Justice

Contrary to political philosophies as varied as utilitarianism, socialism/communism, those advocating the welfare state, and Rawls’s, which are all constructed on the hypothesis that an inextricable nexus exists between distributive justice and equality, Justice: A Fresh Impression doubts the presumed nexus and argues that to see justice through the lens of equality is to misunderstand justice. Instead, this book presents an alternative foundation for rights—namely, that everyone is born free—not equal, but with an equal entitlement to all the resources of the planet. Justice illustrates that this revised premise, which blends the best elements of the free market model with those of socialism, extends larger space to human diversity, and also presents a steadier platform to fight poverty (through recognizing everyone’s equal right to the planet’s resources).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

College courses by Ronald Dworkin and Michael Sandel, as well as lectures by John Rawls, spurred the author’s interest in the subject of justice. More recently, the author has come to realize that Rawls’s theory of justice might have flaws that recommend a fresh examination of that theory.