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Wiki MarkupWhat Gamwell does, in effect, is to show that there is a metaphysics of distinctively of distinctively human existence and an ethics corresponding thereto. This he does by does by transcendental arguments from any claim to moral validity to its meta-ethical implications ethical implications or presuppositions, which cannot be denied consistently with making with making or implying any such claim. He then shows how these meta-ethical implications ethical implications or presuppositions in turn imply a minimal ethics, i.e., the universal formative universal formative principle of communicative respect, which is articulated in certain universal certain universal human liberties/rights/duties, public as well as private, as well as a democratic a democratic form of government. _in all t\!zeir actions and utterances_ _they are potential participants in a discussion" (quoted in "The Purpose of Human Rights,"_ _Process Studies_ _29, 2 \[Fall-Winter 2000\]: 332; italics added)._government. 

But, surely, the same conclusion could-andcould—and, arguably, should-be reached should—be reached by arguing, not from moral validity claims in particular, but from any validity claims whatever-as any validity claims whatever—as Apel appears to confirm when he says, "All beings who beings who are capable of linguistic communication must be recognized as persons sincepersons since in all their actions and utterances they are potential participants in a discussion" (quoted in "The Purpose of Human Rights," Process Studies 29, 2 [Fall-Winter 2000]: 332; italics added). 

26 December 20022002