Ariadne's Thread on Property
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I think that Gauthier might agree with what you say. He isn't claiming to provide the rationale for a morality as demanding as that of Jesus or the Buddha. Certainly not if we summarize Jesus's view as "love thy neighbor as thyself."

As Fred has indicated, contractarians claim to provide a solution to the problem of obligation. They are suggesting that rational people in a certain initial situation would agree to certain moral rules. Those rules are probably a moral minimum -- but at least they have a rationale, a justification, a foundation.

If we go further and ask for a morality of brotherly love, we reopen the problem of obligation. In other words, we have to ask how to justify such a demanding morality. And a hypothetical agreement won't do the job.

And remember -- we usually distinguish between what morality requires and actions that go beyond the requirements. Perhaps the ideal morality you are referring to is simply beyond what is morally required.



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