Robert Audi, “Democratic Authority and the Separation of Church and State” (Oxford UP, 2011)
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What is the central problem of church‑state separation in liberal democracies?
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Hello, everyone, and welcome to the New Books and Philosophy channel of the New Books Network. My name is Robert Talese, and I am co-host of the channel along with Carrie Figter. Today, I will be talking with Professor Robert Audi about his new book, Democratic Authority and the Separation of Church and State, which was published this year with Oxford University Press. Robert Audi is John A. O'Brien Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. According to a familiar account of the political world, citizens in a democratic society share political power as equals. This equality entails equality that the exercise of political power is legitimate only when it can be justified by reasons that all citizens could endorse.
Reasons deriving from religious doctrines are paradigmatic examples of reasons which are not endorsed by all citizens. Consequently, it is claimed that when the state acts on the basis of religious reasons, it acts wrongly. If it is wrong for the state to act on the basis of religious reasons, then it seems wrong for citizens to vote on the basis of their religious convictions. After all, voting is an act that instructs the state about what to do. And it's wrong to instruct the state to do something that it would be wrong for the state to do. Democracy, then, seems to require religious citizens to bracket or renounce their religious convictions in public political contexts. This requirement strikes many religious believers as deeply objectionable.
In fact, it appears to violate the freedom of conscience and religious exercise that is guaranteed in the Constitution. So what, then, is the proper role of religious conviction and religiously inspired social action in a democratic society? In his new book, Robert Audi proposes an analysis of democratic authority and a conception of civic virtue that he hopes religious believers can embrace. Let's turn to the interview. Hello, Robert Audi. Good morning,
Bob.
Thank you so much for joining us today on New Books and Philosophy. How are you doing this morning?
I'm fine, and I'm delighted to talk with you about these topics.
Excellent. Well, welcome everyone who is listening today on New Books and Philosophy. My guest is Professor Robert Audi. He's the author of the new book, Democratic Authority and the Separation of Church and State, which was published just this year. In fact, I think only a month or so ago by Oxford University Press. Now, this is a very timely book. It's focused on issues concerning the role of religious conviction in the public life of democratic citizens. Most generally stated, it seems to me that the core issue that Professor Audi addresses in the book is this. Given the individual liberty secured and prized by democratic societies, citizens will come to hold different and perhaps conflicting religious and moral convictions.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the central problem of church‑state separation in liberal democracies?
0:00–9:29
2
How does Robert Audi’s personal background shape his view on religion and politics?
9:29–21:39
3
Why might religious reasons be excluded from public policy according to Audi?
21:39–35:47
4
What is Audi’s ‘secular rationale’ principle and how does it guide democratic decisions?
35:47–47:36
5
How does the principle of secular motivation affect civic virtue and law‑making?
47:36–58:42
6
How does Audi address the controversy over evolution versus creationism in public schools?
58:42–1:07:31
7
What does Audi say about the legitimacy of laws motivated primarily by religious reasons?
1:07:31–1:09:08
8
What future research projects does Audi plan after this book?
1:09:08–1:09:34
Speakers
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