Extract
[...] He must therefore obey the law voluntarily, even if it is discriminatory. This suggests that in addition to laws, to the right, man has within him a moral sense, capable of guiding his actions towards the good, the just. If justice passes in this way both through obedience to external laws and through an inner sense of justice, it may also be necessary to acquire this moral sense (or to develop it if it is partly innate) and this is the role of education and culture. [...]
[...] However, can we conceive a 'living together' where there would be discrimination? In other words, would discrimination not constitute a barrier to 'living together'? We will first see that living together can be conceived where there is discrimination and then, in a second time, that living together cannot do without equal claims (II). Living together can be conceived even with discrimination Living together can be conceived where there is discrimination because, on the one hand, it is based on the democratic ideal and on the other hand, discrimination would not be prohibited by law Living together based on the democratic ideal One can find 'null', that is to say, without value and without reality, the contract consisting of exchanging one's liberty for security, as shown by Rousseau in the Social Contract (1762). [...]
[...] Does discrimination hinder 'living together'? Many political, cultural, and intellectual personalities propose to relearn living together. Our Western societies today also affirm the need for a policy that would be governed by the rules of 'living together'. It is true that today, we must live together to live better. And a single man will not be able to live, let alone survive. Others are enriching, they instruct us, make us better. The danger would be to live without others, because otherwise I expose myself to myself, my weaknesses, my spiritual poverty. [...]
[...] One naturally thinks of positive discrimination, which is allowed by law. This form of discrimination allows for the elimination of an inequality suffered by a group of people by granting them temporarily certain preferential advantages. Discrimination aims at a group of people such as people with disabilities or women. II- Living together cannot do without equal claims Living together cannot do without equal claims due to the limitations arising from, on the one hand, democracy and on the other hand, from obedience to the laws The limits of democracy One can question the flaws of the democratic model, not to prefer another one, but to keep the means to criticize it where it remains criticizable. [...]
[...] Discrimination is not prohibited by law Discrimination is not absolutely prohibited by law. In fact, this one, by limiting our desires, may seem contrary to the exercise of individual freedom. It prevents us from doing what we want. For the sophist Callicles, the laws that aim to limit desires in order to allow a just life, to prevent some from having more than others, are an obstacle to freedom. Only the tyrant in this case is free because he can impose his desires on everyone and subject everyone to his desires. [...]
