Locke and the legislative point of view : toleration, contested principles, and the law / Alex Tuckness.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Tuckness, Alex Scott, 1971-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Locke, John, 1632-1704--Contributions in political science.

Locke, John.

Locke, John, 1632-1704--Contributions in natural law.

Political ethics.

Legislative bodies--Ethics.

Legislative bodies.

Legislative power.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (220 p.)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, c2002.

Language Note:

English

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Summary:

Determining which moral principles should guide political action is a vexing question in political theory. This is especially true when faced with the "toleration paradox": believing that something is morally wrong but also believing that it is wrong to suppress it. In this book, Alex Tuckness argues that John Locke's potential contribution to this debate--what Tuckness terms the "legislative point of view"--has long been obscured by overemphasis on his doctrine of consent. Building on a line of reasoning Locke made explicit in his later writings on religious toleration, Tuckness explores the idea that we should act politically only on those moral principles that a reasonable legislator would endorse; someone, that is, who would avoid enacting measures that could be self-defeating when applied by fallible human beings. Tuckness argues that the legislative point of view has implications that go far beyond the question of religious toleration. Locke suggests an approach to political justification that is a provocative alternative to the utilitarian, contractualist, and perfectionist approaches dominating contemporary liberalism. The legislative point of view is relevant to our thinking about many types of disputed principles, Tuckness writes. He examines claims of moral wrong, invocations of the public good, and contested political roles with emphasis on the roles of legislators and judges. This book is must reading not only for students and scholars of Locke but all those interested in liberalism, toleration, and constitutional theory.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABBREVIATED REFERENCES

Introduction

PART I. The Legislative Point of View and the Ends of Government

PART II. The Legislative Point of View and Constitutional Roles

Conclusion

APPENDIX 1. Textual Support for the Legislative Point of View

APPENDIX 2. Locke's Theory of Consent and the Ends of Government

BIBLIOGRAPHY

COURT CASES CITED

INDEX

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 191-198) and index.

ISBN:

9786612087684

9781282087682

1282087681

9781400825394

1400825393

OCLC:

355679915