ABSTRACT
The basic fundamental common value shared by the liberal posi tions that concern us here is their focus on the free, equal, and autono mous individual person as the basic unit of society-the ultimate object of moral concern and the ultimate source of value. Specific liberal values include (1) equality of persons-each is entitled to inalienable individual rights and to fair, impartial treatment; (2) liberty-autonomy or free dom of choice to live a good life, that is, a life worth living; (3) tolerance-acceptance and respect for a plurality of conflicting concep tions of the good life; (4) rational, reflective choice-critical evaluation of life conceptions; (5) society as a fair system of cooperation between free and equal persons; (6) the rule of law-the impartial application of law to all persons; (7) a primary government role in protection of liberty; and (8) restrictions on the coercive powers of government.1 Many of these values lead to an emphasis on procedural justice, a focus on the design of legal and political procedures, rather than just substantive conditions or outcomes. The more pluralistic the society and the more diverse the differing conceptions of the good life, the more important are the procedural aspects of its social institutions.
