公共理性至善论如何可能?——兼回应陈肖生

On the Possibility of Public Reason Perfectionism:Reply to Chen Xiaosheng

公共理性主张诉诸合理公民的共识来证成国家行为,这种观点与要求国家基于某些特殊美好生活观念而行动的至善论是相容的,因为不论是合理分歧的事实还是平等尊重的要求,都无法得出国家应该中立地对待所有美好生活观念的结论。不仅如此,罗尔斯的公共理性学说也没有完全否定至善论的主张。至善论可以通过放弃诉诸先天的哲学真理,采纳公共理性的基本框架获得新生。这种公共理性至善论不仅可以拓宽国家行为的道德基础,激活传统伦理资源,而且对于东亚社会具有特别的现实意义。

The idea of public reason is compatible with perfectionism,because neither its basic assumption,the fact of reasonable pluralism,nor its substantial moral basis,the requirement of equal respect,can defeatthe claim that state actions should be justified by appealing to some conceptions of good life.Furthermore,even Rawls’s idea of public reason does not constitute a radical anti-perfectionist theory.Perfectionism thus can beintegrated into the framework of public reason by abandoning its reliance on controversial philosophical truths.This public reason perfectionism has special meanings to East Asian societies,as it can broaden the moralbasis of state actions by activating many traditional ethical resources on the one hand;and can maintain socialcooperation on the other hand.