Rahel Jaeggi
Institute of Philosophy, Humboldt University of Berlin
Can forms of life be criticised? Can forms of life be said to be good, successful or even rational? The political order of the liberal constitutional state sees itself as an attempt to organise social coexistence in a way that is neutral or »ethically abstinent« towards the different ways of life. As a result, questions about the way in which we lead our lives individually or collectively are relegated to the realm of unquestionable preferences or identity issues that are considered unquestionable. As with taste, it is then no longer possible to argue about ways of life. Rahel Jaeggi, on the other hand, claims: „There are reasons to argue about ways of life. As ensembles of social practices, ways of life are aimed at solving problems. They find their standard “in the matter" of the problem.
Moderation
Robert Misik, journalist and author