The garden of liberalism : a theory of liberal neutrality and toleration

Abstract

This dissertation is on liberal neutrality and toleration. The first part asks what kinds of comprehensive doctrines or worldviews should be tolerated by a liberal state. Specifically, it considers to what extent, if any, doctrines that (partially) reject citizens’ freedom and equality in the public and/or private sphere merit toleration. The second part asks whether liberal states should be neutral towards tolerable doctrines. Besides considering whether their policies should be neutrally justified towards such doctrines, it considers whether states should (sometimes) equalise policy consequences amongst them. In doing so, this dissertation focuses on consolidated liberal democracies and the doctrines of citizens.