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We need a concept of truth in order to distinguish good opinions from bad. True, we employ other concepts than "true/false" to do this, such as "justified/unjustified," "reasonable/unreasonable," "based/not based on evidence." But these other concepts are all linked to "true/false." We think it's good to have some evidence for our beliefs because we think beliefs based on evidence are more likely to be true.

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Clearly, the liberal conception of equal respect for all requires a system of rights, including fundamental rights that are matters of principle rather than simply of policy. Such fundamental rights are fundamental just because they can't be taken away whenever a government--or government—or a majority--—decides it would be convenient to do so. But, then, a necessary condition of there being fundamental rights is that there be a distinction between what the government or the majority may believe to be so and what really is so. Then, too, a necessary condition for people to believe they have such rights is that they also believe that there is a difference between what the government or the majority believes and what really is so.

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