Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Brian Leiter, “Why Tolerate Religion?” (Princeton UP, 2013)
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Brian Leiter, “Why Tolerate Religion?” (Princeton UP, 2013)
Religious conviction enjoys a privileged status in our society.This is perhaps most apparent in legal contexts, where religious conviction is often given special consideration. To be more precise, religious conscience is recognized as a legitimate basis for exemption from standing laws, whereas claims of conscience deriving from non-religious commitments generally are not. Why is this? Is there something special about religiously-based claims of conscience? Is there something special about religion such that it gives rise to claims of conscience that deserve special consideration? If so, what?
In his new book, Why Tolerate Religion? (Princeton University Press, 2013) Brian Leiter offers subtle analyses of toleration, conscience, and respect. He argues that religion is indeed to be tolerated, because liberty of conscience is a central moral and political ideal. However, he holds that there’s nothing special about religion that gives special moral or legal weight to the demands it places on the consciences of believers. Contending that all claims of conscience–religious and non-religious–deserve toleration, Leiter argues that legal exemption may be granted on the basis of a claim of conscience–religious or otherwise–only when doing so does not place additional burdens on the non-exempt.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/philosophy
View all episodes
By New Books Network
4.2
109109 ratings
Religious conviction enjoys a privileged status in our society.This is perhaps most apparent in legal contexts, where religious conviction is often given special consideration. To be more precise, religious conscience is recognized as a legitimate basis for exemption from standing laws, whereas claims of conscience deriving from non-religious commitments generally are not. Why is this? Is there something special about religiously-based claims of conscience? Is there something special about religion such that it gives rise to claims of conscience that deserve special consideration? If so, what?
In his new book, Why Tolerate Religion? (Princeton University Press, 2013) Brian Leiter offers subtle analyses of toleration, conscience, and respect. He argues that religion is indeed to be tolerated, because liberty of conscience is a central moral and political ideal. However, he holds that there’s nothing special about religion that gives special moral or legal weight to the demands it places on the consciences of believers. Contending that all claims of conscience–religious and non-religious–deserve toleration, Leiter argues that legal exemption may be granted on the basis of a claim of conscience–religious or otherwise–only when doing so does not place additional burdens on the non-exempt.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/philosophy
More shows like New Books in Philosophy
View all
Philosophize This!
15,246 Listeners
The LRB Podcast
318 Listeners
The Gray Area with Sean Illing
10,750 Listeners
The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
2,113 Listeners
Philosopher's Zone
199 Listeners
New Books in History
214 Listeners
New Books in Military History
157 Listeners
New Books in Critical Theory
146 Listeners
New Books in Political Science
62 Listeners
New Books in Anthropology
52 Listeners
History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
1,612 Listeners
New Books in Psychoanalysis
192 Listeners
New Books in Psychology
46 Listeners
New Books in African American Studies
165 Listeners
New Books in Indigenous Studies
104 Listeners
New Books in Intellectual History
64 Listeners
Philosophy Bites
1,537 Listeners
Philosophy For Our Times
316 Listeners
Why Theory
582 Listeners
Acid Horizon
206 Listeners
Overthink
464 Listeners
What's Left of Philosophy
288 Listeners
Ordinary Unhappiness
232 Listeners