Applying Reflective Equilibrium

Tanja Rechnitzer is a philosopher working at the intersection of practical and theoretical philosophy. She is especially interested in how we can make philosophical methods and tools fruitful for practical problems – but also in what we can learn from such practical applications on a theoretical level. Rechnitzer is currently an assistant professor at the Leibniz University Hannover, Germany.

• 1. Introduction.- 2. Reflective Equilibrium: The Method and its Applications.- 3. Precautionary Principles.- 4. Design of the Case Study.- 5. Case Study, Part 1: Developing a Candidate System.- 6. Case Study, Part 2: Focus on the Process of Adjustments.- 7. Case Study, Part 3: Reaching a State of Reflective Equilibrium?.- 8. Results and Discussion.- 9. Towards a Toolbox for Applying RE.- 10. Conclusion.- 11. Appendix.

“Rechnitzer’s ambitious book carefully traces an application of reflective equilibrium (RE) to advance a novel justification of a precautionary principle. In doing so she provides a means for assessing RE as a (philosophical) procedure.” (Bert Baumgaertner, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, January 28, 2023)