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Contractarianism and Moral Standing Inegalitarianism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 December 2016

ANDREW I. COHEN
ANDREW I. COHEN*
Affiliation:
Georgia State University
*
*<aicohen@gsu.edu>
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Abstract

Contractarianism is more inclusive than critics (and, indeed, David Gauthier) sometimes suggest. Contractarianism can justify equal moral standing for human persons (in some respects) and provide sufficient moral standing for many nonhuman animals to require what we commonly call ‘decent treatment.’ Moreover, contractarianism may allow that some entities have more moral standing than do others. This does not necessarily license the oppression that liberal egalitarians rightly fear. Instead, it shows that contractarianism may support a nuanced account of moral status.

Le contractarianisme est plus inclusif que les critiques, incluant David Gauthier, le suggèrent parfois. Le contractarianisme permet de justifier que les personnes humaines aient un statut moral égal (à certains égards), et de reconnaître à plusieurs animaux non humains un statut moral suffisant pour que ce que nous appelons communément un «traitement décent» leur soit dû. En outre, le contractarianisme peut admettre que certaines entités aient un statut moral supérieur à d’autres. Cela n’autorise pas nécessairement l’oppression que les égalitaristes libéraux craignent à juste titre. Cela montre plutôt que le contractarianisme peut rendre compte du statut moral de façon nuancée.

Keywords

David Gauthiercontractarianismmoral standingmoral statuspolitical philosophy
Type
Special Topic: Gauthier’s Contractarian Project
Information
Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review / Revue canadienne de philosophie , Volume 55 , Issue 4 , December 2016 , pp. 639 - 658
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Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Philosophical Association 2016 

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