Abstract

Objective standards for the evaluation of normative claims in ethics and politics are developed and defended. Substantive claims regarding the nature of the good life for an individual and the best possible political and social institution are then defended in terms of these standards. ;In Section I, the process of rational reflection on practical principles is described and shown to circumscribe the kind of philosophical advice than can be offered to one engaged in reflection on practical principles. Ethical standards are then developed which are shown to be binding on those seeking to rationally defend normative claims. It is required by these standards that what is good for an individual coincide with what he would have chosen in a hypothetical choice position where his knowledge, practical reflection and will power are maximized. These standards are then defended against several lines of criticism. Finally, the radical individualism implicit in these standards is contrasted with the evaluation of normative claims by reference to what is best overall. ;In Section II, an individual ethic of self-realization is shown to satisfy the standards of ethical evaluation. It is also shown that the cooperative goods of friendship, community and political freedom will be sought by one who follows such an individual ethic. The substantial convergence of interest between persons is then described. Finally, the effect of different theories of human nature on the normative conclusions of this section are considered and it is concluded that rational men would pursue an ethic of self-realization and a common good even if they held substantially more pessimistic assumptions about human nature. ;In section III, a classical liberal political order is shown to be ideal and to satisfy both the demands of political realism and the normative requirements of facilitating the realization of individual and cooperative goods. It is then shown that an important consequence of classical liberal principles is the right of all persons to resign from the state or join alternative defense agencies so long as these persons act in accord with liberal principles. Finally, the principles of individualism and libertarianism are shown to support the values of voluntary community