The role of the Kantian imagination in realization-focused comparison. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cornell, Drucilla
• Other Names: Gordon Jane Anna guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Philosophy & social criticism. Volume 41:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 21
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Aesthetic ideas -- imaginary domain -- justice -- realization-focused comparison -- transcendental institutionalism; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Political science -- Periodicals; 300.1
• DOI: 10.1177/0191453714553496
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-4537

Abstract

In this article I review Amaryta Sen's powerful critique of transcendental institutionalism and his own 'realization-focused comparison' as an alternative way to think about justice. While deeply sympathetic with his critique of John Rawls I also argue that the role of the Kantian imagination is extremely important in figuring ideals of justice, which must guide 'realization-focused comparison'. To do so I turn to Kant's Critique of Judgment and his development of what he calls 'aesthetic ideas' as ways of representing the great ideals such as freedom and equality, which can be aesthetically represented but never fully known.