Can Public Reason Be Inclusive?

Abstract

Abstract This chapter articulates a participatory conception of public reason. Taking the democratic ideal of self-government as a guide, it helps throw new light on the role of religious reasons in politics. First, the chapter shows that exclusion, inclusion, and secular translation models fail to explain how all citizens, whether religious or secular, can see themselves as equal participants in a collective project of self-government. After analyzing the difficulties of each of these models, the chapter then defends an alternative, participatory conception of public reason that shows how political deliberation can be an inclusive process that enables all citizens to engage in mutual justification and get traction upon each other’s views despite their deep disagreements. This account bears a strong resemblance to Rawlsian public reason but it also has significant differences. In particular, this participatory account of public reason sees as insufficient that citizens can rely on the existence of a moral duty of civility. Instead, effective rights to political and legal contestation are required that enable citizens to trigger a process of public justification for the reasonableness of any policies that they find unacceptable.