The Contemporary Reconstruction of Public Reason: A Re-Examination of the Foundations of Value Consensus and Modern Political Legitimacy

Mingyang Sun

doi:10.71222/ra9pkt29

Authors

Mingyang Sun Department of Philosophy and Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, 21000, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71222/ra9pkt29

Keywords:

public reason, political legitimacy, value consensus, value pluralism contemporary reconstruction

Abstract

This research article course explores the contemporary reconstruction of public reason and re-examines the foundational link between value consensus and modern political legitimacy. We sort out the historical evolution and theoretical connotation of public reason in modern democracy, and review classic studies on value consensus as the basis of political legitimacy. Adopting a mixed method of theoretical analysis and empirical investigation, we analyze the transformation of public reason amid contemporary value pluralism and compare its operation in different political frameworks. The results show the traditional public reason model based on "fundamental value consensus" fails to adapt to pluralistic society, and value consensus in democratic systems correlates positively with the perceived legitimacy of political institutions. Hence the article proposes a reconstruction path for public reason from procedural inclusiveness and substantive justice perspectives, and clarify its theoretical and practical value for political legitimacy construction and resolving modern value conflicts.

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