Toleration, Power and the Right to Justification

Rainer Forst is Professor of Political Theory and Philosophy at Goethe University, Frankfurt and Co-Director of the Research Institute 'The Formation of Normative Orders'

'A brilliant philosophical conversation between Rainer Forst, the most prominent theorist of toleration today, and an impressive cast of distinguished critics. What emerges is a profound reflection on the critical and rationalist foundations of the ideal of toleration, and their connection to the power inequalities and struggles for recognition that makes toleration both an essential and a disputed political virtue. Forst’s characteristically insightful response takes the debate one step further. This is bound to become a landmark volume on the political theory of toleration.'Cécile Laborde, Nuffield Professor of Political Theory, University of Oxford'Over the past several decades, Rainer Forst has shown in path-breaking work how profoundly modern theories of toleration have shaped the liberal-democratic tradition and continue to illuminate the nature of social justice. The critical essays in this volume, along with Forst's replies, demonstrate the important extent to which his work has helped to renew contemporary democratic theory.'Charles Larmore, W. Duncan MacMillan Family Professor in the Humanities, Brown University'How to live in societies marked by deep differences is one of the most pressing questions of our time. Rainer Forst’s theory of toleration seeks to provides us with normative and conceptual guideposts for addressing this very dilemma. Offering a tour de force, Forst’s analysis masterfully encompasses historical and genealogical perspectives, rationalist and critical arguments, calling for reflexive justification that is always grounded in a web of social conflicts and power relations. This volume is a must read for philosophers and anyone interested in critical theory that tackles our deepest fears and aspirations for emancipation, justice and toleration in an age of near-constant crisis.'Ayelet Shachar, Director of the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity

• Part I: Lead essay1 Toleration, progress and power – Rainer ForstPart II: Responses2 What's the use? Rainer Forst and the history of toleration – Teresa M. Bejan3 Let’s get radical: extending the reach of Baylean (and Forstian) toleration – Chandran Kukathas4 Tales of toleration – John Horton5 Overcoming toleration? – Daniel Weinstock6 On turning away from justification – Melissa S. Williams7 Power, attention, and the tasks of critical theory – Patchen Markell8 Power, justification and vindication – David Owen Part III: Reply9 The dialectics of toleration and the power of reason(s): reply to my critics – Rainer ForstIndex