Reason, justification, and contractualism: themes from Scanlon

Abstract

The book collects major original essays developed from lectures given at the award of the 2016 Lauener Prize to T. M. Scanlon for his contributions to analytical philosophy. The volume opens with Scanlon identifying difficulties in his contractualist theory and exploring possible solutions. Derek Parfit recommends revisions and extensions of Scanlon’s theory, while Rainer Forst suggests replacing reason with justification as the foundational concept. Thomas Nagel examines questions concerning moral reality and progress, and Susanne Mantel offers a critical analysis of Scanlon’s cognitivist theory of motivation. Zofia Stemplowska scrutinizes Scanlon’s conception of responsibility, while Serena Olsaretti proposes an alternative to his arguments against economic inequalities. Each contribution receives extensive replies from Scanlon. The collection represents an essential resource for understanding Scanlon’s influential work in moral and political philosophy. - AI-generated abstract