Modus Vivendi and the Motivations for Compliance

Abstract

This chapter aims at defending modus vivendi as a way of including what I call ‘non-reasonable’ people in a liberal society. After clarifying who the ‘non-reasonable’ are, I will argue for a specific modus vivendi as a form of political settlement that allows both reasonable and non-reasonable people to live together without coercion, in a peaceful and relatively stable way. Modus vivendi is the proper way to cohabit efficaciously with others, despite their conflicting views. I will argue as follows: first, I start by focusing on so-called ‘non-reasonable’ people. I claim that non-reasonable people may actively take their place within liberal citizenship. Second, I try to understand why the ‘non-reasonable’ should be willing to obey laws in a permanent way. Laws and institutions need the ‘stability of obedience’: they must guard themselves against the unpredictability of citizens’ conduct in order to maintain a secure civic society. This is a central point: one does not merely have to hope that ‘non-reasonable’ people show a factual openness and become part of a liberal society, but one must deal also with their reasons to be part of it. The aim is to argue for reasons for them to be actively part of a society that is not ideal for those who do not endorse its moral fundamentals. I propound that non-reasonable people may comply with liberal institutions via a modus vivendi supported both by reasons and practices, the intersection of which serves as a guarantee of stability. Finally, I will draw some conclusions.