Faith and Philosophy

Volume 24, Issue 4, October 2007

Derek Malone-France
Pages 385-412

LIBERALISM, FAITH, AND THE VIRTUE OF ‘ANXIETY’

I argue for a re-appropriation of the religious/philosophical concept of ‘anxiety’ regarding human finitude and fallibility as an ‘epistemic virtue’ that should frame the relationship between personal (including religious) belief and political participation and procedures. I contend that moral justifications of liberal norms based on ‘respect for persons’ and ‘tolerance’ are insufficient without relation to such a (complementary) epistemic basis. Furthermore, I argue that a careful examination of the internal logic of religious belief, per se, undermines traditional understandings of ‘faith’ (as being categorically opposed to ‘doubt’) and reveals support for liberal norms as an necessary implication thereof.