Philosophy Quotes

"Social cooperation requires principles that each citizen can recognize as fair from their own perspective."

"Comprehensive doctrines may disagree about the good life but agree on principles of political justice."

"Justice as fairness applies to constitutional democracies with pluralistic societies."

"The contract doctrine grounds justice in principles rational persons would agree to under fair conditions."

"The basic structure is the primary subject of justice because it profoundly affects all citizens' prospects."

"The concept of justice must be acceptable across diverse comprehensive worldviews."

"Individuals have rights, and there are things no person or group may do to them without violating their rights."

"People are ends in themselves, not means to others' ends."

"Rights are side constraints on how we may treat others, not goals to be maximized."

"Moral constraints are real and deeply restrict what we may do."

"Separateness of persons implies limits on sacrificing some for others."

"Moral philosophy requires asking whether outcomes can justify constraints."

"The notion of collective responsibility obscures individual moral agency."

"Moral absolutes exist independent of our preferences."

"Entitlement depends on background conditions and transactions."

"We should examine whether our principles are truly principles we hold."

"No person is a tool for others' benefit."

"We often assume what needs justification."

"The boundary between persons is morally significant."

"Rights exist independent of social utility."

"People are the originators of their own value."

"Separateness of persons has moral implications."

"Moral philosophy shapes how we understand politics."

"Rights are not mere conveniences."

"Each person possesses sovereignty over themselves."

"The exception is more interesting than the rule; the rule proves nothing, the exception proves everything."

"Understanding politics requires understanding the reality of conflict."

"To understand the political is to understand human existence itself."

"Conflict is not an aberration in human affairs but their fundamental characteristic."

"The enemy is not evil; he is merely the other."