Dworkin\u27s Perfectionism

In this essay, we shall interpret Dworkin\u27s constitutional theory in light of three varieties of perfectionism: (1) the idea that government should undertake a formative project of inculcating civic virtues and encouraging responsibility in the exercise of rights; (2) the idea that we should interpret the American Constitution so as to make it the best it can be; and (3) the idea that we should defend a Constitution-perfecting theory that would secure not only procedural liberties essential for democratic self-government but also substantive liberties essential for personal self-government. We shall identify three gaps left by Dworkin\u27s work and sketch how we have sought to fill those gaps in the spirit of his work through developing a mild form of constitutional perfectionis