A Theory of Justice, Revised Edition

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Harvard University Press, Sep 30, 1999 - Philosophy - 538 pages
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Since it appeared in 1971, John Rawls's A Theory of Justice has become a classic. The author has now revised the original edition to clear up a number of difficulties he and others have found in the original book.

Rawls aims to express an essential part of the common core of the democratic tradition--justice as fairness--and to provide an alternative to utilitarianism, which had dominated the Anglo-Saxon tradition of political thought since the nineteenth century. Rawls substitutes the ideal of the social contract as a more satisfactory account of the basic rights and liberties of citizens as free and equal persons. "Each person," writes Rawls, "possesses an inviolability founded on justice that even the welfare of society as a whole cannot override." Advancing the ideas of Rousseau, Kant, Emerson, and Lincoln, Rawls's theory is as powerful today as it was when first published.

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LibraryThing Review

User Review  - MashaK99 - LibraryThing

I read this one quite a while ago in college, back when I was in the process of choosing which Western political philosophy is most aligned with my views. My prof recommended this one as a companion ... Read full review

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - HadriantheBlind - LibraryThing

A long involved theory of justice - create a society where you would be treated fairly, if you do not know what position you would occupy in such a society. Read full review

Contents

JUSTICE AS FAIRNESS
3
The Subject of Justice
6
The Main Idea of the Theory of Justice
10
Copyright

87 other sections not shown

Common terms and phrases

accept actions adopted advantage aims apply argument arrangements association assume basic structure certain choice circumstances citizens claims common conception of justice considered constitutional contract cooperation course defined definition depends desire determine discussion distribution doctrine duty economic effective ends equal equal liberty ethical example exist expectations express fact fairness favored feelings final follow further give given greater hold human idea ideal individuals institutions interests interpretation judgments justice as fairness kind lead least less liberty limits matters means moral natural necessary notion objective obligations once original position particular parties persons political possible preferences present Press principles of justice priority problem procedure question rational reason recognized regulated representative rules scheme seems sense sense of justice situation social society suppose theory things tion utilitarian utility various

About the author (1999)


John Rawls was James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University. He was recipient of the 1999 National Humanities Medal.




Bibliographic information

QR code for A Theory of Justice, Revised Edition
TitleA Theory of Justice, Revised Edition
AuthorsJohn Rawls, John 20000710Rawls, Professor John Rawls
ContributorBlackwell Echo
Editionillustrated, revised
PublisherHarvard University Press, 1999
Original fromthe University of Michigan
DigitizedJan 23, 2010
ISBN0674000781, 9780674000780
Length538 pages
Subjects › 

Philosophy / Political
  
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