A Theory of JusticeJohn 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. Though the revised edition of A Theory of Justice, published in 1999, is the definitive statement of Rawls’s view, much of the extensive literature on his theory refers to the original. This first edition is available for scholars and serious students of Rawls’s work. |
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Review: A Theory of Justice
User Review - Alex L - GoodreadsBLEH. Never taking a political theory class again. But this book was rather odd...i liked the ideas he proposed, but it wasn't as enjoyable of a read as i thought it would be. Not really my subject matter. Read full review
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accept accordance actions activities adopted advantages aims allow apply argument arrangements association assume balance basic structure basis certain choice circumstances civil claims common conception of justice considered constitution contract course defined definition depends desire determine discussion distribution doctrine duty economic effective ends equal equal liberty ethical example exist expectations express fact favored feelings 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 object obligations once original position particular parties persons political possible preferences present Press principles of justice problem procedure question rational reason recognized regulated representative rules scheme seems sense of justice share situation social society suppose theory things tion utilitarian utility various
Bibliographic information
| Title | A Theory of Justice |
| Author | John Rawls |
| Publisher | Harvard University Press, 2005 |
| ISBN | 0674257693, 9780674257696 |
| Length | 624 pages |
| Subjects | › Philosophy / Political |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |