From moral theory to political philosophy: an investigation of John Rawls\'s philosophy

Author(s)

Flávio Azevedo Reis

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD)
• Defense date: 2012-12-17

Examining board members

Moacyr Ayres Novaes Filho; Alvaro de Vita; Denilson Luis Werle

• Advisor: Ricardo Ribeiro Terra

Abstract

The dissertation investigates the changes between two periods of John Rawlss philosophy. In A theory of justice and until the late 1970s, he defined his philosophical project as part of a moral theory, that would establish a moral conception inspired by Kantian deontology. One argues that Rawls identified an internal problem in this project and, during the 1980s and 90s, he detached his conception of justice from moral theory and reoriented his efforts by an idea of the roles of political philosophy. This reorientation also meant that Rawls changed the relationship between his philosophy and Kants ethics. Therefore, the dissertation investigates the main characteristics of the two orientations of Rawlss philosophy (moral theory and roles of political philosophy), the reasons that lead him to abandon the project of a moral theory and the relationship between Rawlsian and Kantian philosophies. By doing this, one intends to understand why Rawls used the contractualist tradition as inspiration for his own philosophy, the meaning attributed to the concept of deontology, and the role of public political culture in justifying Rawlss conception of justice during the second phase of his philosophy. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/03127-3 - John Rawls, the original position and the problem of justification
• Grantee: Flávio Azevedo Reis
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master