Back to the Past: The Historical Roots of Reflective Equilibrium (Part 2)

On The Very Idea - A Philosophy Podcast

In the second episode of a three part series on reflective equilibrium, I look at the historical roots of this philosophical tool. Reflective equilibrium has its roots in the procedural liberalism that developed out of necessity as a means to peacefully resolve the Wars of Religion engulfing Europe in the 16th, 17th and early 18th centuries. Political structure began to emphasize procedural rules that enabled people to live together peacefully rather than substantive moral principles that appealed to some citizens but alienated others in increasingly diverse nations. Thus, the birth of liberal values such as the principles of religious toleration and principles of compromise. In this way, justice was to be found in the fairness of the procedures that led to the conclusions rather than the conclusions themselves. Reflective equilibrium finds its place amongst this history of procedural liberalism. This plus the usual trivia and diversions.