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The point of one of [Rawls’] main constructions—the introduction of the “veil of ignorance”—is precisely to exclude from consideration empirical information that might prejudice the overriding normative force of the outcome. It is, then, extremely striking, not to say astounding, to the lay reader that the complex theoretical apparatus of Theory of Justice, operating through over 500 pages of densely argued text, eventuates in a constitutional structure that is a virtual replica (with some extremely minor deviations) of the arrangements that exist in the United States.

— Raymond Geuss Outside Ethics (2005)

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More quotes by Raymond Geuss

Asking what the question is, and why the question is asked, is always asking a pertinent question.

Philosophy and Real Politics (2008)

The idea that all problems either have a solution or can be shown to be pseudo-problems is not one I share.

Outside Ethics (2005)

One way … in which a political philosophy can be ideological is by presenting a relatively marginal issue as if it were central and essential.

Philosophy and Real Politics (2008)

A major danger in using highly abstractive methods in political philosophy is that one will succeed merely in generalizing one’s own local prejudices and repackaging them as demands of reason. The study of history can help to counteract this natural human bias.

Outside Ethics (2005)

Neither the good nor the true is self-realizing, so it is not generally a sufficient explanation of why people believe that X that X is true, or of why people do Y that Y is good.

Philosophy and Real Politics (2008)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Raymond Geuss (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.