4. The Elements of Construction

This chapter delves into the challenges of regress and circularity in constructivism, focusing on whether specific accounts of procedural and constitutive frameworks are vulnerable to these charges. It explores the Euthyphro dilemma, which arises from the relationship between principles and reasons, and examines how constructivists justify substantive political principles. The text discusses the regress and circularity charges in detail, highlighting the difficulties constructivists face in halting regress without falling victim to the grounding charge. It also compares different constructivist approaches, including procedural, practice-based, and problem-based accounts, to assess their vulnerabilities to these charges. The chapter concludes by suggesting that problem-based approaches may offer a more plausible response to the Euthyphro dilemma, providing a comprehensive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of various constructivist frameworks.