On Rawls's Idea Of Overlapping Consensus

The accomplishment of A theory of Justice means the success of constructing a complete new moral philosophical system of social justice. However, during later process of consideration, Rawls found a fatal defect in his social justice theory. This was the character of reasonable pluralization existing in modern democratic society. But Rawls did not consider it when he was writing A theory of Justice. This made him realize that it was unrealistic in A theory of Justice to use the idea of a fair and well-ordered society. Therefore, Rawls adjusted A theory of Justice extensively and fundamentally. He carried the previous of moral justice forward into a field of political justice concept. Then what Rawls builds is"Political Liberalism"which could become the basic system of idea in democratic society with cultural plurality.The main purpose of this new theory is to provide a just foundation to modern constitutional society.And this foundation is just built on the overlapping consensus of all members of society. This article unscrambles the text of idea of overlapping consensus in A theory of Justice.Based on this ,I expound the process of Rawls building the idea of overlapping consensus in detail; through setting forth the theoretical significance and practical significance of this idea,I reveal the important significance belonging to the idea hoping that people will pay close attention to it.Though the comments from internal and external scholars are different,and there really are defects in it(some of these even are essential),we should admit that the idea of overlapping consensus provide a reasonable and efficient new method to resolve the conflicts among the different thoughts of religion,morality and philosophy in modern democratic plural society and to make people reach same views on some aspects in this society keeping society steady and unifyning.