World History
Terrorism and the Philosophy of History - Now for a more philosophical look at modern history...
This is Andrew Fiala's article about liberal responses to terrorism in terms of the philosophy of history. It was originally published in the April 2002 issue of Essays in Philosophy.
From the site:
Those who utilize terror techniques in attacks against liberal states are not constrained by liberal ideas about justice in war.1 Indeed, many terrorists are intent on attacking liberalism itself because they view it as a rival "comprehensive doctrine."2 One wonders then, whether liberalism should be constrained by its own principles in responding to such attacks. I will discuss this issue in relation to John Rawls? ideas of justice in war, as found in his recent The Law of Peoples. I will indicate that, although Rawls? attempts to articulate an idea of international law that is "political" in his sense (that is not tied to any particular comprehensive doctrine and yet reasonable for adherents of a plurality of such comprehensive doctrines), his idea is tied to a specific philosophy of history that is potentially incompatible with other philosophies of history. This can be seen in his discussion of the "supreme emergency exemption," which is an idea about the historical necessity of violating liberal principles of justice in war in order to defend liberal values from some overwhelming threat. This is problematic for political liberalism because an acknowledgement of supreme emergencies in history is only possible either from within a more substantive form of liberalism or from the perspective of political realism. In either case, invocation of a supreme emergency might then justify those who view liberalism as a rival comprehensive doctrine, which must be destroyed by any means necessary. I will suggest that the very idea of a supreme emergency exemption to rules of justice in war, even in the face of terrorism, runs counter to the spirit of the more substantive form of liberalism found in Kant. Kantian liberalism has no need for a supreme emergency exemption or, rather, it avoids this realist expedient by postulating an optimistic philosophy of history. Rawls? political liberalism, however, is, as Rawls admits, a hybrid that is both realistic and utopian. The realist component of political liberalism thus might allow a Rawlsian to support strong action against terrorists. However, the realist exemption to the principles of justice can only be invoked from within a philosophical interpretation of progress in history. Such a philosophy of history is thus a metaphysical supplement to the ideals of political liberalism, one that threatens to disrupt the possibility of overlapping consensus. A Kantian, for example, who would accept the basic principles of the Law of Peoples, would reject the supreme emergency exemption. After discussing this problem, I will conclude by arguing that currently terrorism does not constitute a supreme emergency.
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World History
Terrorism and the Philosophy of History
Terrorism and the Philosophy of History - Now for a more philosophical look at modern history...
This is Andrew Fiala's article about liberal responses to terrorism in terms of the philosophy of history. It was originally published in the April 2002 issue of Essays in Philosophy.
From the site:
Those who utilize terror techniques in attacks against liberal states are not constrained by liberal ideas about justice in war.1 Indeed, many terrorists are intent on attacking liberalism itself because they view it as a rival "comprehensive doctrine."2 One wonders then, whether liberalism should be constrained by its own principles in responding to such attacks. I will discuss this issue in relation to John Rawls? ideas of justice in war, as found in his recent The Law of Peoples. I will indicate that, although Rawls? attempts to articulate an idea of international law that is "political" in his sense (that is not tied to any particular comprehensive doctrine and yet reasonable for adherents of a plurality of such comprehensive doctrines), his idea is tied to a specific philosophy of history that is potentially incompatible with other philosophies of history. This can be seen in his discussion of the "supreme emergency exemption," which is an idea about the historical necessity of violating liberal principles of justice in war in order to defend liberal values from some overwhelming threat. This is problematic for political liberalism because an acknowledgement of supreme emergencies in history is only possible either from within a more substantive form of liberalism or from the perspective of political realism. In either case, invocation of a supreme emergency might then justify those who view liberalism as a rival comprehensive doctrine, which must be destroyed by any means necessary. I will suggest that the very idea of a supreme emergency exemption to rules of justice in war, even in the face of terrorism, runs counter to the spirit of the more substantive form of liberalism found in Kant. Kantian liberalism has no need for a supreme emergency exemption or, rather, it avoids this realist expedient by postulating an optimistic philosophy of history. Rawls? political liberalism, however, is, as Rawls admits, a hybrid that is both realistic and utopian. The realist component of political liberalism thus might allow a Rawlsian to support strong action against terrorists. However, the realist exemption to the principles of justice can only be invoked from within a philosophical interpretation of progress in history. Such a philosophy of history is thus a metaphysical supplement to the ideals of political liberalism, one that threatens to disrupt the possibility of overlapping consensus. A Kantian, for example, who would accept the basic principles of the Law of Peoples, would reject the supreme emergency exemption. After discussing this problem, I will conclude by arguing that currently terrorism does not constitute a supreme emergency.
- Medieval Europe Educational System
Medieval Europe Educational System One of the most important intellectual developments in western Europe during the High Middle Ages was the growth of urban schools and universities in which fee paying students were able to acquire a basic education in...
- Developing Political Tolerance
Developing Political Tolerance. This essay is an ERIC Digest from 2002. It looks at how students can be taught to tolerate and accept political views that differ from their own. As the article says, "Political tolerance is the willingness to extend basic...
- The Napoleonic Revolution
The Napoleonic Revolution - This lecture describes the Revolution instituted by Napoleon. Dr. Rempel of New England College provides this information at his web site on the Western Civilization. I always like it when professors put their lectures online....
- Examining The American Bill Of Rights Using The Ethic Of Justice
Examining the American Bill of Rights Using the Ethic of Justice. This is another semi-philosophical look at history. The author argues from the perspective of the ethic of justice as postulated by Starratt (1991). It reviews all ten amendments and gives...
- American Heritage Education Foundation, Inc.
American Heritage Education Foundation, Inc. Provides free K-12 curriculum lessons by and for teachers in social studies, U. S. history/government, political science, philosophy, and economics. The curriculum educates students about America's factual,...