be a form of conflict containment even with unreasonable people in virtue of two resources. First, it is allowed to unreasonable citizens to enjoy of the same protection of rights as is the case with reasonable citizens. Second, it is possible to try to develop arguments with them based on specific justifications to them. This is done with the extension to the convergence structure of justification as an additional resource.

Still, she’s got a lot of spirit. I don’t know, what do you think? What!? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am a member of the Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan– What good is a reward if you ain’t around to use it? Besides, attacking that battle station ain’t my idea of courage. It’s more like…suicide.

You don’t believe in the Force, do you? Obi-Wan is here. The Force is with him. I call it luck. Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead. You can get a transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you’re going. What?! The Force is strong with this one. I have you now.

We hire people who want to make the best things in the world. -Steve Jobs

She must have hidden the plans in the escape pod. Send a detachment down to retrieve them, and see to it personally, Commander. There’ll be no one to stop us this time! You’re all clear, kid. Let’s blow this thing and go home! Partially, but it also obeys your commands.

• Dantooine. They’re on Dantooine.
• He is here.
• Don’t underestimate the Force.

I care. So, what do you think of her, Han? A tremor in the Force. The last time I felt it was in the presence of my old master. But with the blast shield down, I can’t even see! How am I supposed to fight? Obi-Wan is here. The Force is with him. But with the blast shield down, I can’t even see! How am I supposed to fight? You are a part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor! Take her away!

Revenge of the Sith

I can’t get involved! I’ve got work to do! It’s not that I like the Empire, I hate it, but there’s nothing I can do about it right now. It’s such a long way from here. Leave that to me. Send a distress signal, and inform the Senate that all on board were killed. I’m surprised you had the courage to take the responsibility yourself. No! Alderaan is peaceful. We have no weapons. You can’t possibly…

Your eyes can deceive you. Don’t trust them. He is here. What?! Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid. I’m trying not to, kid.

I’m trying not to, kid. I have traced the Rebel spies to her. Now she is my only link to finding their secret base. He is here. You are a part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor! Take her away! Dantooine. They’re on Dantooine.

 

Still, she’s got a lot of spirit. I don’t know, what do you think? What!? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am a member of the Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan– What good is a reward if you ain’t around to use it? Besides, attacking that battle station ain’t my idea of courage. It’s more like…suicide.

Hey, Luke! May the Force be with you. Kid, I’ve flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I’ve seen a lot of strange stuff, but I’ve never seen anything to make me believe there’s one all-powerful Force controlling everything. There’s no mystical energy field that controls my destiny. It’s all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense. Remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him. He is here. Ye-ha! I have traced the Rebel spies to her. Now she is my only link to finding their secret base.

You don’t believe in the Force, do you? Obi-Wan is here. The Force is with him. I call it luck. Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead. You can get a transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you’re going. What?! The Force is strong with this one. I have you now.

 

 

 

I need your help, Luke. She needs your help. I’m getting too old for this sort of thing. Oh God, my uncle. How am I ever gonna explain this? Hey, Luke! May the Force be with you. No! Alderaan is peaceful. We have no weapons. You can’t possibly… As you wish. Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead. You can get a transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you’re going.

I suggest you try it again, Luke. This time, let go your conscious self and act on instinct. Dantooine. They’re on Dantooine. You’re all clear, kid. Let’s blow this thing and go home! I’m surprised you had the courage to take the responsibility yourself. I’m trying not to, kid.

I care. So, what do you think of her, Han? Don’t underestimate the Force. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I am a member of the Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan– I have traced the Rebel spies to her. Now she is my only link to finding their secret base.

You’re all clear, kid. Let’s blow this thing and go home! But with the blast shield down, I can’t even see! How am I supposed to fight? Alderaan? I’m not going to Alderaan. I’ve got to go home. It’s late, I’m in for it as it is.