Confessions of a Quidnunc. (20th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sher, George
• Is Part Of: American journal of jurisprudence. Volume 63:Number 1(2018:Jun.)
• Page Start: 49
• Page End: 61
• Publication Date: 2018-04-20
• Subjects: perfectionism -- neutrality -- liberalism -- Matthew Kramer; Jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Natural law -- Periodicals; Law -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; Law reviews -- Indiana -- Periodicals; 340
• DOI: 10.1093/ajj/auy005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0065-8995

Abstract

Abstract: This paper is a critical examination of Matthew Kramer's novel version of political perfectionism. Kramer defends governmental efforts to promote excellence not as ways of inducing citizens to live better lives, but rather as steps toward building a society in which all citizens can take pride. The paper's first section discusses Kramer's freedom-based case against depriving citizens of bad options. The second section criticizes his argument that even attempts to improve people's lives that do not deprive them of options manifest an unacceptably intrusive attitude on the part of the state and its agents. The third and fourth sections raise some doubts about Kramer's positive proposal, which seeks to justify governmental attempts to promote excellence by arguing that they make the society more just.